Recently engaged - planning your wedding in a lockdown

With many of us having to stay at home in self-isolation we’re finding ourselves in unfamiliar territory, but we are very much trying to remain positive and simply can’t wait for all the beautiful weddings to come later this year.

Your wedding is likely to be the biggest celebration that you will ever arrange, and require a large investment financially. It can be overwhelming at first, and you may not know quite where to start – but one thing is for sure, it will definitely be the most fun event that you have ever planned!

If you have just got engaged (YAY – Congratulations by the way) we wanted to give you a few helpful tips and ideas to get you started, whilst at home in isolation.  

 1: INSPIRATION & RESEARCH     

This is the first place to start – Pinterest, wedding magazines and wedding websites will be your best friend, however don’t let them overwhelm you. The best thing to do is set yourself a time limit to pin to your hearts content onto a new ‘wedding board’ this will focus your style and give you a good idea of how you would like your wedding day celebrations to look and feel. A physical mood board from magazine cut outs is also a more visual way of seeing your overall look, colours, fabrics and time of year.

Take a look at our beautiful Pinterest boards https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pristonmill/boards/ .

There is so much inspiration here at your fingertips.

Another great use of time would be to research suppliers such as florists, DJ’s, photographers.  Find people whose aesthetic you love, ask friends for recommendations of suppliers they used and read reviews……..reviews will always be a great overview of a venue, or supplier.

Click here for some of our reviews from the wonderful brides and grooms that have got married at Priston Mill. 

 2: ORGANISATION

Get online and order yourself some stationary – an expandable folder or large ring binder with dividers and this will become your wedding bible! You will be able to keep everything together including your supplier contracts, contact details, guest list and budget.  Label each section for every supplier or part of your wedding so that everything stays in one place and is easy to find, this will make you feel much calmer in the long run when you can put your hand on any piece of paperwork you may need. 

 3: BUDGET

Now it comes down to the money – there are lots of budget planners online, however we find that making your own spreadsheet that works for you is the most helpful. Remember little things like feeding your band and photographer on the day, your caterer will be able to help with advising on this, wedding insurance and don’t forget to budget for wedding dress alterations too.

If spreadsheets aren’t your thing, take a look at BrideBook. It’s a fantastic, free, wedding planning App.

You may, if appropriate, be able to have conversations with parents, grandparents and family to see if they may be able to help financially in any way for your big day.  Any contribution, large or small will help and this will then give you a better idea of how much you will need to be saving along the way too.

It is helpful to prioritise the most important things to the both of you on your wedding day and allocate your budget accordingly.  The food plays a key role in your wedding day along with the setting – and where could be more beautiful than our very own venues here at Priston Mill in Somerset, The Tythe Barn and Watermill .

 4: GUEST LIST    

Well a wedding wouldn’t be a wedding without guests – think about who are must haves on your list. We know that the guest list (aside from the dress) is the most difficult part of the day for a lot of couples; trying not to upset anyone, managing your parents expectations that you aren’t going to invite all the cousins once removed to your big day! It can be a daunting challenge however lots of couples now are cutting down on plus-ones, either due to budget, or the capacity of the wedding venue. Don’t forget to include you and your fiancé in your numbers too….unless you don’t plan on eating on your wedding day! 

You will also need to think about who you want in your wedding party on both sides….think about the people who have been there for you and will continue to support you through this exciting time of planning your wedding.

 5: VENUE

We know this one is hard to do from home, but the legwork will be worth it. Make a short list of venues and contact them for a brochure and pricing, remember to provide them with approximate guest numbers and a time of year that you are looking at so that they can better answer your query.

Remember that booking out of season often offers you the best value and venues often have winter offers to entice you to book a beautiful autumnal or winter wedding. 

Lots of venues now have virtual walk rounds on their websites too, so have a look at these and get a feel for the space – you could even set up a call with one of the team who would be able to answer any questions you may have.

At Priston Mill, we can still do a virtual tour with you….call us to book an appointment and one of the team will show you around via FaceTime or Skype!

Please be assured that we are available for calls between 9am and 5pm 7 days a week to answer any questions that you may have, or perhaps to book a time for a virtual tour – alternatively you can email us on hello@pristonmill.co.uk and one of the team will come back to you as soon as possible.

We hope that your family, friends and loved ones are staying safe and well and we can’t wait to see you all again soon, and welcome you to Priston Mill near Bath.  

Author – Kim Blair – Event Manager at Priston Mill

Kim has been an Event Manager with us for nearly 3 years but previous to her role with us at Priston Mill she managed a number of boutique hotels and also coordinated events in the private and corporate sector. Kim has over ten years of wedding and events experience. She has a wealth of knowledge and is a hugely valued member of the Priston Mill family.