Organising a wedding is a highly exciting but sometimes stressful experience. This is where careful timing comes into play. By using the remaining time wisely, and tackling the to-do list gradually, you can avoid any ‘bottlenecks’ where you’re thinking about a dozen different things at once.

One of the most important milestones on the run-up to your wedding is the one year mark. At this stage, there are some key jobs to take care of which will shape your entire wedding, so by taking time to mull over them well in advance, it leaves you the rest of the year to fine-tune the remaining details.

Here are some points to consider with one year to go:

Decide on a budget

The budget is certainly one of the most important decisions you will make. It has a big influence on the venue, dress and hospitality you can choose from. Whilst many people want to budget as much as possible for their wedding, it’s important to think about the bigger picture. For example, if you have other large expenses in your life, such as a mortgage, you don’t want a hefty wedding spend causing any financial difficulties in the years ahead.

Be sure to do your research to create a rough estimation of the costs, and always try to think outside the box to be as cost-efficient as possible. If any money is left over from the budget, you could even put it towards an upgrade to your honeymoon!

Make a shortlist of venues

Around this time it’s important to start researching possible venues, although you don’t have to make a final decision just yet. A shortlist will do which you can whittle down with more thought. By narrowing down the options to a shortlist, you can arrange visits to start getting a feel for the perfect venue.

Decide on a wedding date and time

It’s helpful to decide on a wedding date and time, as you can use this to check the availability of your shortlist of venues. However, the date and time don’t necessarily have to be set in stone at this stage. It’s a good reference point when booking a venue, but by sorting it early on, you’ll have the flexibility to change if it means you can grab your perfect venue which would otherwise be unavailable on the initial date you selected.

Draw up your guest list

Unless you have an unlimited budget, some careful consideration will have to be made regarding your guest list. Whilst it isn’t such a problem for the ceremony itself, the cost-per-head of the afternoon event means that it can be one of the most expensive parts of the entire wedding.

You also have to consider who you want to share such an intimate event with, as it’s important that both of you are happy with the entire guestlist. If you can’t decide just yet, create a shortlist and give yourself some time to mull it over.

Finalise the roles

At this stage, it’s useful to start considering the key figures of the wedding, such as the bridesmaids and best man (or men). As these will be some of the most important people in your life, it’s best to decide sooner rather than later so you can let them know and guarantee their availability well in advance.

With these 5 key decisions covered at the one year countdown, this gives you plenty of time to tick off the remaining tasks over the 12 months you have left before the big day!

This fantastic wedding planner will help keep you organised with all your plans