Your wedding is now only 12 months away. This is when suddenly everything starts getting very real and also very exciting, as you are now able to say you are getting married this year! Your wedding plan really starts now as you begin to secure suppliers and look into details of how you would like your wedding day to be.

When you realise your wedding is happening in a year’s time, you will want to do everything you possibly can as soon as possible. Remember it’s always easier (and less stressful) to take things at a pace and go through your checklist one thing at a time.

Here are some things we recommend you dedicate planning time to when you’re 12 months away from your wedding day:

This is by far one of the most awaited events during your whole wedding plan! Getting to choose your gown with those dearest to you and deciding exactly what you would like yourself to look like on your wedding day will definitely be one of your most memorable experiences.

At this stage, you may want to gather some of your family and friends whose company you love and whose opinion you trust to accompany you during your wedding dress appointments. Always bear in mind the season you are getting married in and styles that flatter your figure the most. Comfort is also crucial, so whatever wedding gown you decide to go for, remember you’ll be moving around a lot during your day.

This is all very exciting, because now is the time to start looking up local bridal boutiques and browsing their stock and designers. You can shortlist your favourites and arrange for a consultation, as many of them won’t allow walks-ins.

Having an agreed budget is also essential to manage expectations and to keep your planning on track. We always advise that you allow up to £200 on top of your agreed budget for any possible gown alterations that may be required after purchase.

Remember: be open-minded when looking for your dream dress! You won’t know what a dress looks like until you actually try them on, so trust your entourage and the boutique’s assistants.

Wouldn’t it be perfect if we could just turn up to a church and ask someone to marry us? Sadly, that is not the case! Even for church weddings, there are lots of back and forth communication that happens in the process and a fair amount of paperwork involved.

Regardless of whether you’re getting married at a church, you’ll be required to give your notice of marriage. This is the legal paperwork which both you and your significant other have to complete before the marriage can take place. You will need to attend in person to give notice of your intention to marry and this will be the case even if you live in the same registration district.

If you are getting married at a church, make sure to contact them ahead of time regarding your banns read. Remember that if you are having your ceremony out of your parish, you will have to pay twice for them to be read; once in your parish area and again in the parish where you are getting married.

Another important detail is to put together your order of service. This is where you can include your marriage vows, ring exchange and signing of the register. You can also add your chosen readings, hymns, readers and exit music.