What To Do Immediately After You Book Your Wedding Venue

A handy checklist for your next steps in wedding planning

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One area of wedding planning that sometimes confuses couples is the wedding planning timeline, AKA what needs to be done when. Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all schedule, as some couples spend two years planning their wedding and others do it in three months. The next best thing is our wedding planning checklist, which can be adapted to suit pretty much any wedding, but one matter that's relatively easy to address is the question of what to do after you book your wedding venue.

What To Do After You Book Your Wedding Venue (1)

Photo by Laura Rose Photography via One Fab Day

Booking your wedding venue really sets the wheels of wedding planning in motion! You suddenly have a clear understanding of the style of wedding you're planning, and when and where it will take place, so many of the options that initially made wedding planning overwhelming (thankfully!) disappear. This means that you should be able to make some major decisions quite easily. And with our checklist, it'll be a breeze!

Photo by Stil Classics via Unsplash

I've booked my wedding venue. Now what!?

Make a note of any dates or deadlines relating to the wedding venue - menu tastings, dates for payments and finalising your guest list - and set up reminders for them
Set up accounts for any organisational tools you plan to use, and create your wedding spreadsheets (we love Trello!)
Optional: Book your wedding planner (if you haven't already!)
Book your photographer - the best ones can be fully booked out nine to 12 months in advance
Optional: Book an engagement shoot with your photographer.
Book your videographer - you'll find our favourites here
Book your band/DJ - you'll find our favourites here
Consider taking out wedding insurance
Make a wedding planning schedule based your wedding date, using our wedding planning checklist as a guide
Finalise your guest list
Gather postal addresses for your guests
Organise and send your Save the Dates
Optional: Plan another visit to the venue - this allows you to gather ideas for décor, ask questions, assess accessibility for your guests with additional needs, or, if you're attending an open day or showcase, meet some of the venue's preferred suppliers.

Save the Dates by Lilly Cinnamon Stationery

Your Next Steps in Wedding Planning

Once you've completed the tasks on the above list, you may find yourself at a loose end, which is totally normal. For most couples with a lead time of 12 months or more, there comes a point when you're suddenly not sure what you're supposed to be doing - you've booked the main suppliers, but it's too early to tackle the other items on your list, so you might be feeling a little antsy. Of course, you can spend this time researching the aesthetic and style elements of your day - colour palette, dress etc. - but we think it's wise to take a break from wedding planning, so you don't completely run out of steam later on. It's also a good excuse to just enjoy being engaged - believe us, it'll be over in a flash!