13 Step Guide

If the coins in your wallet don't quite add up you might need to consult the bank (or maybe your dads credit card?) Whether your budget is £1000 or £100,000, you can be sure that there are services out there that will suit your needs and are within budget. Visit the wedding diary planner on the hitched.co.uk website for further advice on planning your budget and how to allocate your spending.

We are working here on the principal that you have a rough date in mind. More often than not, unless you are planning to an exact date years in advance, the availability and choice of venue will drive the actual date of the wedding. Choosing the right venue will most certainly take time, but with the help of the venue finder on the hitched.co.uk website , and over 4000 choices to browse through, you will be sure to find your most perfect setting for your big day. When both the ceremony and venue arrangements have been chosen, the whole day will then fall into place. Something else important to remember will be your first night together as a married couple. Not all reception venues can act as a hotel too, so planning your first night together should be something you should consider when viewing venues.

The average wedding these days comes at the bargain price of just £17,000. Insurance probably isn't the first thing on your mind when planning your wedding but then again do you always consider the unfortunate mishaps that may end up costing you dearly? For example, your venue could get cancelled at the last minute, leaving a big tidy up job at your house and a big order to be made at your local take away. Or, god forbid illness strikes and your special day needs to be postponed. By having purchased wedding insurance you will have peace of mind and seeing as you are spending so much, an additional small cost of a starting price of £50 probably won't break the bank. A comprehensive list of insurance details can be found easily on the hitched website for your review.

Now you have set a date and purchased insurance you can really start to spend. We all marry for love, but in the back of our minds aren't we also excited about what that exquisite piece of jewellery will look like on our finger? Some say that the tradition of wedding rings comes from the circular shape symbolising an endless stream of love. Others say the tradition stems from the fact that a vein runs directly from your wedding finger to the heart, connecting the two constantly. Whatever the truth, when selecting your ring you are not just choosing a beautiful piece of jewellery that will look lovely on your finger, you are also taking another step towards bonding yourselves together forever.

Now the fun really begins! Where do you start with your guest list? The truth is you have probably already thought about it. When you were young did you dream of the fairytale wedding or was yours a smaller, more intimate affair? When you planned your budget earlier in step 1 presumably you have agreed on the amount you will be spending on your reception and as you have selected your venue it's safe to assume that you have a good idea of the size of your wedding party. So now start writing out names. Our advice is really quite simple. Start with the people closest to you, the key players (family members, best man or men, bridesmaids, etc) and then work outwards. Imagine you are designing your 'family and friends tree'. Get a large piece of paper and at the very top write your names. Then work downwards in rows starting with the most important people and working to the end until you have encompassed everyone you can think of. At this point, do not worry about the actual number of people you have written down but think more about not overlooking anyone. Once you are convinced you have everyone included, you can start crossing people off or at least categorising people into daytime and evening guests. Be prepared to give and take a little when discussing people with your partner and try to be as accommodating as possible. That being said, remember that it is your day and if there is somebody there that will really make your day, stand firm!

This will be one of the most fun and exciting parts of the whole wedding preparation process. No matter what shape or size you are, there are a multitude of dresses to be found in the hitched.co.uk bridal wear section, not to mention all the accessories you will need to make yourself look like a fairy princess. Grooms wear, ushers, bridesmaids, pageboys and every other member of the wedding party also need to be considered so be prepared to spend some time making sure the complete wedding party is coordinated.

Whilst you have probably already told everyone you know about your up and coming big day, now is the time to make it official. Your invitations need to be sent out well in advance so whilst this may be a little early to send them, you should at least begin looking at colours and designs. If you want to be really well prepared, why not send out some 'save the date' cards out now just to say that your big day is on the XXX and the official invitations will be sent out closer to the time? People love to receive mail, especially when it is covered with feathers and pretty bows. Your stationary order will be themed by the colours in the rest of your day, and is traditionally sent on behalf of the brides parents. The stationary order can include everything from a save the date card, to your place cards, and even your order of service card. It is always handy to get your order done with one supplier to avoid confusion. The hitched.co.uk website lists hundreds of stationery suppliers for you to ensure the perfect look for your big day.

Having dealt with 101 suppliers, bridesmaid issues, months of stress and trying to make the biggest day of your life perfect you will need a holiday. Your honeymoon is normally your first few weeks alone with your new partner, so it will be very exciting. Going down to your local travel agent early will avoid disappointment and make sure that you have the most relaxing holiday of your life. Changing your name on the passport is best left until after you return from the holiday, but if you don't own a passport with a least 6 months validity left on it, it would be advisable to get one sooner rather than later. If you are travelling to a distant island that no one has ever heard of, you may also want to check out the visa situation. You wouldn't want to show up unprepared only to find out that you have to turn around and come back home again if they have a requirement or jab that you have not been informed about. Doing your homework will most certainly pay off in the future.

Through out your wedding day you will experience so many wonderful moments that you will want to remember forever. By booking a good photographer/videographer you will be able to look over your favourite moments time and time again and they will be a treasure to keep forever. Your wedding car will also need to be booked at this stage, along with the lengthy process of choosing the right colour coordinated and meaningful flowers to complement your day (check out the hitched.co.uk flower guide). The essential cake to eat during the evening entertainment and music all need to be thought about now. The hitched.co.uk directory is jam packed full of professional and reliable resources to help you organize and add the finishing touches to your dream wedding.

Whilst you are getting married for love, one nice 'bonus' is all those lovely presents you are going to receive. And even better, you get to pick them all out yourself! Most girls love shopping so going in to a store or online and choosing anything you want for your guest list will be amazing, and is also a smart idea because it avoids you being given 3 toasters or 9 blenders. A gift list is also good for couples who do already live together and have everything. You can choose unusual presents that you might not purchase yourself or simply select gifts that will resemble your day or the love you have for each other. Wedding gift lists can be arranged at any leading department store, and with a number of specialized online guides. To learn more about how to conduct a wedding gift list please see the Wedding List Ideas section on the hitched.co.uk site.

If you've made use of the 'save the date' cards, most of your guests should be well aware when your wedding is and will be eagerly anticipating the invitation landing on their doormat. You should send out your invites a minimum of 8 weeks before your wedding however sooner is often better. If you are inviting a lot of over seas guests it would be advisable to send them early in order for replies to come back to you. There is nothing more frustrating than not knowing how many people to cater for or where to seat who if you are unsure of your final numbers. One way around this is to have a 'reserve list' of people that you would like to invite if numbers permit.

Your last chance as a single person to let your self go wild is going to be at the stag or hen night. This night is all about you, and should get you fully psyched up for your wedding day. It is the duty of the best man and bridesmaids to organize this evening, but they are usually done in style and painting the town red is the attitude to have. This will be a very exciting evening, because you will be amongst your closest friends, and the people who know you best. Stag and Hen nights are now often turning into weekends and even weeks. If you've budgeted well these events can be spent in far away lands topping up tans and relaxing before the day itself.

Everyone's wedding is unique to them so it is difficult to put into words exactly what final touches you will need to take care of. Things to think about are seating plans, order of service, rehearsals, speeches, readings, poems, thank you gifts, first dances, music, timings, transport, children, favours, first night accommodation, return of hired outfits, thank you cards, etc… Our 13 step guide cannot possibly cover everything for everyone but we do hope to offer most people a good idea of what may be involved in their big day. If you still feel you need more help, please browse the rest of the hitched.co.uk wedding site and for advice from other wedding planners, go to the hitched.co.uk forum.