Booking the venue is the biggest milestone in early wedding planning. You now have a date, a location, and a capacity, which means everything else can start falling into place. Here is what to focus on next, in roughly the right order.
Update your budget
Your venue cost is now a real number, not an estimate. Revisit your wedding budget and adjust your remaining categories based on what is left. This is the point where your budget becomes a working document rather than a rough plan.
Finalise your guest list
Now that you know your venue capacity, you can firm up your guest list. Move people from your maybe list to confirmed or removed. The sooner you have a number, the easier catering quotes and seating plans will be later.
Send save the dates
If your wedding is more than six months away, save the dates give guests time to plan. You do not need to have everything figured out. Just the date, location, and a way for people to note it in their diaries. Read more in our guide to save the dates and invitations.
Book your key suppliers
The best photographers, caterers, and florists book up fast, especially for popular dates. Start reaching out to suppliers in this order:
- Photographer and videographer
- Caterer (if not included with the venue)
- Entertainment and music
- Florist
- Celebrant or registrar (if not already arranged)
Our guide on choosing wedding suppliers covers what to ask and how to compare quotes.
Check what your venue includes
Before you book external suppliers, confirm exactly what your venue provides. Some include furniture, crockery, a coordinator, or even a DJ. Others are a blank canvas. Knowing this avoids doubling up or missing something essential. Our venue questions guide has a full list to work through.
Start a shared planning system
With multiple suppliers, a growing guest list, and a budget to track, now is the time to get organised. Whether you use a spreadsheet or a dedicated tool, having one shared place for everything means nothing gets lost between you.
What can wait
You do not need to think about seating plans, day of timelines, playlists, or stationery details yet. Those come in the mid planning phase. Focus on the big decisions now and the details will be easier later.
Wedli keeps your suppliers, guest list, budget, and tasks in one place so you can pick up where you left off without hunting through emails and spreadsheets.
Get started at app.wedli.co.uk