You’re engaged – congratulations! Welcome to the start of a very fun and exciting journey. The wedding planning that is, although we’re sure married life will be equally as exciting, albeit with less talk of chair backs and guest lists. Whether you’ve got a clear vision of how you imagine your wedding day to look, right down to the historic country house venue, or you have no idea where to start, there are a lot of decisions to be made. Chances are, you’re going to be bombarded with advice from well-meaning family and friends. However, whatever pearls of wisdom they do share, some things tend to go unspoken. Here are the 5 things people don’t tell you about planning a wedding. 

You can start planning too early

The temptation to dive headfirst into planning your big day is strong but try and embrace the moment as much as you can before you start getting down to the nitty gritty. You’ll never get this time back again, so take it all in and just enjoy your newly-engaged bubble. The most important thing to get sorted early is your wedding venue – many get booked up years in advance. At Hodsock Priory we recommend that couples book a viewing around our Nottinghamshire wedding venue around 18 months in advance. That way you have plenty of time to decide if the venue is right for you and have a better chance of securing the wedding date you’re after.

It’s ok to do things your way

One thing we can guarantee is that everyone will have an opinion on your wedding day and there will be SO much advice coming your way. Of course, this usually comes from a good place and with best intentions, but the one thing people don’t tell you about planning a wedding is that you really can do whatever you want. This is your day and you honestly can do things your way. Our aim at Hodsock Priory is to help you have your dream day, however that may look to you. From different ceremony options to food choices, we’ll work with you to make sure you get the day you really want, rather than a cookie-cutter wedding. Be confident in your choices and stay true to yourselves as a couple. 

It’s ‘a lot’

Even the most laid-back couples will, at some point, have to admit that wedding planning can become all consuming. In all honesty, it’s best to just accept the process and the fact that – however briefly – planning your wedding will be all you talk about. And that’s OK. If things do start to feel too overwhelming or stressful, give yourself a break. Planning fatigue is a thing – but don’t worry, it will pass. As long as you feel you’re on schedule and all the big decisions are made, there’s nothing wrong with having a little ‘time out’. Use this lull in proceedings to enjoy time with your fiancé or fiancée without all the wedding chat. Go out, have a romantic meal and remember what’s really important.

You are going to have to compromise

Whether it’s because your budget can’t quite stretch or you and your partner really can’t agree on something, at some stage you are going to have to compromise. If one person is doing more of the planning than the other, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact your wedding is a celebration of you as a couple. Try and make the big decisions, like the wedding venue and guest list, as a team. And, if securing the perfect wedding band means you don’t have wedding favours, it’s really not the end of the world – we promise! 

Nothing else matters on the big day

What people don’t tell you about planning a wedding is that, truly, all the little things you’ve been worrying about during the process won’t matter at all on the day. Having all your loved ones in one place to celebrate you and your partner getting married really is all you need. It’s the best feeling in the world, one you’ll want to bottle and something you’ll remember forever. This is what it’s all about.  

Find your perfect Nottinghamshire wedding venue

If you’re looking for an exclusive-use, historic wedding venue, Hodsock Priory has it all. Our grand manor house is bursting with charm and the 800 acres of English countryside, woodland and gardens help set the scene for the most magical and romantic day. We’d love the chance to show you around Hodsock Priory. Just click here to get in touch and our team will get back to you straight away.