Sussex Exclusive Magazine. Issue 4 2023

to your fiancé. What is non-negotiable and what
could you compromise on? You don’t necessarily
need all the detail mapped out at this stage just a
big picture view of what your special day should
be like.
Talk money
While you’re thinking about family and friends,
don’t forget to put together a team of helpers.
Whilst you may want to do the majority of
organising yourself, having a trusted few to
delegate to either during the planning stage or on
the big day can really help ease the strain. Just be
clear who is doing what.
Wedding Planning
There’s a shiny ring on your finger,
a skip in your step and a slightly
panicky feeling in your stomach! After
the first glow of excitement, the idea
of planning and pulling off a wedding
can feel a little overwhelming. Where to start?
How to start? What needs to be done and when?
How are you going to pay for it all?
Whether you’re a spreadsheet lover, a delegator
or a head in the sand until the last-minute style
planner, get started and get ahead with the
following big-ticket items and the detail will start
to fall into place.
The First Six Steps
Talk style
What’s the wedding dream? The pair of you with
a couple of friends on a beach in the Caribbean?
150 guests watching you walk down the aisle in
a beautiful church while you wear a full wedding
train? Hay bales and scenic shots, or cityscapes
and a cocktail style dress?
Choosing the style of your wedding is one of the
best parts of your planning so start early and enjoy
the process. Hang out on social media channels
to get ideas, buy wedding magazines, browse
wedding boutiques, create a mood board and talk
© Sophie Ward
It’s not romantic talking about money but it is
essential. Wedding costs can very quickly run
away with you, and you do not want to start
married life in debt. Check to see whether parents
or family members will be contributing (and
how much) and then set a realistic budget. You
need to budget for ceremony costs, reception
costs, the dress, the bridesmaids’ dresses and
men’s suits, rings, flowers, food and drink,
photography, music, invitations, cake, transport,
bridal accessories, hair and make-up, and the
honeymoon. But even if you’ve costed in all these,
there will still be a dozen little extras that you
think of along the way so leave a little space in the
budget for those.
Get a broad brush idea of the likely cost of the
most expensive items – that gorgeous, all-inclusive
manor house for example, and work out what’s
doable and what’s not. Get creative about ways
you can save on some items to splash a bit more
on others. Time spent on setting a budget will be
time well spent.
Create a checklist
Even the smallest wedding involves quite a lot of
detail and you really, really don’t want to forget
anything. From the little things like wedding
favours and confetti to booking the band or
deciding on the groom’s shoes, have a working list
which you can add items to as you think of them,
and which has a “to be done by” date column.
Team talk
Of course you and your partner should be at
the very centre of the big day, but that doesn’t
mean there’s no once else to think about. Family
politics can make for complicated decisions.
Who do you want to play the key roles on the
day … bridesmaids, best man, who will walk you
down the aisle, who will sit on the top table? For
some, this will be easy but for others, this can be
a really sensitive area. Honest conversations, had
early are best. Knowing your budget and the
style of wedding you want can help too. If you
haven’t got the budget for all seven step sisters to
be bridesmaids, it may make explaining why you
haven’t asked them easier.
Finding a venue
Just because your dream venue is out of budget
doesn’t you can’t have a dream venue. Sussex has
some amazing places and these days you can get
married in all sorts of unusual venues. With an
idea of your style, a little creativity may result in
a venue that is affordable and even more perfect
than your original choice. But don’t forget, when
we talk about venue, you will often need two!
One to get married in and one for the reception.
If you’re having two venues, think about transport
and journey times between the two.
Once you have decided, check the terms and
conditions carefully and book as early as possible
to get your ideal date. You need to book at least a
year in advance.
Choosing the photographers
What to book first - venue or photographer? Most
people book the venue first because that informs
other decisions like the date. That said, it doesn’t
have to be linear, and an experienced wedding
photographer may have some suggestions about
venues that you haven’t considered.
Your wedding theme may well have already
informed the type of photography style you want
but it’s still worth doing some research online.
There are so many different styles, from reportage,
vintage and black and white, to bright colours or
a mixture of all these. Then speak to at least three
photographers and ask for examples of different
styles. A good wedding photographer will always
want to spend time with you so that they can get
an understanding of what you’re about and this in
turn will help you get an idea of what’s right for
you.
You’ll need to book your wedding photographer
at least 9 or 10 months in advance and make sure
you discuss fees and what exactly will be included.
What time will your photographer arrive and leave
on the day, how many photos will you get, what
about video and what about an engagement shoot?
Great! You’ve ticked off some of the big decisions.
Now, you’ve got the best part of a year to make
those all-important detail decisions – dress,
flowers, cake, etc.! Enjoy the journey.
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