Before setting the wedding date, decide upon what sort of
ceremony you wish to have and check that the church, registry office, synagogue
or licensed civil venue and reception venue are available on the day.
Early summer up until September is usually the most popular time of the year to
get married, so if you're planning to have your wedding during these months, you
may need to arrange things about a year in advance. Booking in advance is
important as most hotels and licensed venues can only cater for one wedding per
day, an alternative if you know someone who has a large enough garden is to hire
a marquee.
Try contacting several caterers and venues in your area and compare their
facilities and prices. If possible, have a meal at the places you have chosen to
sample the cuisine and to get an idea of the standards and service. Some of the
hotels and civil venues will offer a 'package deal', to include the wedding cake
and stand, a toastmaster, flowers and a changing room for the bridal party.
