Firstly, take a breath. Choosing your venue is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your wedding planning journey, and you’ve already ticked that off the list. Congratulations!

What are the priorities now?

You’ve discussed budget, you’ve talked through the guest list, you may have even shared both of those things with family members. You’ve viewed venues, made your pros and cons lists and now you’ve decided your venue. 

The next really important step is to think about what matters most to you as a couple. Having a clear objective for your day will make the rest of the planning so much easier. 

There is no right or wrong answer here, it’s completely personal preference. 

Is your main focus that it’s one big party and you want the best band or DJ to really bring the vibe? Are you big cocktail fans and want to make sure you have couples cocktails available during the day? Do you love bright, bold flowers and want a statement arch? Have you been to other weddings and always found yourselves commenting on the décor and you want guests to do the same for yours?

Once you’ve decided what your priorities are, you can start building your perfect day around them.

Don’t feel like you need to do everything at once. Focus on locking in your priority suppliers first, then enjoy taking your time with the rest. 

The key suppliers I would recommend booking as soon as possible are:

-Photographer

-Celebrant/Humanist 

-Band and or DJ

-Florist/ Décor supplier 

From there, you can then start adding extra elements if you have spare budget and want to enhance the day further.

For example,

-Content creator or videographer

-Cake or sweet treats

-Live artist

-Live music entertainment (ie singer/piper for ceremony or small band for canapes)

-Photobooth

-Glitter bar

-And so much more…the possibilities are endless now!

Other things to think about, that are not WEST venue related:

-Wedding dress/suit/kilts

-Bridal party and groomsmen outfits

-Makeup artists

-Hair Stylists

-Hotels, air bnb for the night before or after

-Taxis or coach transfers for guests

-Wedding favours (if not using our drinks tokens)

If you’re ever unsure where to start or need supplier recommendations, just ask. We’re always happy to help guide you in the right direction.

Wedding planning should be exciting, not stressful. Take it step by step, focus on what matters most to you, and enjoy the process…this is the fun part!