So the countdown has become a reality, he finally proposed and you've even reached mutual agreement about the date. Where do you go from here? Well if you have the luxury of time, this will make your wedding planning infinitely easier. Why? Because you have the benefit of booking in advance, wedding dress sales and oodles of time to get in trim if needs be, and you'll feel less hurried as your plans begin to take shape.

Wedding planning is an art-form, there's no doubt about it. Or else why would so many have undertaken the management monotony of other people's weddings, and made a successful career out of it to boot? The trouble most couples have is in laying down the basics after the church or registry office. Where to have the reception? What kind of catering will be best for our guests? Should we incorporate a theme?

Nailing The Basics

If you're anything like the majority of modern couples, you'll probably have set yourself at least twelve months for effectual planning and budgeting prior to the big day, however there are some who simply cannot wait to tie the knot. In either case, booking of the ceremonial location is vital as early as possible, to set your date in stone. After all, you can't send out those invites until you have somewhere to invite your guests to!

If you're opting for a church or religious wedding, there are certain stipulations put in place when it comes to the right to marry within formal places of worship. It doesn't matter what your domination, faith or background – you'll find that every place of worship requires a certain number of attendances, contributions or payments in order to secure the date. The question is whether you are prepared to attend a number of services, aside from those where the “bands” are read out, in order to demonstrate your acceptance of the faith, by which you'll be married. Of course a registry office, commitment or outdoor ceremony won't require any of this, all you need are witnesses.

Compiling THE List

Now you have the venue booked, it's time to get down to the nitty gritty of your wedding planning - decide who you're going to invite. Excitement tends to influence the mutual agreements between couples over budgets and guests, well before the formal planning begins. You may even have joked about who you'll definitely have to sit at the bottom table in order to avoid familial conflicts!

Consider your invitees carefully, and be realistic about who you can afford to invite. While you may want half of your departmental team to witness your big day, budgets don't always allow for such eventualities. Aside from being a preparatory move for sending out invites, the guest list will also come in handy when it comes to booking the reception or wedding party venue.

Barter Over Budget

The budget is the one controversial aspect of wedding planning that almost always causes disagreement between couples. Stereotypically, the bride is the less practical when it comes to budget, allegedly of the inclination that no expense should be spared, while the groom is supposedly the one who puts his foot down. While you may not agree at first, compromise will ensure that there are both practical and fair allocations of the budget to every aspect of your big day – from the bar tab, to the bouquets!

Confirm The Reception Venue

You've no doubt already been casting your pre-wedding planning eye over the reception venues local, and affordable to you, but without the confirmation of a budget, you could find that you have to cut back on other essentials at a later date if you don't compare prices. Sure that nice Georgian mansion has enough gilding and gold-leaf to make your photos look like they belong in O.K, but is it affordably practical?

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