Planning Your Wedding
Your ultimate wedding checklist
A Little Help from Us
If you’ve recently become engaged, no doubt your head will be fizzing with ideas and plans for your big day. Whilst your wedding will undoubtedly be one of the most special days of your life, there’s so many different things to think about it, it’s worth getting organised early on!
We’ve put together a few factors you might want to consider when planning your dream day.
What time of year do you want to get married? – A good place to start is to think about whether you want a spring, summer, autumn or winter wedding, as this can affect your budget, as well as have an impact on everything from outfits to flowers, or even your menu choice.
Your budget – It’s a good idea to discuss and agree on your budget with your partner before you start planning your wedding. There are a number of costs to factor in, and whilst it’s completely possible to plan a wedding that fits most budgets, it does make sense to have an idea of what you’re willing – and able – to spend and stick to it.
How big do you want your wedding to be? – This will be partly dictated by your budget of course, but also by your personal preferences. Some couples love the idea of sharing their day with all the people they know and love, whilst others prefer a more intimate celebration with just their nearest and dearest. Either way, agreeing a rough headcount early on will be essential when it comes to visiting wedding venues, or picking out invitations.
What kind of theme would you like? – For example, some couples like to pick a colour scheme, and as this can impact everything from the outfits to the centrepieces, it’s a good idea to think about this early on.
Do you have any special requirements? – It’s worth checking to see if any of your guests have any allergies or special dietary requirements in advance, as well as if anyone requires disabled access.
Your Ultimate Wedding Checklist
There are so many things to think about that it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. So to help ease that wedding planning pressure , our in house wedding experts have put together handy a checklist of all the things to remember when planning your wedding, so you can tick them off as you go!
Download our checklist and plan your wedding like a professional – remember if you choose to book your wedding at Crondon Park we can take care of everything and plan even the tiniest details for you so that every part of your big day is perfect.
Creating a Wedding Timeline and Budget
Creating a Timeline
Establishing a timeline is essential for staying organised throughout the wedding planning process. Break down tasks into manageable steps and allocate deadlines to ensure everything gets done on time. Start with the big-ticket items like booking the venue and securing vendors, then work your way down to smaller details like selecting décor and finalising the guest list. Our wedding checklist is a valuable resource for keeping track of deadlines and ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
Managing Your Budget Wisely
Your wedding budget is one of the main factors of your planning process, so it’s important to manage it wisely. Determine your priorities early on and allocate funds accordingly. Be sure to account for all potential expenses, including venue fees, catering, attire, and décor, as well as any hidden costs that may arise. Our team can provide guidance on budget allocation and offer tips for maximising your budget without compromising on quality.
Communicating with Vendors
Effective communication is key to ensuring your vision comes to life on your wedding day. Take the time to meet with potential vendors, discuss your preferences and expectations, and ask plenty of questions to ensure you’re on the same page. Once you’ve selected your vendors, maintain open lines of communication throughout the planning process to address any concerns or changes that may arise. Our experienced team can facilitate communication between you and your vendors, ensuring a seamless planning experience from start to finish.
Staying Organised
With so many details to juggle, staying organised is essential for a stress-free planning experience. Consider creating a dedicated wedding binder or digital planning tool to keep all of your important documents, contracts, and inspiration in one place. Keep track of important dates, appointments, and payments to stay ahead of deadlines and avoid last-minute surprises. Our wedding planning experts are here to provide guidance and support every step of the way, helping you stay organised and focused on what matters most—celebrating your love with family and friends.
Taking Time for Yourself
In the whirlwind of wedding planning, it’s important to take time for yourself and your partner to relax and recharge. Schedule regular date nights or mini getaways to reconnect and remind yourselves why you’re embarking on this journey together. Delegate tasks when necessary and don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends and family. Remember, your wedding day is about more than just the details—it’s about celebrating your love and commitment to each other, surrounded by the people who matter most.
Crondon Park can take care of your entire wedding experience
The thing that sets us apart more than anything is our service, our care and attentiveness, our attention to detail. We go above and beyond to make your entire experience perfectly tailored to you, from the moment you enquire to your wedding day and beyond. It’s one of the reasons we have over 1,000 positive reviews from happy couples and have won numerous awards from Bridebook and Hitched.
We’re so much more than just a wedding venue—we provide the catering, ceremony, location, front-of-house managers to oversee your day, accommodation for both you and your immediate guests, and even the post-function breakfast. In fact, many couples come back again and again for Birthdays, Anniversaries, or even just a Pizza on the Green.
FAQ’s
Naturally we get asked all sorts of questions about weddings every day, so we’ve shared some of the most common queries with you!
Whilst June is often thought of as the most requested month for weddings historically, August actually saw the most weddings in the UK last year. July was a very close second, followed by September then June. However, autumn and winter weddings are also rising in popularity too. In short, there’s no right or wrong time of year to get married, it’s what best suits you.
Whilst Saturday is still the most requested day of the year for weddings, more and more people are choosing to have their wedding on a Friday, or in fact any other day of the week. Holding your wedding on a weekday is often cheaper. If you do opt for a mid-week wedding, just be sure to give your guests plenty of notice, so they can book time off work.
Traditionally, the bride’s family usually paid for the big day, however more and more couples are throwing the rule book out the window when it comes to wedding etiquette. With so many different areas to cover, sometimes both sides of the family will pitch in to cover different costs, and sometimes the couple themselves will pay a fair portion or even cover the entirety of it. Another idea that’s becoming increasingly popular is for the couple to ask for contributions towards a honeymoon in lieu of wedding gifts.
Traditionally, wedding speeches are given by the father of the bride, the groom and the best man, however a number of brides now choose to give speeches themselves, and some have their bridesmaids speak. Put simply, it’s your day so it’s your choice – go with whatever you feel comfortable with.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the number of bridesmaids you have at your wedding. Some brides may have half a dozen or even more, whilst some choose just 1 or 2 – others opt not to have bridesmaids at all. The same goes for who you choose. Many will select their sister, best friend, or niece for example, but you should feel free to choose whoever you feel closest to and most comfortable to share your day with.
One of the biggest debates when it comes to modern-day weddings is over whether to invite children. Some people worry about offending relatives, some people get annoyed at having to book a babysitter, while others relish the chance at a night off. It’s difficult to please everyone, but if you do choose not to invite children to your wedding, make sure you give your guests plenty of notice so they can arrange alternative childcare.
The seating plan can be the part of planning a wedding that some brides and grooms dread but it doesn’t have to be stressful.
Traditionally, the top table seats 8 people, made up of the bride and groom, both sets of parents, the maid of honour and the best man. But don’t feel pressured; an increasing number of couples are ignoring the “rules” and making their own plans when it comes to the head table.
Some couples have started a table just to themselves, to allow them to enjoy a moment to themselves, whilst others opt not to have a top table at all.
Testimonials
We had our big day! Us and our guests absolutely loved the grounds, rooms, facilities and food at Crondon Park. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Events team, every single one of them were amazing, especially Kara and Carly, we appreciate all that you have done for us leading up to the wedding and on the day, you’re both super stars! Our wedding was very diverse and Crondon Park were able to be flexible with us in terms of respecting/accommodating the diverse religions and cultures we had mixing. Be rest assured, the food here is delicious, we are massive foodies, all our courses were top notch and we had many compliments on the food from our guests. Thank you for helping us create our dream wedding.
Thank you Crondon Park! We couldn’t have picked a more perfect venue for our wedding. From the moment guests started arriving we had people coming up to us telling us what a beautiful venue we’d chosen and everyone raved about how tasty the food was, most notably the duck. We’d like to thank Tracey, in particular, and everyone who assisted at Crondon Park for all of your hard work. It was a long day for you all, but we couldn’t fault your professionalism nor would we change a single detail! If we could, we’d return in a heartbeat to relive it all over again. Lots of post-wedding love, Sam and Becky xxx
Don’t even know where to start because our day was so magical and smooth despite the storm and heavy wind. We had our wedding on 2nd November. The venue is amazing. Beautiful surroundings and easy access. Above all they have super talented and experienced staff members who will go above and beyond to run your day smoothly. Everyone has been so amazing from the food ( the portions are generous and tasty), following my details decoration instructions to music .. everything is faultless. Ellie has been amazing since the beginning to communicate with me. Because of her dedication, we decided to pick the venue. And Jo on my big day, word can’t be described how much we thanks to her. What an amazing woman who make our day run smoothly with big smile on her face. She gave me courage to walk down on the aisle with comfort .. the storm and heavy wind couldn’t bother us at all.. we want to celebrate our big day all over again as long as it’s “Crondon Park”❤️
Thank you so much for Crondon Park Team for making our day so special and magical. PS. We are waiting photos from our professional photographer and will email to the venue personally later on. Ei & Nyan xxx