WEDDING CELEBRANT & EMCEE

It's a busy and stressful time.

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Lots of couples get engaged and are excited about planning their special day but often unsure where to start.

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The first things I believe you and partner need to decide on are;

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• Location/style/venue

• Size

• Date

• Budget

• What you're willing to compromise on

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From there, it's suggested you book these vendors first.

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• Venue

• Caterer

• Photographer/videographer

• Celebrant - hopefully that's me!

• Band/DJ

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Choosing your location can be easy or quite difficult. Maybe you have the perfect place in mind, or maybe you have no idea. Consider what's important to you and your partner. Maybe you want a beach vibe? Or something intimate and romantic? Maybe you want a garden feel or to reconnect and get married in nature. Decide what's important to you both as a couple, could it be somewhere you both grew up or where your Grandparents were married? Don't be held back on the top venue searches on Google, there are many different venues so ask around and ask other Brides/Grooms you'll be surprised what might come up!

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Size - how many people do you want? Are you a social butterfly or prefer to elope? No matter your style consider if your perfect venue can suit the number of guests. Do you really want to invite your second cousin twice removed? Is having your best friend from Primary School that you haven't seen in ten years that important to you? Consider your closest friends and family. I often suggest to couples to ask themselves "will this person be in my life in 10/20/30 years from now?". Choosing the number of guests will influence your style and your budget. If you're keen to just celebrate you both, consider an elopement these are becoming more and more common.

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Setting a date - this sounds obvious but can be a challenge. Decide on a day that works for you both and consider if you'd compromise at all. Are you really keen on a particular venue but need to move your date back a week or so? Is the date specific to you as a couple - maybe it's when you first met? Consider if you're keen on a public holiday as your costs might increase or if you're okay with a weekday wedding to reduce costs? If you're keen on a holiday weekend, remember to give guests lots of time to plan to be there!

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The budget - always the most challenging part. Many couples have never planned a big event before so it's important to be clear with what you can or can't afford. Not many of us are Kate Middleton marrying Prince William so be clear with each other (and potentially both parents) what you can afford. If your families are contributing be clear in your expectations to avoid any drama or stress (sometimes this comes over the guest list.)

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Compromises - a marriage is a union of two people so consider what's really important to you both. Maybe you really love a particular band but they are a bit more than your budget, maybe you can downscale your cake etc? Consider the trade-offs. What will you remember and what might you regret?