Wedding planning tips

 

Newly-married bridal designer Charlotte Balbier shares her tips for planning the perfect wedding

Having been at the forefront of the British bridal industry for over a decade - and as newly-married woman herself - it's safe to say that Charlotte Balbier knows a thing or two about wedding planning. Having spent two years organising her own celebration, we asked Charlotte to share her tips for newly-engaged brides-to-be.  

1. Set a budget

Sit down together and set a budget. Always have a ‘just in case’ money stash - in my experience, weddings always go over budget!

2. Venue

Booking your venue is the first thing you should do. The best venues get snapped up months in advance, so make sure you act quick. When choosing your venue, look for someone that matches the tone and style of your wedding as a whole, as well as your personalities.

3. Photography

Book the best photographer you can with your budget - allocate a good percentage to this as the best photographers are expensive but worth every single penny. Your photographs are the one lasting memory you will get to keep forever - so make sure you're happy with them!

4. The dress!

Start looking around early on in your wedding planning - without the dress you can’t move onto all the other details of your wedding such as the flowers, cake and the general styling and over all look of your day. Also keep in mind gowns are made to order, so can take up to six months for production and alterations.

5. Insurance 

Get yourself the best wedding insurance you can afford; this way you are protected against the unexpected happening.

6. Call in the experts

Do your research thoroughly and find the best suppliers and book them as early as possible. A florist/venue stylist is a must.

7. Get a wedding planner

I made the mistake of only having a wedding planner who will coordinate on the day, the amazing Charley London Bride. If I could have my time over I would have Charley on board right from the beginning of the wedding prep and planning. Learn from my mistakes and get a wedding planner!

8. Special touches

The finer details are what make your day personal to you, your partner and your personalities. This can be include anything and everything from favours to stationary, décor to entertainment... The list is endless and these are all great ways to add an extra personal touch to your wedding.

9. Focus!

Keep focused and be organised. Staying focused is key to keeping calm and on-track with your planning - the time will fly be, so organisation and a cool head are also vital!

10. Enjoy!

I know first-hand how stressful wedding planning can be: when you're distracted by flowers, cakes, favours, table plans and so on, it can be easy to lose sight of why you're getting married in the first place. If you’re not careful you can go into bridal meltdown (I know I did!) and it can all become a bit too much to handle. Take a deep breath, re-gain focus and enjoy as this is a special time for you, your partner, family and friends.