We hear this question all the time from our future brides. Here at Exeter Events and Tents we help our clients with many of the wedding day event questions and equipment needs. From tents for outdoor weddings and receptions to the tables, chairs, linens, lighting, stages, dance floors, just about anything you would need to have that special day be carefree and memorable. When we find good supporting articles we like to share them with you. Hey you can never get enough free advice right? We think this is a very good article to get the conversation going and after reading it please remember we are always here to help even if it is only for some free advice. After all we have been doing this for over 25 years. So don’t hesitate to reach out to us we would welcome the call.

Congratulations, you’re getting married! If you’re like most, you’ve dreamed about your wedding day ever since you were a child. Now the time has come, but the difficulty is knowing where to begin…

First, you should announce your engagement and share your wonderful news with family and friends. Some brides like to formally announce their engagement in their local newspapers. Others simply prefer word of mouth or maybe an engagement party. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to enjoy this wonderful and magical time in your life.

Now, just like with any large undertaking, you first start with the big picture and then work your way down to the details. The first issue you need to think about, as it will effect the rest of your wedding planning, is money.

I know that doesn’t sound very romantic, but let’s face it, unless you’re among a chosen few in which the “skies the limit”…You need to set a budget. You’ve got to determine how much you can spend on your wedding and who’s going to contribute to your wedding expenses.

With that in mind, your next step is to develop an overall framework for your wedding. You need to begin thinking about what kind of wedding you want. Maybe a particular theme? Do you want a small, intimate wedding or a grand, lavish celebration, or maybe something in between?

By making a few decisions about what you like and what you don’t like, it can really help you to narrow down the vast array of choices. Here are a few questions you should answer to help you on your way…

• How much money do you want to spend on your wedding?
• Do you want a small or a large wedding?
• Do you want an indoor or outdoor wedding?
• What time of year do you want to get married?
• Do you want to get married during the day or in the evening?
• Do you want a traditional style wedding or something more contemporary?
• Do you want an elegant, formal setting or something more romantic and intimate?
• Do you want a formal sit down dinner, a cocktail reception or something in between?
• Do you want to get married close to home or at some other “exciting” or romantic destination location?
• Do you want to get married and have your reception at the same location?

Once you’ve answered some of these general questions… it’s time to move on to your first big decision! It’s one of the most challenging and important decisions you’ll have to make – choosing a location for your reception.

Your reception site is the most influential in determining the overall mood and atmosphere of your wedding. You want to select a reception site that matches your individual style, taste and budget. This is not an easy task and can certainly require a significant amount of time and effort.
Keep in mind that many popular reception sites book up a year or more in advance. So, if you have a particular reception site or certain date in mind, don’t wait!