So you recently got engaged? Congratulations.

Now that you’ve had time to announce your exciting news and gush over your engagement ring, it’s time to start the daunting task of planning your wedding. But don’t worry – our tips and hints should help you on your way.

Budget

First things first, decide on your budget. With a plethora of wedding planning apps now available, it should be easier than ever to break down your budget.

Guest List

Then it’s time to draft your first guest list. This will probably change several times before you decide on your final numbers but it’s important to have an initial idea in mind so that you can ensure your venues has the capacity for your guest list.

Venue

Which brings us to selecting your venue. This is undoubtedly the most important decision you will make for your big day so it’s vital to attend as many Wedding Open Days as possible. Open days are also great for meeting local vendors and getting some inspiration for themes and colour schemes. You can view all our upcoming wedding open days and events below.

Alexander House 
Rowhill Grange
Langshott Manor
Barnett Hill

Stationary

Once you’ve booked your venue it’s time to start looking at where you’re going to purchase your stationary from so that you can send out those all-important Save the Dates! You might think that a reputable stationer is only necessary for your invitations but you might also be needing menus, place-cards and table plans. Here at Alexander House we love the designs of Elegant Stationary.

The Boring Bits

With your venue booked, it’s time to get the boring bits out of the way. It’s important to book your registrar as soon as possible after booking to make sure they are available for the date of your wedding. You can contact Crawley Registry Office here. Don’t forget to also take out wedding insurance as you want to make sure you’re covered should anything unexpected occur!

 Vendors

With your wedding plans well under way and a clear idea of themes and colour schemes you can book your vendors feeling confident about how you would like your dream day to come together. Make sure you book your photographer early on before the best ones get ‘snapped’ up. It’s a good idea to decide on who will be doing your flowers at this point and select a venue styling company that can picture your vision for your special day. Then it’s time to consider entertainment. This is the decision that most couples will argue over – so don’t worry; you’re not alone! Do you go for live music or a DJ? Whatever you decide will set the mood for your big day. Either way we have plenty of contacts that we can put you in touch with. Now would also be the time to begin thinking about who you would like to design your wedding cake. Your wedding cake is a wonderful way to showcase the theme of your celebrations and with some extremely talented bakers and cake decorators out there you can certainly go for something a little unusual. Don’t restrict yourself to a traditional wedding cake either. For the more ‘mature’ bride, why not think about having a Cheese Cake on your special day – which are becoming increasingly popular.

Wedding Attire

To complete your wedding day vision it’s time to select your wedding dress (make sure you do this early on because some bridal stores suggest it can take up to 9 months for delivery – and this way you can savour the exciting process of purchasing your dress without any time pressures.) You can also start thinking about Bridesmaid Dresses and what your Groom/Groomsmen will be wearing at this point. Now may also be the time to decide upon your hair stylist and make-up artist so that you have plenty of time for trial sessions and you can ensure you look every bit as beautiful as you have visualised on your special day.

With the most important plans now in place, you can send out your invitations to your guests safe in the knowledge that your wedding plans are in full swing.