5 things I wish I knew when planning my wedding... Kate & Sam’s Wedding Day A new year is here, <strong>and</strong> for many couples, it’s the one in which they finally manage to tie the knot! Our own Assistant Editor Kate Norris recalls the trials of planning her wedding mid-lockdown in 2021, as well as divulging some important tips that she wishes she knew back at the start of the planning process... Like many others, I was unlucky enough to be left stuck planning our wedding in the midst of a global p<strong>and</strong>emic. It was not something that I would recommend, <strong>and</strong> all being well, as time has progressed, it is something that no couple will have to endure. I have to say, I had moments when I wondered if we were cursed. We had been together for over a decade before we FINALLY got engaged, <strong>and</strong> it was a good few years before we put our thinking caps on <strong>and</strong> started planning the big day. We were all booked in for July 2020 but of course as fate would have it, covid arrived <strong>and</strong> we were plunged into lockdown. Very long story short, we ended up getting married on the 4th attempt, a full year later in July 2021 <strong>and</strong> while it was a very different day to the one we had planned back in 2020, the fact that we had been forced to scale the big day back meant that, in some ways, we got the day we didn’t know we actually wanted all along. Weddings may not go completely back to normal for some time but hopefully couples currently planning their big day won’t have to endure such intense pressures, so to lend a h<strong>and</strong> I have put together a quick ‘what I wish I had known’ list when it comes to planning your wedding day. Set a budget Now this is an obvious one, <strong>and</strong> I know everybody says the same, but seriously. Do it. It’s remarkable how quickly planning can deteriorate when you don’t have the basics determined. According to nimblefins.co.uk, the average cost of a UK wedding st<strong>and</strong>s at £30,000. But don’t panic - there are ways to cut back. Be sensible, put pen to paper, get that calculator out <strong>and</strong> work out what you can both afford. Buy a wedding diary/planner Back in 2019, my sister-in-law-to-be bought me one of these, but being the disorganised mess that I am, I didn’t make use of it <strong>and</strong> as such, as the big day loomed, I was constantly realising little bits <strong>and</strong> pieces that we hadn’t purchased/organised. Most wedding planners have check-lists <strong>and</strong> timelines, so the planning is broken down into bite-size chunks. If you do invest in one, they will make everything feel a lot less overwhelming, manageable, <strong>and</strong> dare I say it, potentially enjoyable. Identify your priorities This comes a lot more naturally to some, but it is invaluable advice. Ask yourself; what are some things that you are absolutely not willing to compromise on? Is it a dream venue? A colour theme? A dress? Whatever it is, this will give you a starting point to begin moulding the other details around. This is massively helpful, because if you are anything like me, you’ll find yourself dithering for months <strong>and</strong> months all due to the fact that you don’t know where to begin! On that note... Choose your venue There isn’t a whole lot of planning you can get stuck into until you decide on your venue. This determines your date, style, location <strong>and</strong> capacity of your wedding so...it’s pretty vital! And spoiler alert: it’s going to be where the largest chunk of your wedding fund goes. But again, remember your budget. Only view what you can afford as you’ll end up falling in love with something that’s going to bankrupt you. For our ‘4th attempt wedding’, we held the reception in our local pub...<strong>and</strong> it was fab! Your day is what you make it. DELEGATE This is one area where I really failed - all my friends <strong>and</strong> family will corroborate. And if I had to do it again *shudder*, I would of spoken up <strong>and</strong> asked them for help. If you are like me, it doesn’t come naturally to ask people for favours. But it’s a wedding, <strong>and</strong> your loved ones will expect it. Choose your helpers wisely <strong>and</strong> get delegating! Remember, you can thank them in the speeches, <strong>and</strong> when their time comes you can return the favour. 12 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
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