Getting engaged may have been the happiest moment of your life, but once the realization set in that you actually have to plan your wedding, your joy may have turned to dread. After all, if you want your big day to run smoothly, there is plenty to arrange! 

However, as long as you’re organized, you should be able to achieve the results you’re after. Firstly, you’ll need to set your spending limit. The cost of nuptial celebrations can quickly mount up and, if you’re not careful, your wedding finances could spiral out of control. Don’t blow your entire budget on your venue. Remember, you’ll need plenty of extra cash for other essentials such as wedding rings, flowers, outfits, transport and more.

It’s also important to book your venue sooner rather than later. The most desirable locations tend to be in high demand and by booking your venue early on, you’ll give yourself more time to get the other details in place. As well as choosing somewhere that looks and feels the part, take practical issues like transport and accommodation into account.

Once you’ve made your booking, it’s time to send your save the date cards out. The sooner you do this, the more likely it is that your guests will be able to make it. Bear in mind that people often make holiday plans well in advance. If you delay sending out your invites, this could mean some of your friends and family are absent from your celebration.

It may not be the most romantic consideration, but insurance is well worth thinking about. You might be spending lots of money on your wedding, and so having financial cover in place could provide you with added peace of mind.

Once you’ve got these areas covered, it’s time to start planning the finer details, including your catering, entertainment, dress, rings, decorations, stationery and so on. Whether or not you hire a professional photographer is up to you, but either way make sure plenty of snaps are taken. The day itself will go by in a flash, so it’s really important that you have lots of photos to help you remember it.

Of course, no wedding is complete without a honeymoon. However, if you’ve reached your financial limits, you can always defer this vacation until you’ve got a little extra money.