Things to Consider when Planning a Wedding

There are so many things to consider when planning a wedding, including selecting a venue and setting a realistic budget for your upcoming nuptials. I have been to many weddings in my lifetime, but so far only planned one for a close family member. It was during this process that I learned many things I had not even considered, but glad I now know and can make sure when it’s time to plan my own (no, I’m not getting married yet), I have the information on the ready.

With my little sister’s recent engagement, I found myself getting ahead of myself and started ‘helping her’ plan her upcoming nuptials. Although I am not being vocal about it yet, as they have decided to wait a bit before walking down the aisle, I thought I would draft my current thoughts on paper for when they are ready. As an older sister, I have the urge to take charge of everything, but I had to remind myself, this is not my day, but that’s why I am focusing on writing things to consider when planning a wedding here instead of vocalising them.

*Disclosure – This is a collaborative post, all opinions shared are my own.

Things to Consider when Planning a Wedding

A couple of years ago, I got a call from my cousin in Zambia telling me that she was getting married. I was so elated for her that I promised I would help her plan the wedding and pay for ‘almost everything’ (words that bit me in the behind). One thing I learned from this experience is that, when it is my turn to plan my wedding, I am hiring a professional and letting them execute my vision. It was a lot of work planning a wedding whilst sitting comfortably abroad and not on the ground to negotiate rates with the vendors, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Fast forward to this year, my little sister just got engaged, and I am so happy for them that I am already thinking of how to help them with their wedding planning. The best way I came up with is writing this post on ‘Things to Consider when Planning a Wedding in hopes that he will guide them as they start their planning and thinking about what they want it to all look and feel like. This list is not exhaustive but I think its important for when you are just starting out with the planning and figuring out what you want for your big day.

Setting a Realistic Budget

It’s a well-known fact that Weddings are Expensive, but that doesn’t mean you can have an affordable one that is within your budget. When I was young, growing up in Zambia, I learned that weddings were often funded by the families and their close friends so that the couple starts married life debt-free. Moving to the UK, I found that some people take out thousands of pounds to have a lavish wedding, and whilst there is nothing wrong with that, I don’t like the idea of starting my married life with a huge debt. This is why I am all about sitting down with your partner and discussing what you can realistically afford. For some, it requires a couple of years to save up; others may be ahead and already have the money saved up, or their families will cover the entire cost.

Choosing the Right Venue

A venue can make or break the wedding, in my opinion. One of my close friends recently got married, and she and her husband booked a beautiful venue that covered them if the weather changed (hello British Weather). I thought that was such a smart idea because can you imagine booking an open venue (think outside) and it starts raining? Choosing the right venue is so important, and if you are in the UK, then consider these *Dream Wedding Venues near Cheshire for your upcoming nuptials.

Creating a Guest List

I have always believed that when it comes to weddings, it’s important to only invite people (1) you know and (2) you would want to celebrate your big day with. But I also come from a culture where the wedding is not really about you but two families coming together, and that often means the parents influence the guest list. Whilst I have no issues with this, I think it is important to sit down with your families and agree on the guest list and inform your parents or guardians that whoever they invite (outside of close family and friends), they would cover the cost. For some, this is not a problem, but for others, this will be an issue. Stand firm and remember, it’s your day.

Create a Tracker

I am a sucker for a good tracker, and those who know me in real life know that I love tracking everything, so for me, it’s even more important to track activities for a wedding. There are so many wonderful and free wedding templates out there that you can choose from. Make sure it covers the basics like budget, guest list, and vendors.

There are many things to consider when planning a wedding, and as I said previously, this list is not exhaustive. I did not include things like makeup, photographer and/or videographer or even the DJ, but these are to be expected, so they didn’t make the cut.