7 Steps for Planning Your Wedding

Now, where to start? If you’re planning your wedding, it becomes your primary concern, just like for many other couples who haven’t yet taken the plunge or keep postponing a wedding project that means so much to them.

When to start wedding preparations? Who to contact? How to remember everything? What budget to plan for? These are all questions that can cause stress and anxiety, making it hard to get started! No worries, our wedding planning experts provide you with the essential steps for planning your wedding.

1. Buy the Ring

This step may seem minor, but it’s actually the starting point of any marriage proposal. The ring accompanies the declaration of love and represents the unforgettable memory of the beginning of this wonderful project as a couple.

The choice of the ring is personal and depends on each person’s tastes and budget. You can find your perfect ring among the beautiful collections of a jeweler or jewelry store. We recommend browsing sites from renowned brands like Cartier, Bulgari, Pomellato, or Chaumet.

If you are looking for a more original and personalized ring, consider meeting with a designer where you can express, imagine, and design your ideal model to have a unique, custom-made ring. We suggest checking out Myrtille Beck, Jaubel-Paris, or Valérie Danenberg, which offer true pieces of art. However, be sure to anticipate the creation times, as they can sometimes take several months depending on the desired model.

You can also opt for a family ring passed down from your parents or grandparents. This symbolic and sentimental piece of jewelry becomes one of the most beautiful tokens of love, respecting family traditions. If you choose this last option, visit a jeweler to perfect and revive the ring’s shine and adjust it to fit your significant other.

Finally, regardless of the model choice, remember to bring one of your partner’s rings when purchasing to ensure the right size.

2. Make Your Proposal

Getting down on one knee makes you nervous? Being the center of attention isn’t your thing? No worries, a proposal is above all an intimate and private moment.

Take the time to think about the context in which you will feel most comfortable. Choose a moment of complete tranquility to take action. Holidays and birthdays are generally perfect times for a lovely surprise. Finally, don’t hesitate to be creative. Such an occasion only happens once in a couple’s life, so make it unforgettable. Consider a refined dinner, a decorated setup, or a beautiful album showcasing your best memories. There are countless ideas; a bit of imagination is all you need. Our article “Organize Your Marriage Proposal” will help you prepare this magical moment.

3. Create Your Guest List Before Planning Your Wedding

Did they say yes? Congratulations! Now it’s time for the next step: the guest list. To get a clear view and quickly estimate your number of guests, we recommend using an Excel spreadsheet. Filters and formulas help avoid omissions and duplicates. We also advise the future spouses to each make a list and then compare them to have a more comprehensive view.

Remember to include your guests’ children. Initially, feel free to list whoever you want without any limit or obligation. However, this exceptional day is primarily yours. It’s perfectly fine to be selective and demanding about your guest list.

Once you have your initial list, you can refine it based on attendance probabilities to arrive at a more precise, restricted list. This number will evolve throughout the organization with fluctuating cancellations and confirmations. Be prepared for changes until the final weeks before your big day. The goal is to estimate an approximate number of guests.

4. Choose Your Date

Planning a wedding usually starts about a year in advance to ensure the availability of venues. This allows you to begin preparations calmly and gives your guests time to organize their schedules to attend. The choice of the date depends on several factors. Firstly, consider the type of ceremony you imagine: a summer wedding or a winter wedding, for instance.

The date also depends on your personal and professional constraints, as well as those of your guests. If most of your guests are parents, it’s best to choose a weekend date or during school holidays. Finally, you can also get married on a date that is symbolic for your couple, celebrating an anniversary or a significant moment in your life together.

Don’t hesitate to contact us for information on available wedding venues, which brings us to our next step…

5. First Steps for Planning your Wedding: Select the Venue

This step is crucial. It’s the starting point for the entire wedding organization: budget, decoration, and the layout of your reception all depend on it. Let’s be honest, choosing a wedding venue isn’t easy. What should you consider in your selection criteria? Is proximity to guests’ residences essential? Are accessibility and parking facilities deal-breakers? Is on-site accommodation necessary?

Research

Our advice is to first select a few favorite venues based on photos. Conduct your searches with an open mind! You might be charmed by a place that wasn’t initially on your radar. Next, choose a venue that can comfortably accommodate your wedding, even in bad weather. In other words, a venue that has a large enough indoor room to host all your guests. This is an essential criterion!

Pay Attention to Rental Terms

Check that the conditions of the selected venues align with the celebration you wish to have for your wedding. Some venues impose a specific end time for the event. To avoid unpleasant surprises, ask for quotes to arrive at a satisfactory pre-selection.

The goal is to narrow it down to two or three venues and, if possible, visit them.

Visit the Wedding Venue

If you’re considering a wedding in Corsica or Italy, it’s preferable to plan your visit on-site a few weeks in advance to organize this day of visits. Our team of wedding planners assists with the planning and presentation of this visit day. If you can’t travel, don’t hesitate to ask for all the necessary information and additional photos to make your decision. We also offer the option of a virtual visit if you wish.

Keep in mind that some venues are booked over a year in advance, particularly masserias, trulli, and Italian castles. It’s essential to anticipate booking times.

6. Another Important Step for Planning a Wedding: The Budget

Once the venue is chosen, the next step is to finalize the quotes. This step raises many questions. Are quotes free? What should be included in the quotes? Who should you contact to obtain quotes? For your quote requests, you have two options:

The first option is to contact all the suppliers directly and obtain detailed quotes for each service. Be aware that this involves a significant time investment related to searching for providers, contacting each one, comparing offers, and negotiating proposals.

The other option is to use the services of a wedding planner who offers a turnkey service. Noces Italiennes will send you personalized and free quotes within 48 hours after a phone consultation. These quotes include the basic services necessary for the smooth running of the wedding: venue rental, catering, photographer, DJ, and decoration. Prices vary depending on the date, location, and additional services you wish to book.

Finally, if you request quotes from a wedding planning agency, be sure to consider their economic model to have a comparable base. It’s important to distinguish between wedding planners and consultants. The former are paid a flat fee included in the event quote, while the latter are paid on a commission basis for services as the planning progresses. For example, Noces Italiennes, a wedding planning agency, provides you with a single point of contact and one contract for your event. Once the quotes are received, you will have all the necessary information to define your wedding budget and confirm the venue that will host your celebration.

Discover our wedding venues now.

7. Announce the News to Your Loved Ones!

As the saying goes, “save the best for last!” It’s now time to share this wonderful news with your loved ones. When and how should you announce your wedding?

The answer is: as soon as possible! Especially if you have opted for a wedding in Italy or Corsica! Depending on your relationship with your guests, choose an informal or official announcement. Sending a “Save the Date” a year in advance is recommended to announce the date and place of the wedding. Your guests can then mark it in their calendars. You can follow up by sending an invitation 3 or 4 months before the celebration. Be sure to include an RSVP deadline to avoid late confirmations.

For invitations, we recommend the sites of our two preferred partners: Cotton Bird and Rosemood. We chose them for the excellence of their work and their commitment to ecology. Defining the theme of your wedding prints is essential as it gives a preview of the rest of your design. Take the time to choose it by considering your wedding theme.

Finally, use your announcement to formalize the roles of your guests, especially the witnesses and bridesmaids/groomsmen. A little tip to immortalize the announcement of your wedding: discreetly record the reactions and emotions of your loved ones to have an unforgettable memory of the beginning of this beautiful adventure.