County Brides Magazine 2021/22

guide
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DO IT NOW. . .
Announce your engagement!
SET THE DATE but bear
in mind that some venues
are booked years in advance
so consider times outside
the wedding season (May to
September) or a day other than
a Saturday.
DECIDE ON A CIVIL OR
RELIGIOUS CEREMONY;
if you want to include any
religious element in the service
this may restrict your choice
of venue, so make sure to ask
about any restrictions before
committing.
SET A BUDGET; discuss your
guest numbers and priorities for
the day, taking account of who
will be footing the bill of course!
CONTACT POTENTIAL
VENUES to check prices,
availability and whether
they can accommodate your
number of guests then draw up
a shortlist to visit. Check any
terms and conditions concerning
minimum numbers, deposits and
cancellation policy carefully
before making any bookings
for the service and/or evening
reception.
CONSIDER USING A
WEDDING PLANNER or
an App to keep track of your
plans, suppliers’ details, payment
schedules and appointments.
SEND OUT ‘SAVE THE
DATE’ CARDS if your wedding
is more than a year away.
SET UP A ‘WEDDING
FUND’ or dedicated account for
savings/expenses and arrange
wedding insurance.
SELECT THE BRIDAL
PARTY; best man, bridesmaids,
ushers and tell them the good
news! Then arrange to go to
some bridal fairs and look at
magazines for inspiration.
6-12
months to go
Arrange to meet your registrar.
If you are having a civil ceremony,
book the registrar and reconfirm
your booking with your venue.
For marquee weddings at home,
you will need a Temporary Event
Notice if you are having a pay
bar, or any music and dancing
your caterer or bar provider may
be able to apply for this on your
behalf. You will also need to think
about power, water, toilet facilities
and rubbish disposal so ask if the
marquee company can provide
these services.
Choose your main suppliers
including photographers,
videographers, wedding cars and
any additional transport, look at
wedding stationery and arrange
menu tastings with caterers
and cake companies, asking
about lead times for orders and
confirmations with anyone you
are considering using.
Try on some wedding dresses,
remember that a dress may
take six months to arrive at the
bridal shop and may need minor
alterations. Look at bridesmaids
dresses too.
Meet with your florist to
discuss colours and styles for
arrangements.
Book your reception or ceremony
entertainment and try and see
them perform live so you make
sure they are right for your event.
4-6
months to go
If you have not done so already
and you are not getting married
in a C of E church, give notice of
the marriage to the superintendent
registrar at your local registry
office.
Confirm your readings and
choice of music for the ceremony
with your minister or registrar,
remembering if it is a civil
ceremony there can be no religious
content.
76 County Brides 2021/22