Planning the Perfect Wedding and Honeymoon

If you’re planning your wedding this summer, you’re probably feeling a range of emotions – excitement, happiness, love for your soon-to-be spouse and all your family and friends, of course, but no doubt also some nerves. Equally, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, stressed or anxious at the same time, you’re far from alone.

So how can you learn to enjoy the heady days of planning a wedding as you look forward to your big day?

• Look after yourself

There are many ways of doing this. Confide in someone if you’re feeling overwhelmed, and be gentle but clear with anyone who may be well-meaning but unintentionally overloading you with advice or trying to take over – remember, it’s your wedding, not theirs!

Make a conscious effort to chat about non-wedding things with your partner, and just to enjoy each other’s company. This should help you to remember why you chose to get married in the first place. However busy you are, make time to do simple things together like going for a walk or watching a film. With many couples taking up to two years to prepare for their celebration, that’d be a long time to talk about nothing else! Equally, wonderful though weddings are, it’s marriage that you have signed up for, not just the one day you tie the knot.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself on the day itself – it’s all too easy to do this. That means avoiding excessive alcohol the night before, however tempting the prospect of a few pre-wedding drinks may be. It also means basic sensible practicalities such as remembering to have some breakfast, staying hydrated and taking a few moments alone with your new husband or wife before the reception begins in earnest, so that you can just draw breath.

• Look forward to the honeymoon

It can be easy to neglect the post-festivities holiday in all the excitement and hubbub of planning a wedding. But a honeymoon is your ideal chance to relax together after all the excitement and busy planning, and it’s a great thing to have to look forward to; otherwise the immediate aftermath of your marriage could feel rather flat. You can also look forward to and start planning the rest of your lives together as you enjoy quality time alone. It’s effectively a transition period, away from the whirlwind of wedding planning, and it offers the opportunity to reflect and rejuvenate as well as relax.

One destination you may not have previously considered is Malawi. Yet you could find a luxury African holiday offers the perfect romantic adventure, as you enjoy spectacular sunsets and stunning scenery and take in some of the world’s most famous animals in their natural habitats.

With a Malawi safari, you have every chance of catching the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo. But the country is also home to species including antelope, impala waterbuck, zebra, hippo and crocodiles, not to mention some wonderfully diverse birdlife. What’s more, in recent years conservation and the quality of wildlife viewing have improved dramatically in Malawi.

Many couples choose to combine the relatively active time spent on safari with the chance to unwind completely on an idyllic beach. Lake Malawi’s sparkling waters offer varied scenery plus golden stretches of sand, and there are delightful, secluded hideaways on small islands and beach lodges.

A two-centre holiday will mean you get the most from your honeymoon, so that you have the incredible trip of a lifetime that this break should be; one you’ll remember forever.

• Consider wedding packages

You may not have thought about organising your special day this way, but wedding packages offer a number of benefits, the most obvious of which is the fact that everything is bundled together in one deal, so that you don’t have to organise all the various elements separately.

Not only does this save money, it can also save a lot of time and hassle. Additionally, it can make budgeting for your big occasion significantly easier, so that you won’t have to worry about any hidden surprises or extras. Indeed, some of the essential extras, such as wedding flowers, may even be included in the deal.

After all, every wedding has a budget and it’s important to set yours at an early stage – and stick to it.

Not only that, but wedding packages are typically put together by professionals with a huge amount of experience in wedding planning. So they’re ideally placed to create the perfect occasion for your needs and budget, and according to what matters most to you.

With attention to detail and excellent customer service, they’ll work closely with you and be there every step of the way to address concerns and serve as a single point of contact as they tailor your perfect day.

• Identify your priorities

Sit down together and agree what matters most to you both. Priorities will be different for each couple, but could include the location for the wedding, the size of your guest list, whether you want children there and so on.

Prioritising what really matters can help you to stay focused and on budget, while ensuring that you incorporate all the main ingredients of your dream wedding.

• Don’t forget the admin

We know this isn’t the most fun part of wedding planning. But as well as all the exciting stuff like identifying the perfect venue, hiring suppliers, setting a date, appointing bridesmaids, best man and ushers and agreeing a guest list, you need to make time for the less exciting stuff. That includes making sure you study supplier contracts, think about buying wedding insurance – and confirming the legalities, for example getting your marriage licence.

None of this may sound particularly romantic, but clearly there’s a lot of money at stake if something were to go not according to plan.

With an organised yet relaxed, stress-free and calm approach to planning your wedding day, there’s no reason why you can’t have the celebration of your dreams – and actually enjoy the planning process and run-up to your nuptials.