Hi everyone, hope I've posted this in the right category. Myself and my partner have set a date for our wedding of the 2nd of December 2017, which is also our 10 year anniversary. Is it too early to start planning? If it isn't does anyone have any guidance on what I can start planning now please? Thanks in advance
CommentAuthorKatieH
It's never too early to start planning. You could start with having a look at some venues as some are booking for 2017 already, Also decide whether you want to get married at the venue or in a church x
Met in 2007
Started dating in 2009
Got engaged in 2014
Became Mrs Holme 11.06.16
CommentAuthorLea3PO
Church is a no go for us unfortunately, my partner is an atheist and says he wouldn't feel right making a promise infront of a god he doesn't believe in, he would rather just make the promise to me instead, even though I think of myself as Christian and would love a church service I wouldn't want to push him to have a ceremony he isn't comfortable with. We're wanting a venue where we can have the ceremony and the reception too, I'm having a bit of trouble finding a venue we both like the look of, 90% of the venues we have loved the look of don't do weddings in December and the other's have literally no grounds or areas for photographs which is a big part of the day for me.
CommentAuthorScottishbride2016
Never too early to start planning x
CommentAuthorFlossie
edited
I would definitely start looking round venues now - our venue was already taking bookings for 2017, so if you find a place and absolutely fall in love with it at least you know you can secure it with plenty of time and not have to worry :) with regards to everything else, I would probably hold off booking anything else until at least 2 years until the date.
It's worth bearing in mind that if you take out wedding insurance then most policies will only cover you for 2 years prior to the date and nothing before that.
I would start looking at ideas though and collating information - maybe get yourself a wedding planner or make a scrap book and put lots of pictures and ideas in there :)
We booked our venue 2 years in advance (only a couple of months ago) and so far we have sorted the 'big' things - registrar, DJ, harpist, photographer and in the process of sorting out transport, then it's just the details we need to worry about. Will start looking at dresses a year before. We are going to The National Wedding Show in October as well so will find lots of ideas there. :) xx
Might be a tad early, but no harm in looking. I suggest getting into Pinterest and pin things you like the look of, so by the time comes to start choosing things you have a good idea of what's out there :)
Our perfect day - 08.08.15 <3
CommentAuthorKatieH
Hi Leanne, I posted a link on your wall for venues in your area xx
Met in 2007
Started dating in 2009
Got engaged in 2014
Became Mrs Holme 11.06.16
CommentAuthorLea3PO
Thank you so much Katie :) I will take a look now xx
CommentAuthorKatieH
No problem Leanne, happy to help :) xx
Met in 2007
Started dating in 2009
Got engaged in 2014
Became Mrs Holme 11.06.16
CommentAuthorStellaM89
First of all congratulations to you!! Well it would be very early to start your wedding planning.. but if you want to start your wedding planning today then it would be okay!! You can start from selecting the best venue for your wedding.
CommentAuthorLea3PO
Thanks everyone :) We have seen a venue we quite like the look of, everything for 60 day guests and 100 evening guests for £3500 including bucks fizz after the ceremony, wine during the meal and prosecco for the toasts, not bad I dont think. How early is transport usually arranged? We like the idea of one of those wedding buses as the venue is a good half an hour away from the town where we live and our concern is that guests may not wish to drive with it being quite a way away. I know the first step is to view the venue and book it but what would be next? We have a photographer arranged already, a man who was on my college course runs a photography business and he is excellent so we know for sure we want to book him for our big day. I think I'm just eager to get planning having been engaged for so long already!
CommentAuthorKayleighS46
Congratulations hun!! :) I agree with everyone else its never too early to start planning!! My venue is taking bookings for 2019!!! You can always look for the little things now - like the favours and table decorations, invitation ideas, colours and themes etc. You'll love every minute of it xxx
Met 2013
Propsed 2014
Will Be Mrs Brookes 2016
always & forever xxx
CommentAuthorKatieH
That sounds really good Leanne. Once you have booked the venue you need to look into booking the registrar but I'm not sure how soon in advance you can book them. We are getting married in a church and we've been able to book it 2 years in advance but a registrar may be different. After that you can think about transport and contact a few companies to see if they are taking bookings yet. I would advise you buy a wedding planner book and write everything down that you need/want. Themes (if you want one) colour scheme, attendents, cake, flowers, etc. The main big things are Venue, Registrar, Transport, flowers, DJ and Photography. Everything else can come later xx
Met in 2007
Started dating in 2009
Got engaged in 2014
Became Mrs Holme 11.06.16
CommentAuthorFlossie
We were unable to secure our venue until we had a registrar booked - but everywhere is different and it really depends on where you live. Some people are unable to book their registrar until 12 months before the wedding.
For me though, I would be quite apprehensive about arranging too many of the small details now (like decoration-wise, i.e. cake, centre pieces) as I know how much my taste has changed in the last few years alone, so would hate to buy all those bits now and then completely regret it at a later date maybe having seen something better.. xx
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorclairenina
I don't think I would plan alot, but maybe save up money if required. Some venues require booking early though
CommentAuthorWhovianbride
I been planning mine for nearly 3 years in Xmas, wedding is in July. Buy just had ideas and plans tile July 2013, as waiting for 2 years to the date as that's when you can get insurance.. Then stay booking things.
Met June 2009 on my Birthday,Met again July 2009 and got
together, May 2010 Moved in,Jan 2011 got pregnant,
August 2011 Got our own place, 2011 Had our Baby Girl,
Dec 2011 Got engaged, July 2015 Getting married! Yay!
CommentAuthorLea3PO
I think I'm going to start looking at what bits and pieces we can DIY, my partner and myself have got quite similar tastes in what colours etc we like best so think we will stick with that theme, how far in advance do you send out things like save the dates? I think I need a wedding project to take my mind off of planning the big things, I might have to crystalise some shoes!
CommentAuthorFlossie
I would send save the dates about 8 months in advance but depends when you are getting married - if it's during school holidays when a lot of people are likely to book holidays, or on a bank holiday, then the earlier the better!
We're not sending out save the dates as just an unnecessary cost for us. Everyone coming to our wedding already knows the date.. will just send our invitations a little earlier. We are getting married in the June so would probably be sending our invitations out towards the end of November time the year before xx
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorKatieH
We are sending out save the date cards a year before :) xx
Met in 2007
Started dating in 2009
Got engaged in 2014
Became Mrs Holme 11.06.16
CommentAuthorTeresa
Its never too early to plan, have fun, make a scrap book of ideas and revisit them every now and then to make sure your still happy with your choices, i love planning my wedding and have been for sometime, just enjoy it, the longet you plan the longer the enjoyment :0 happy planning XXxXX
CommentAuthorLea3PO
Thanks everyone for your advice :) I have a scrapbook and a pinterest account and I have a secret board for ideas for dresses I like, groom presents etc and one that is a shared board that both myself and my partner can pin to, already seeing lots of exciting ideas we both like, such as a hot chocolate bar with it being winter and blankets if people want to have a wander in the grounds :)
CommentAuthorKatieH
Sounds great Leanne. I love the hot choc bar idea :) xx
Met in 2007
Started dating in 2009
Got engaged in 2014
Became Mrs Holme 11.06.16
CommentAuthorLea3PO
Thanks Katie :), I was thinking could do hot chocolate, tea and even cappuccino and lattes if the venue will allow it xx
CommentAuthorKatieH
Yes I think that's a fab idea xx
Met in 2007
Started dating in 2009
Got engaged in 2014
Became Mrs Holme 11.06.16
CommentAuthorMrs Carver 2B
No harm in looking gives you plenty of time to look around and explore all avenues :) xx
CommentAuthorVerityC14
Yay so glad to know I'm not the only 2017 bride :). Except ours is September. We have started looking at stuff. Plus our venue is now just been booked. I'm the fourth one for 2017, so know it's not too early. We are just the super prepared people :)
CommentAuthorbride2b90
tbh too early is never too early! if anything it helps prevent struggling if anything happens in regards money (leaving yourself fine if there are any disasters i.e. cooker breaks ect) x
I met my soul mate in school, after chasing him for 18months
We got together 15th September 06,
We celebrated our son Jacob 29th October 10,
He proposed 15th June 14, We marry 09th July 16
CommentAuthorElinor Claire
I would definitely say you can start planning now, as it gives you a chance to set a budget and start saving. However I wouldn't commit to anything unless you absolutely have your heart set on it, as you might change your mind. Also I would only pay minimum deposits for anything you do commit to, so if you change your mind it minimises the amount you're out of pocket by.
30th August 2014 was the best birthday ever.
It was the day that I became Mrs. Dixon.
CommentAuthorEmmaBabycakes
no way. sooneryou startthe better. gives you more time meaning a lot less stress xxx
We met 2nd September 2010
I became his girlfriend - 11th September 2010
I became his fiancee - 16th June 2013
We become Mr & Mrs Cressey-Briscoe on Friday August 7th 2015
CommentAuthorVelcro
edited
one thing to consider is if you are getting insurance (which you should do really) if you are, most if not all will cover you up to two years, so I'd probably wait til then to actually book anything, though there is no harm in looking and planning etc! and you dont need insurance to get crafty and do some wedding DIY :)
Also, you can work out what you want, numbers guest list BUDGET etc and start saving straight away, less pressure. We should have done that ourselves really but we would put money aside then end up spending it. i think we needed the motivation of actually getting something booked lol.
Do not, I repeat DO NOT get carried away and choose your bridesmaids now. With three + years to go ALOT can change, I ended up being one down (A), then asking someone else, then gained two more, then really really regret the latter two who have recently stepped down (Thank god for taking it out of my hands) after a massive family kick off. It is less stress all round if you just wait til about a year before lol
I now have my 3 besties who I should have just kept at that from the start. It would have been nice to have had (A) still but life happened and we drifted apart
Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey
*Kelbel* is my wedding twinny!