You’ve said, ‘I do’. You’ve got a Pinterest board in full swing. You might even be counting down the days. While most weddings are planned within 12-18 months, it’s becoming increasingly common for couples to have longer engagements.
You might be juggling buying a house with planning a wedding or just want to enjoy this stage of your life. Although your wedding is two years away, there’s still plenty of planning to do.
We’re rounding up everything you should be doing 24 months before your big day. If you’re planning a wedding in two years, it’s time to start considering your budget, venue, and practicalities like drafting your guest list and deciding on your bridal party.
1. Insure Your Engagement Ring
Insurance probably isn’t high on your post-engagement to-do list, but it’s vital for every couple. An engagement ring is one of the biggest purchases most people will ever make. It’s not just the financial value you want to protect, but the sentimental value as well.
If you haven’t already gotten insurance, it’s time to protect your engagement ring. You can get specialist insurance or speak to your jeweller for recommendations.
2. Publish Your Engagement Announcement
Don’t rush into wedding planning just yet. Take the time to enjoy simply being engaged. Publish an engagement announcement, whether it’s on social media or in your local newspaper.
You can hire a photographer to take an official photo or even set it up yourself at home. Show off your engagement ring in all its glory and get an engagement photography that will start your wedding album.
Although it’s popular to have a photographer at your proposal, a posed photo adds a special touch to your wedding photography. Having a formal engagement photo is something you can use throughout the wedding planning process.
3. Invest in Wedding Planning Tools
Use the first weeks of wedding planning to get organised. It’s easy to lose track of your planning, especially if you don’t have the right tools on hand. You can choose to have a digital or physical wedding planner. Print or bookmark our wedding timeline checklists to keep you on track with your planning for the big day.
Everyone has their own way of planning, and it can take some trial and error. Choose a method that works for you. Other planning tools like shared calendars and group chats can help you keep everyone up-to-date with your wedding planning progress, particularly your bridal party and parents.
4. Consider Wedding Themes and Colour Schemes
No two weddings are the same. Start your wedding planning by making early decisions about how formal you want to go and whether you want a specific theme. Discuss with your partner whether you want to go all out with black tie or keep it more casual and laidback.
The formality of your wedding will help you determine your venue and other factors like the cake, guest list, and outfits. You can use social media, Pinterest, and wedding magazines to help you explore themes and potential colour schemes, which you are then able to carry over to your Leicestershire wedding car hire with the use of ribbons, bows and other decorations.
Determining your theme early on can help you shortlist potential venues and set a more realistic budget. You’ll need a larger budget for a black-tie wedding but can gain extra flexibility from an intimate wedding where you can DIY elements yourself.
5. Start Your Wedding Registry
Although your wedding registry is typically for wedding gifts; you’ll be receiving presents for months to come. Starting your wedding registry early means you can share it with friends and family who want to give you an engagement or pre-wedding gift.
You can start a wedding registry easily on websites like Amazon or work with a local vendor or department store. Most couples will have their wedding registry up and running to share on their wedding website or invites.
6. First Wedding Guest List Draft
You might think drawing up a guest list is the easiest part of planning a wedding. It’s not.
The reality is that you can’t invite everyone. You’ll have to consider the size of your venue and most importantly your budget. These two factors will determine whether you can invite everyone on your list or if you’re not inviting extended family members.
You should start your wedding planning with the first draft of your guest list. If your parents are contributing towards the cost of your wedding, it’s traditional to allow them to invite their own guests. You’ll want to account for this in your guest list.
Be adventurous and write down the list of everyone you’d like to attend your wedding. Inevitably you’ll end up cutting this list down after determining your venue and budget.
This time is also a good chance to discuss whether you’ll be inviting children to your wedding or making it adults only. You can also decide whether you want to provide unmarried guests with the option of a plus one.
7. Start Your Savings Account
Determining your wedding budget is one of the biggest tasks to do 2 years before your wedding. Although it might feel like a lifetime away, the day will be here in no time. You’ll also start spending serious money before you know it.
It’s time to open a savings account and start considering your wedding budget. Enjoy the engagement honeymoon period before sitting down to crunch numbers. While you might have an overall figure in mind, it’s a good time to research prices.
Most couples will often choose to prioritise three or four aspects of their wedding day. It’s different for every couple with some choosing to splurge on their dream wedding car, while others spend more money on a photographer or venue.
One of the best things you can do 2 years before your wedding is to start a spreadsheet. You can break down your budget and include different prices you’ll eventually get from vendors, venues, and wedding businesses.
8. Research Honeymoon Options
Booking your honeymoon early can give you access to exclusive discounts and low-cost deposits. While most airlines won’t be taking bookings two years in advance, package holidays and cruises will already be out.
It’s worth starting to research your options to help account for your honeymoon in your budget. You can also decide whether you want to head straight off on your honeymoon or enjoy a few days at home before jetting off.
9. Explore Venues and Potential Dates
Two years might sound like a long time till your wedding. However, venues book out earlier than you think – especially popular ones.
It’s not unusual for dates to be booked up two years in advance. Starting your wedding planning early will give you extra flexibility to work with available dates at your preferred venue.
Choosing your venue is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make for your wedding. It’ll usually determine everything else about your big day, including how much of your budget is left.
Start researching potential venues and book in for viewings. Popular wedding venues will often have preferred vendors that they work with, giving you even more options to explore.
You can also determine what time of year you want to get married. While late spring and early summer is the most popular time of year for weddings, a winter wedding can bring its own benefits.
Choose a few potential dates and explore availability at different venues and any effects potential dates have on your budget. You can expect to pay more at peak times or if you’re hoping to get married over a bank holiday or festive period.
10. Speak to Your Officiant
Venues aren’t the only thing that gets booked up quickly. It’s never too early to start talking to an officiant. Whether you’re having a church service or getting married in a more intimate environment, you’ll need an officiant.
Start doing your research or make an appointment to speak to your priest or officiant. It’s a good idea to have a few potential dates in mind. Your officiant can give you an idea of their availability and help you finalise a date.
Your officiant can help set the tone of your wedding and keep you on track with planning. You may have specific requirements to meet, such as counselling, before your wedding. The officiant will talk you through all these.
11. Consider Your Wedding Party
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make is choosing your wedding party. Your bridesmaids and groomsmen will be committing not only their time but also their money to help with your wedding.
Choosing them early gives your wedding party time to plan accordingly and prepare, whether it’s planning an engagement party or saving for wedding commitments. Most couples will choose their bridal party at least a year in advance. Giving two years’ notice is ideal for more elaborate weddings where the bridal party is expected to make a larger time or financial commitment.
Check back for our guide on what to do closer to your wedding day. Getting ahead of your planning is one way to make your wedding day less stressful and a more memorable experience.
