It’s never too early to start planning your wedding!

Celebrating your wedding will be one of the happiest days of your life but getting to the big day can also be pretty stressful! From finding a venue, securing the date, choosing a dress and organising catering, flowers, transport, a guest list…there is a lot to consider. But don’t panic! We’ve put together some top tips ahead of the Moray Wedding Show on October 12 where you can meet the experts and start turning those ‘big day’ dreams into reality! So, where to begin?

Save the date

Many couples dream of a summer wedding with blue skies and glorious sunshine, and as such, it can be the busiest season with venues, caterers, photographers and other suppliers booked up. Christmas and Hogmanay are also popular, so if your dream is to have a summer or winter wonderland wedding, plan early! Weddings are often booked well in advance, sometimes two years ahead. But if you just can’t wait, consider these alternatives. Spring and autumn make spectacular backdrops with flowers coming into bloom, or all those rich reds and oranges as the leaves change colour. If your heart is set on a winter wedding, January and February (not Valentine’s Day!) are great alternatives to the busy festive season. Weekend ceremonies are also hugely popular so consider a weekday date instead. Also, avoid big sporting events!

Location, location, location

In Scotland, you can marry almost anywhere (with the owner/landowner’s permission of course) which can make choosing a venue both exciting and overwhelming! Do you dream of a ceremony at a fairy-tale castle, an iconic landmark, a rustic converted barn, on a beach or a mountain top? The options are endless! Finding ‒ and more importantly ‒ securing your venue is often the biggest worry but you’ll find hotels and other locations are wedding-ready! Many have their own dedicated event planner who can be as involved as much or as little as you want, and will arrange a no-obligation tour of the venue, as well as catering options and more. Thinking about an outdoor wedding but you’re concerned about the weather? Consider a venue with beautiful grounds as well as indoor capacity, or having a marquee to retreat to.

Budgeting basics

Unless you have pockets as deep as the likes of Jeff Bezos and can afford to book almost an entire city for your big day (oh, if only!), you’ll need a budget. The average cost of a wedding today can be over £20,000. Try not to faint ‒ remember, every wedding is unique and it’s up to you how much you want to spend, and what you want to spend it on. Agree a ballpark budget with your partner, make a list of what you need; venue, catering, the cake, photography, entertainment, flowers, decoration, attire etc and get no-obligation quotes from essential suppliers. Once you have quotes, you can better rank where you want to spend your money. Also factor in an emergency/contingency fund for hidden/additional costs. Most venues offer wedding packages which include the venue, and food and drink, as well as other elements. Packages are priced per person so you can work out your costs based on the number of guests. It is also worth considering wedding insurance ‒ just in case something goes awry. Policies will vary depending on your personal circumstances but insurance can cover cancellation/rearrangement (due to accident or illness ‒ but not a change of heart!) lost or stolen rings, being let down by your venue or suppliers, photography, personal and public liability.

I’m in the mood for…

Create your wedding vision with a digital mood board (Pinterest is perfect for this) and ‘pin’ any ideas you have or explore other people’s Pins for inspiration. Capture images of venues, decor, trends, themes, dresses, flowers etc on your phone when you’re out and about or whenever the mood takes you or inspiration strikes!

Still unsure where to start? Come along to The Moray Wedding Show and meet the experts who can help you plan your big day and offer lots of inspiration too!

The Moray Wedding Show, Sunday, October 12, The Alexander Graham Bell Centre for Digital Health, UHI Moray, Elgin, 12pm to 3pm.