Planning your wedding - 1

You're getting married. Naturally, at the back of your mind is the image of an unforgettable wedding, in the most positive sense of the word, of course. Maybe you would even go as far as to dream that your wedding will be unique.

And why not? After all, for most of us, preparing for our wedding day is still a first time experience, an incredibly measured one, that we find ourselves comparing with our parents' and siblings' weddings. But it's not theirs, it's yours and it has to be done right.

As soon as we decide to get married we know that there's probably a mammoth task ahead of us and it's this planning, that can, in some cases, take years to complete. So quite understandably it's a major part of one of the most important experiences of our lives.

The lead-up to the wedding day is packed with preparations that must be seen to in immense detail and it all comes in the midst of the day-to-day commitments of the couple, together with those of their friends and relations. Typically, the couple relies heavily on others for ideas and practical 'know-how'.

Nowadays, you can hire a wedding planner to help you make the right choices. This is a person who offers expert advice about current trends and protocol plus long-standing traditions. This person can procure the best deals, sparing you the time-consuming hassle of shopping around and evaluating what's on offer at the time.

However, for those who are willing to do the planning themselves, here are some planning tips to help you avoid drowning in the hidden depths of it all.

In a nutshell, try to plan well in advance and make provision for every detail, no matter how small.

In more detail, here are suggestions for those who can afford to plan their wedding at a leisurely pace.

Let the countdown begin.

At least two years in advance choose a date for the wedding and announce your engagement. Take into consideration the national and international events that coincide with the date you choose. That far ahead, it's easy to overlook an event like the finals of the World Cup!

Be careful not to get married in a church where the parishioners are celebrating the feast of their patron saint. If you really want to do so, make sure you have a very good reason, otherwise you will more than likely be refused.

Visit TheWeddingSite.com's planning tips for a calendar of local feasts and public holidays. Choose a celebrant with whom you are close and suits your style.

Hold a meeting with all those interested in financing your wedding. Together decide the kind of budget you can allocate to it. Having done that you are then able to include or exclude any items that are integral to your wedding celebration.

Preferably, all the planning should then be done by the couple. Remember, it's important that the future husband and wife can look back on this event without regrets and potentially bitter memories. Now is the moment to ensure that this doesn't happen.

Decide what kind of wedding you both want. You might want to get married in style with a great deal of pomp and circumstance. Or else you might be dreaming of a quiet, simple wedding surrounded by a selected group of intimate friends and relations.

This is your day to have things according to your tastes and your means, but sometimes miscommunication can lead to unnecessary friction. So be willing to talk it over with everyone involved right from the start and stick to what you want.

Having made arrangements with the parish priest to book the church where you are getting married and having reserved the venue for your reception, start a diary of important details such as dates when the payments of deposits are due. A diary will also remind you of deadlines.

Make sure that you choose a venue that accommodates the number of guests you intend to invite. If you are dreaming of a cozy group don't hire a huge hall. Neither cram your large number of guests into a small restricted space, no matter how attractive this venue might be.

To this end, you need to draw up the list of guests well in advance. It is advisable to seek the help of family and friends when you are drawing up the list, as it is remarkably easy to miss out people who deserve to join you on this occasion.

If you are planning to be married in the Catholic Church in Malta make sure that you attend the Cana preparatory course for engaged couples. This is a must. Check this out with your parish priest.

Nearer the time, at approximately eighteen months prior to the wedding, make reservations with your photographer, videographer, caterer, musicians playing during the church ceremony, DJ, band or orchestra for the wedding reception. Also book the vendor taking care of all your transport requirements.

Brides: start thinking about your wedding gown. Start figuring out what style suits you most. At approximately one year in advance, try to agree between the two of you who would make the best bridal group. This means your best man, the bride's maid of honour, witnesses, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers and other supporting persons.

This is also the moment for you to decide what colour scheme you want. It's just about the right time for the bride to buy or hire her wedding dress, veil and accessories.

Get help to choose the right match when you decide what the bridesmaids and flower girls are wearing on the day. It's also important to consult your in-laws regarding their own attire. It may sound over the top, but everything should be co-ordinated. Remember they too will be in the limelight on the day. You do not want their choice to clash with the colour scheme you have selected.

This is also the time for you to hire the outfits for the groom, the best man and the other male attendants. If you're having an engagement party, set the date and buy the invitations, gifts, rings etc.

This article has been compiled by Mario Scicluna (The WeddingSite.com) in collaboration with Sarah Young - The Wedding Planner. Visit www.TheWeddingSite.com for a more detailed printable version. You may contact TheWeddingSite.com on 9947-8987 or e-mail: mario@theweddingsite.com.

To be concluded