Where do I start??

Oh bless you. Huge congratulations.

Have you seen a venue you like?

...

The best thing to do first is draw up your guest list of daytime and evening guests - this will help you figure out how many guests you need to cater for and will determine what size of venue you need to source. It will also help you start pricing the most expensive bit of the day (aka the reception) to see if you can afford it.

When I first got engaged, I found it all a bit overwhelming too, but one of the things that help me sort my thoughts out was doing a scrap book compiled from pictures taken from bridal magazines. I split it up into different categories - cakes, wedding dress, bridesmaids dress, flowers, styling, stationery etc and I now know which things I like and don't like.

Hope this helps!

x x x

Congrats

what area are you getting married?

Thanks very much for all the advice!

I really like the sound of doing a scrap book. I've already subscribed to three wedding magazines!! Can you tell i'm a little excited? lol

I'm in Essex

xxx

We found our venue, wrote a guest list, and then sat down and worked out what we could afford to save each month while still having a life and then worked out what year we could get married in! The rest just kinda fell into place with wedding fairs and talking to people.

Scrap books are brilliant fun - especially if done with a bottle of wine and your chief bridesmaid!!

I love you all already!! lol

Hi Mrsrawe2b! I'm in Chigwell - where abouts are you?

Another Essex bride here, let me know if you want any information or advice on Essex venues and suppliers. Where in Essex are you based?

EDIT: just saw your reply, I'm from Ilford and getting married just outside of Chelmsford. What venues have you got in mind so far?

I remember it being VERY overwhelming. Reading my first wedding mag particularly.

Just take it slowly. Guest list, budget and rough idea of 'when' would be the best things to tackle first.

We had an 19 month engagement, so in the beginning I planned to do '1 thing a month' i.e. Jan = work out numbers (guests/budget), Feb = venue search, March = Photographer etc...

I like the look of Gosfield Hall, Leez Priory and Parklands so far. I really need to write a list (i sound so unorganised!!) as i'm sure i've seen others but those are the ones that makes me get goose bumps! (And probably an asthma attack when i see the price!!! haha)

I do love Woolston Manor but my friend literally got married there last weekend! It was lovely but i didn't ilke the fact that they have two weddings going on at the same time and you've got to share facilities etc. Think it should be your day and your day only. Does that sound bratty?

Where are you guys getting married?

19 months engagement! Wow you've moved fast!! I was planning on at least 2.5 years ! lol

Congratulations - and welcome to hitched!

Start with the list of guests and then the venue, colour schemes will come from this unless you have them in mind already.

I have spreadsheet after spreadsheet to make sure I know what I have done whats left, suppliers details and when and how much to pay everyone.

I also have a little wedding book (my bible) that I carry with me with all my ideas and to-do-list.

Congratulations,

we started off first with a budget so that when we started looking at venues we could rule out any that were too expensive. then rough guest list so that you know the venues can accommodate the numbers. the venue was the first thing we booked. once that is done everything else we follow

We got engaged 8th April and I already had a list of venues, sent them to my MOH who is a wedding planner and together we got rid of the ones which were too pricey. I talked to people who were local and they gave me some venue ideas so in the end I was left with 5 I wanted to look at. We actually looked at 4 and went with one which wasnt on my original list.

I have known what colour scheme I have wanted for ages and I am hoping the venue can supply me burgundy chair covers or that will throw everything off!!!

I drew up a to do list in a table with everything I could think of, dates they needed to be done by and if they were done or not. When things are done they get highlighted in green.

It does feel overwhelming but once you start writing up your to do list and finding some ideas things just fall into place.

Try going on Pinterest too. There you can 'pin' your favourite dresses, shoes etc and keep a track of everything you love x

Pinterest is great, but delink it from facebook first or you will be showing everyone your ideas!!

I started with a rough guest list, worked out how much we could afford to save a month over 18 months which gave us a maximum budget.

I had loads of spreadsheets keeping tabs on quotes from venues etc. The guest list helped here with prices per head.

I would cancel the wedding mag subscriptions if money is tight... you can get just as many ideas from google and places like Hitched for free.

Hi ladies, none have ny reviews on woolston manor??? I'm thinking of booking for my wedding x

Sorry does anyone not none

It really depends what your after. If you want an exclusive wedding venue - then its not for you. They often have two weddings going on at the same time.

If you go for the bigger room - it is a bit more luxurious than the smaller bar - which is really where the golfers used to go (before they got a bit greedy and started hiring out for two)

The bigger room is lovely - drinks are reasonably priced for that sort of venue - the grounds overlook a swimming pool and a golf course as well as a balcony

Staff are attentive although some have a bit of a can't be bothered attitude. I haven't been there for a sit down wedding though

Yeah I was told I could have both rooms but now it's changed that I can only have the small room.

I went to view it it I lovely but like you say I'm not sure I'd b happy with he 2 party's going on, I'm only having 50 for he day and 50 for evening. The lady I was dealing with originally has left which wasn't great as she's promised a lot that I now can't have?? It's so hard to chose a venue.

Why can you only have the small room because of your numbers? I'm not overly keen on the small room because your guests would have to use the toilets downstairs and they often get lost because its not clear.

I do think they have to do some upgrades as the smaller room is still labelled as the restaurant.

Have you seen any other venues or just seen that one? What about the Kings Oak in Epping ?

Hello fellow essex bride!

i spent an afternoon on the hitched venue section looking at all the different venues and there's a button that you can push for each one to request more information... we ended up with 82 brochures through the post and a ton of email brochures and made a big list of each one, then took some time out each week to go over a few... work out which ones we like the look of and were in our rough price band (i agree on looking at numbers too) dwindled it down to 8 venues (all barn like venues) and went to see them all. we had the power of time and loved doing the search it took months but I'm 100% sure my venue is the best one for our day! good luck and enjoy it's very fun i see you also have the power of time too so just take each hurdle as it comes, our planning has been dare i say easy and enjoyable!! So first up venue, date, numbers ish and try and pencil in with the registrar when you have your date and venue (ours in chelmsford and they pencilled in two years in advance) everything else can wait! i started planning the little things way too early and have really changed my mind and style since x

Oh and start drawing up a budget ish so you can work out what you can afford in the timescale too. If you want any advice on barn like venues just ask We went for Vaulty Manor in Maldon x

Yeah cause i only have 50 guests, I was told that I could have the Cremonay in one room and them have the evening in the larger room

But then appartently they don't allow that for such small parties. Which is fine but it means that my tables have to be set up whilst te censor any is on?!!!

Im going to ask to go and see it once it's set up! I'm not a bridezilla and just want I to grt married but I want t to look nice! I'm not sure having my tables and disco at my Cremonay is what I want!

I will have a look at royal oak! I've already lost a deposit on a venue I wasn't happy with after paying the deposit!!! So I'm a bit warey now!

I know exactly how you feel I've been engaged 10 days and already have people asking me what I've done and what I'm planning! However so far all I've done is bought some magazines, bought a wedding planner and had lots of celebratory cocktails!! My head is buzzing thought with ideas and stress!