Five Hundred Days to Plan the Biggest Day of Their Lives

May 4, 2016 12:35 pm

In the United Kingdom the average engagement period is sixteen months. Meaning that brides and grooms to be have just five hundred days to plan the biggest day of their lives. The day where they share their vows with each other and promise to be by each others side in sickness and health. This is of course their wedding. A day which will be treasured for decades to come and looked back on during both the happiest and darkest moments of their lives.

To have a wedding that is treasured so dearly and looked back on fondly, extensive planning is necessary. In fact, an article published in the Daily Mail revealed that brides spend the equivalent to 36 days planning their wedding and grooms spend 6 days. The bride’s mother, on the other hand, spends 18 days devoted to the planning of her daughter’s special day. All adding up to months of delight and stress as the wedding quickly approaches.

Many brides and grooms consider the first six months of planning to be of the utmost importance, with it involving the planning of the most pivotal elements of their wedding. It is in these six months that the couple will start their ‘wedding folder’, which will soon be packed full of magazine snippets and notes to inspire them throughout the planning process. By collating all of their inspiration and ideas into a single folder they’ll find that they save considerable time and avoid unnecessary stress at a later date.

It is early on in the planning of the wedding that they must also work out their budget. This should take into consideration their families’ contribution and their own. All of which, once combined, will be the total amount they’ve got to spend on their wedding day. Once they have outlined their budget they must also start a list that lays out each element of their ‘ideal wedding’. Whilst some of these will be eliminated at a later date, as they are beyond their budget, they should all be outlined. Once they have a completed list, they must then allocate a budget to each element of their wedding. They must also ensure that they leave a small portion of their total budget remaining to be used on the occasion that an element of the wedding goes over budget or an unforeseen cost arises.

Once they have outlined the budget they will also start preparing a guest list. This list will be essential throughout the planning process, as it will impact the amount spent on each part of their wedding. The creation of a guest list is often an uncomfortable experience for brides and grooms, as they will often have to remove distant relatives or colleagues to cut costs on the big day.

With the budget allocated and guest list completed, the exciting task of selecting their venues arises. Some couples may choose to hold their ceremony and reception at separate venues, while others will hold them at the same venue to avoid additional costs. Wherever the ceremony and reception is held, it is essential that you book your date and secure the venues in advance. When booking the venues, it is important to take into account travel time for themselves and guests. Some guests, who are travelling from other counties across the UK, may struggle to make an early start.

At the same point, many couples will secure their vehicles for the special day. The vehicles they choose will depend upon the weddings style. 4×4 Vehicle Hire’s wedding car hire is a popular choice among couples planning contemporary weddings across the UK. Each of our vehicles provide the couple with a 1^st class experience and ensures that they get to their venue in both style and comfort.

By the time they have outlined their budget, completed their guest list, secured their venue and booked their wedding car hire, six months would have passed. It is at this point that the bride and groom to be will find the perfect dress and suite and finalise all of the small details. All of which, when combined, will set the tone of their wedding and make it a day that they’ll never forget.