Booked your Wedding Venue? Here’s what you need to do next…
First of all, well done! That’s a massive step towards your big day & another job ticked off the task list.
Finding the right venue for you is always daunting and forms the foundation for the rest of your wedding planning, but there’s more to be done.
Whilst many similar articles will jump into the fun stuff, now’s a good time to remind you to pause and revisit your budget now that your venue is booked. Weddings are a huge celebration and should be something to enjoy, not to fear. Having a budget that’s kept up to date will help with any cost-associated stresses.
You’ll likely have paid a deposit/booking fee to the venue to secure the date of your choice, and you’ll need to be ready to do the same for each of your vendors. The good news is that, while most require a nonrefundable deposit of 25-50% of the total cost, most vendors will only require the remainder of their fee in the months leading up to the wedding. Depending on how far out you’re planning your wedding, this can give you months or even years to save.
Before we chat about wedding vendors, now’s a great time to get those save the dates out.
Which vendors to book first?
In-demand vendors can book up quickly, so once you’ve got your date and your venue, now’s a great time to reach out to your favourites and see if they’re available.
Wedding Planner
The first vendor to have a chat with would be your wedding planner. They are pros at helping couples through the process, and will likely have contacts and connections to other vendors.
Hiring a wedding planner isn’t for everyone though, with living costs on the rise and the powers of the internet at their fingers, couples often turn to Google, Instagram & wedding planning websites to do it themselves. This can be a great option to keep the day within budget, but it means you may need to spend a bit more time organising your day.
Catering
Next up, my suggestion would be to get your catering booked. Venues will often include catering in their wedding packages, or work with one external catering company exclusively, so clarifying this with your chosen venue is a good way to go. That can also be a good time to flag up any dietary requirements you know you might have.
With your catering booked, you’re well on your way to getting the day you’ve been dreaming of.
Photographer
Choosing the right photographer is crucial (Insert obvious bias warning here!), we’re at your side for almost the entire day and how we capture your day will stay with you for (hopefully) decades to come. Photographers book up quickly, particularly throughout the summer season, so getting in touch as soon as you have your date is always advised.
Every photographer is different, but I’ll normally give my couples around a week with their date held, to decide if we’re the right fit for each other. During this week, we’ll book a Zoom call together to catch up and run through the details and a rough idea of how the day will go.
The right photographer for you shouldn’t just match by how their photos look, but also if they’re the right personality for you!
Celebrant
Next up on the list, and with good reason.
Your celebrant and the style they bring will directly impact how your ceremony will flow. It’ll be worth taking the time to consider if you’d like a religious ceremony, an independent or perhaps a humanist ceremony as this will determine the overarching style of the ceremony. A religious ceremony will generally be a little longer, anywhere from 30 minutes, up to an hour or more. Whereas a non-religious ceremony will usually be quite short, around 15-30 minutes in most cases.
Every ceremony is and should be, different though. I’m a firm believer in finding the right celebrant for you, making sure that they’ll provide a unique and unforgettable experience that matches or exceeds your expectations. Your celebrant should also be able to talk you through the intimidating legal side of actually making your marriage official. Most will be able to provide you a basic timeline of what documents you need, and when you need to submit them.
Getting the right celebrant for you will set your wedding day off in the right direction!
On a final note, take some time to enjoy the process!
Remember it’s only 1 day, so whilst making the most of it is a good way to go, try not let any wedding planning stress overshadow the excitement of your day.
Most couples, will plan their wedding around 1-2 years from the day itself, so whilst it might feel like theres an overwhelming amount to do, you have plenty of time.