How early is too early to start planning your special event?

We get asked this question a lot and our response is always that, if you want to guarantee the venue, suppliers and entertainment you have in mind, it’s best to allow between 18 months and two years from the point of booking.

There are lots of other reasons for this, including the fact that many suppliers offer heavy discounts for early booking. January and February are a particularly good time to start looking around, as this is when many companies are keen to secure their business pipeline for the next couple of years, and will be willing to incentivise you for helping them achieve that.

A 10-to-20 per cent discount on an overall event cost of several thousand pounds is well worth having, and starting early is also a great way of managing your budget. You can be absolutely clear about what you’re spending, and take your time to pay for the various elements gradually.

Defining your day can be a stressful process and many people fall into the trap of starting their planning with a venue hunt. This can work if you have a shortlist of places that are meaningful to you, and are simply looking to narrow those down. If that’s not the case, though, it can result in more confusion than anything else. This is because each place you look at will have its own identity and features, and this has the potential to cloud your judgement about the wedding or celebration you actually want.

This is why we would always advise you to consider the bigger picture before you do anything else. Ask yourself questions like ‘what do I want my day to be about?’ and ‘what are the things that are really important to me?’

For example, is hiring a great band and having a big knees-up your objective, or would you rather enjoy a more intimate occasion with your close family and friends? Or, do you want amazing food to be the focus of your day?

The next step, once you’ve pinpointed your key event ingredients, is to choose a date. Is there a time of year that is particularly special to you?

Then, thinking about your non-negotiables, what kind of venue will support the ceremony you want, and the overall vibe? Try to picture the scene in your head, cut out images from magazines that help you build your vision, create your own Pinterest board and flick through wedding magazines. Get your vision clear before you even think about narrowing things down to a list of actual venues and your ultimate choice will be much easier. You’ll be able to eliminate places which just don’t fit and save yourself a lot of time and effort.

A marquee, of course, is a blank canvas limited only by your imagination. As long as you have somewhere in mind where you can site one, the rest can be tailored to your exact specifications.

First things first…

• Define your vision
• Decide on your non-negotiables
• Choose and book your venue

Then, secure your:

• Vicar or registrar
• Caterer and menu
• Entertainment
• Stylist
• Florist
• Photographer
• Cars
• Cake.

If you're inspired by what you've read and would like more advice on shaping your event, call us on (01262) 468160/07973 314769, or fill in the form below to arrange a free chat.