Where do I start? :/

Congratulations! You're doing well in finding your venue, we are really stuck on what type of wedding to have and if we want it here or abroad. It's so confusing/exciting all at the same time

no advice for you as I've not done anything aside from stick my head in a wedding magazine but just wanted to say your not alone in planning confusion! X

Hello & welcome to hitched!

Great that you've found a venue you both love
Firstly i'd work out a budget plan for everything, think of your max number you want to spend and try work out what you'd ideally like to spend on each thing.
Think about guests and how many numbers you'll be looking at and the expense of food etc.
Look around on here, places like pinterest, google & in the odd wedding magazine if you want and get a feel for it all, think about what type of wedding you both want and what suits..theme, colour scheme, entertainment etc.
I use the budget planner and to do list on this forum which is good to have a look at!

It seems so much to plan when you first start but it comes together slowly but surely, enjoy

Have you set your budget? Get that organised then look for your photographer and organise the other larger costs. Also use the to do list on here as it really helps x

Hi,

I don't know where to start with budget side of things. We have a total figure on mind, but am a little stuck when it comes to breaking it down !

If you have a budget plan that you have used before then please let me know ! would like to have a look so I can get the jist. - its mainly the sub categories and not make it end up like a scroll.

Thanks everyone !

We had pretty much no idea about the cost of things with weddings, we looked at what we wanted like band or dj, wedding dress & suits, cars, catering etc. Looked around on google, facebook, contacted suppliers we were interested in and once we had an idea of the rough pricing to expect wrote the highest we were willing to pay for each. I found it easier to break it down that way into small categories.
I only have mine in my notepad and not on laptop but I like the planner on this, if you click members area on the top right then a budget planner comes up for you. Or if you google wedding budget planner im sure you'll be able to find some more online

As a project Manager for many years, and now a wedding photographer there is a great way of working through a wedding plan.

Make A list

break that list down into smaller lists

Break the smaller lists down into even smaller lists

Assign a cost to each

compare against your budget.

Tackle each smaller list / task in order of priority

Im think ing of writing a blog post with documents to assist brides. Project management comes naturally to some and not to others, but its essentially breaking down large problems into smaller manageable chunks. Also, assign a priorites re costs and priorities re order to complete.

Let me take you through an example

Order of Priority re booking

Venue

Photographer

Cake

Dress

Invites

Band

Order of priority re Costs asisgned

Venue

Dress

Band

Cake

Invites

So, you know that you need to find a venue as timely as possible, and in order of costs assigned this will be the largest, however, you can assign a smaller protion of the budget to the invites and they can be printed relatively quickly therefor you dont need to worry about them for a little while and can focus on the immediate ie venue.

The important thing is 'what is your priorty' that will then determine where you assign the budget. And, whatever you think is a budget, allow 10% contingency.

Planning a wedding is not complex, providing you break down the tasks. I cant stress that enough. Take each task, break it down into smaller bitesized manageable pieces. I have run global projects for large investment banks for years and the same principles apply. Take the large problem, break it down into smaller chunks. Solve each chunk and the big problem goes away.

I think im going to write that blog artice!!!

If you have any quesitons contact me through my website and i may even be able to supply a draft 'project plan' / Actions log that you can use.

I think, as well, that there are so many tools out there that brides become overwhelmed. My wife and i planned our wedding from her saying Yes, to I do in under 8 months. We even had a month to spare as everything was sorted a month in advance to allow for any last minute issues.

A spreadsheet and a contacts list is all you need.

Get in touch if you need any help. www.gregcoltmanphotography.com you can be the test for my blog article..lol

And dont forget, planning should be fun. If the planning starts to control you as opposed to you controll the planning then stop, take a breather, wlak away from it for a week and then ncome back with a clear objective head.

All the best

Congratutlations!

Have a look on our website for our wedding planning check list, giving you timelines for when things should be done by.

http://www.estilomoda.co.uk/wedding-planning-checklists