Planning a Wedding: Five Top Tips from Wedding Market

Start off with numbers

A lot of wedding expenditure is determined by your guest list. Each invited head can total a substantial cost and can bump you up to a higher capacity room at a venue. At Wedding Market we believe that you should always start your process with your 'draft' guest lists. Brides Family, Groom's family, Bride's friends and grooms friends and a 5th list of people you may both know; your neighbours and friends of the family. Then decide who will be with you for the whole day, who is invited for the evening and who is allowed a plus one, it will all soon add up.

Get it all in writing

You may talk to a supplier 18 months before your wedding takes place, conversations held 18 months ago can become a hazy blur. Contracts and confirmations of orders are therefore essential from all suppliers, whether in the form of an email or a standard printed one. You need to understand within the contract what happens if anything goes wrong from either side, whether prices can go up or if suppliers can substitute anything, including themselves and when deposits and full payments are due and what happens to deposits if you change your mind.

Ensure you receive a plan of exactly what you expect to receive before, on the day or beyond. It's not time consuming to get things in writing such as costs and a confirmation of when they'll turn up, how long they'll be there, who they'll bring with them, how they'll be dressed, how much space they'll need or any requirements they may have like access to lifts, power or water.

Electrical equipment should be tested and don't be afraid to ask to see any insurance certificates, personal qualifications, kitchens or association memberships.