Alba & Andrew arriving while the guests look on. The beautiful Wedding Venue is the historic small town called Verdu in Catalonia, Spain. Photo Courtesy: Michael Delaney
Why is it that all the good things in life start off so stressful…weddings, moving home, starting a family? Well, why make things even harder on ourselves; with some simple planning ahead we can help to eliminate some of life’s stresses. This article gives you some guidance of what initial considerations you should have when planning your wedding and hopefully you will enjoy the planning as much as the big day!
Budget bash or all out extravaganza?
No matter how big or small your budget is, you first need to know what exactly you can afford to spend. Be honest with yourself about what you can really sacrifice over the coming months in order to build up your wedding fund and have a conversation with both your parents about what they can contribute. The tradition of the bride’s father picking up the tab is becoming rarer with every generation and many people find that they have to and in many cases want to fund their own ceremonies and celebrations.
The perfect venue
There are so many things to consider when choosing your wedding venue, prices, location and availability to name but a few. In terms of the size of venue, it really is a case of what came first…the perfect venue or the guest list – in an ideal world, both will be able to accommodate each other. If not, then you have some decisions to make…change your venue or have a harsh review of your guest list!
Photo Courtesy: Jonathan Day
Take the needs of your guests into account when choosing a venue; is it close enough for people to get to, parking facilities and accommodation are all things to consider. The mix of your guest list is also worth considering when looking at venues; will your Great Uncle Ernie really want to sit in a loud disco all night? If you have a mix of ages then you may wish to consider a venue that allows for a ‘break out’ area for those wanting a bit of quite time or for those with younger children.
Deciding on your guest list
Oh boy, I won’t lie to you, this may possibly be the toughest part of the entire planning process! Of course we want all of our family and friends to share our special day with us but unless you have an almighty budget to work with, you will have to make some tough decisions. If you are firmly set on a venue then you will need to confirm with them the maximum capacity they will allow. If you and or your partner have a large family, then agree at the start at what point down the family tree you will stop. If you have eight aunts and uncles, do you then invite all of their children and their children as well? There are no rules here; invite the people you are close to and explain to those who haven’t been invited that you are restricted by venue numbers or budget. You may wish to send those that you couldn’t invite some pictures or a video of your big day to allow them to share these memories with you.
Start your list with the key people, parents, groomsmen, bridesmaids etc. and then work your way out.
Entertainment
There is so much to think about here. Do you want music at the actual ceremony? How do you keep your guests entertained post ceremony and pre wedding breakfast and finally what entertainment do you have at your evening reception? You can have anything from a harpist playing you down the aisle, a gospel choir to jazz up a church ceremony, a string quartet to greet your guests, a DJ to dance the night away to or a band to entertain you through dinner. This is a great opportunity to put a stamp on your big day, and you and your partner can really let your tastes run wild! It’s not all about the music; you could consider a magician, a comedian or some actors! A great entertainment piece is a group of actors that mingle with your guests and as they start to play out their roles, just watch your guest look on in amazement.
This article was written by Johnny Dell of www.mandrweddingband.co.uk.
Leave a Reply