wedding theming and planning

Congratulations, you have just become engaged!

The next few weeks will bring many decisions about wedding planning particularly the big ticket items: ceremony and reception venues. This brings us to wedding style and budget. First things first, it is important to work out your style, and from this consider what you can afford.

Let's start with your wedding reception and ceremony venues. Ideas and decisions flows from your wedding theme; perhaps something historic, romantic or urban/contemporary. Consult your dreams, where have you always imagined being married? What about other options, open it up, think laterally and surprise yourself. Consider your family recommendations and style. Make a short list and start ringing, then visiting — it's a bit of a juggling act.

Your theme may affect your date (beach weddings or destination weddings) or there may be narrow date windows because of close family members' travel availability or your own work schedules. If you do want a peak period and your budget is tight or timing is less flexible consider Fridays or a lunch wedding reception slot. Think laterally — recent ideas that Serendipity couples have entertained include high teas, a very special tramcar wedding. We have offered photography to couples with receptions on boats and islands, or ceremonies next to acclaimed organic vertical kitchen gardens.

At Serendipity Photography we bring together the very best of our thoughts and knowledge, gained from over twenty years of weddings, in tips and advice to guide you through the wonders and frustrations of your wedding planning journey.

Consider everything, consult and make lists when working out your budget. Wedding budgets are easy to set, and hard to stick to. Then move on to your most important decisions, ceremony and reception venue coupled with your preferred time of year; then, when quality and value matter, suppliers who get booked in concert with reception centres, boutique photographers and dress designers.

Here is a list from Serendipity Photography with our suggestions, tips and advice about some of most important milestones in the months to come before your wedding.

9 to 18 months before

• Booking venues and photographer, followed by videography and your gown. Good photographers book up early so it is important to spend time early on finding your wedding photographer. Stunning images, albums that are a visual feast and very individual styling — at Serendipity we are passionate about design and image quality, and we truly believe that we have the skills and experience to bring you wedding photography that is just right, perfectly expressing your own ideas and experience of your day.

• Now for your gown; although some brides "just know", it may take many weeks till you feel confident with your choice, so enlist help and start looking as soon as possible. At Serendipity we believe that it is worth going with good professional advice and choosing a dress that fits well and really suits you rather than just following the latest direction. Even if your dress is for one day it is for the day. You deserve to feel so special in your dress, alive, glowing; your dress should fit so that you look good and can move and breathe. Hand made and couture definitely offer that something more.

• If you have been contemplating joining a gym or starting some yoga classes then now is the time. An exercise régime will have you looking and feeling great, especially when combined with a good diet and some time out from your usual routine. Consider having a massage or pampering yourself in some other way. A little relaxation can be extremely beneficial especially during this busy time.

6 months before

• Theme: finalise your overall directions for colours and style. Consider individual themes, strong directions related to your choice of venue and be prepared to carry this through in table dressings, events, and particularly you and your family and bridal parties choice of apparel.

• Finalise who is exactly in your bridal party.

• Consider your choices for cars.

• Finalise celebrant details.

• Choose your florist, consider your list of floral pieces, style of bouquet and coördinate with your theme and time of year.

• Start with your bridesmaids dresses, not so easy at times. Couples are often for individual styling related colours or matching fabric, this may be very helpful in the case of a more eclectic mix in the bridal party. Toning colours in similar styles can look great too!

• Choose or design your wedding invitations; listen to clips from different musicians, and choose a band or DJ.

• Organise your hair and makeup; it is very much worth having a good trial and being confident that your look coordinates well with your dress and accessories.

A final checklist

• Consider apparel choices for family especially mothers of the Bride and Groom.

• Finalise cake choices.

• Finalise your guest list and send out invitations at least 6–8 weeks before the day. Confirm your celebrant, and attend to service content and details. Now is the time to finalise honeymoon arrangements, and fill out your Notice to Marry– which must be done before one month before. Arrange accomodation for interstate or overseas guests.

• Finalise bonbonnieres.

• Pick up your rings and arrange engraving if required. Decide on the order of the speeches and finalise reception details and timing. Attend planning meetings with celebrant or priest, photographer, videographer and reception.

• Reconfirm your suppliers, start writing thank you notes as you receive presents.

• Pack your bags, have some beauty treatment and a day spa if possible, print or pick up tickets and arrange insurance. Check on the speeches and bridal party travel arrangements, planning and timing.

• Serendipity Photography photo tip! Make sure you have enough memory cards... nothing more annoying than to waste precious holiday time trying to buy more for all those shots of your luxurious honeymoon accommodation, fabulous landscapes and special mementos of your trip.

• Finally, a couple of days before, lay out your dress, veil, shoes and other accessories. Reconfirm your tickets 72 hours before and have an early night and pamper yourself.