Mannings Wedding Tips 2023
A Guide To Stress-Free Wedding Planning
Planning a wedding is exciting but it can be stressful. It doesn’t have to be. Here are some top tips on how to minimise stress and make sure your big day goes off without a hitch.
Firstly, figure out your vision for the day. Whether you want it to be small and intimate or big and lavish, you should know exactly what kind of wedding vibe you want from the start: That way, when it comes time to actually plan things like invitations, catering, and décor, you can focus on making sure those elements match up with your vision.
Start early! You'll be surprised at how much time you need to plan your dream wedding, so the earlier you start, the better. Make sure you have an approximate budget in place before you start booking venues and getting quotes from suppliers.
Write everything down. Keep a notebook with all your notes, ideas, and plans so that you don't forget anything important. Make a list of everything you need to do, and try to focus on one task at a time. Don't get overwhelmed by the details: with the help of the wedding venue’s event team and suppliers, the details will take care of themselves!
Create a wedding planner calendar so you can see what needs to be done when and who should do it. This will help avoid any confusion or problems later down the track.
At Mannings Heath, there is a wide range of wedding options and choices for the day. Our wedding coordinator can introduce you to several carefully selected wedding services suppliers - from photographers and florists to wedding dressmakers and cake bakers.
Consider what type of wedding breakfast you would like. At Mannings, it can range from a sit-down event for up to 110 people, to a buffet or even a BBQ outside for up to 200 people on the extensive terraces with views across beautiful countryside.
What sort of menu do you want for the wedding breakfast, what style of food and how many courses? Here there are a range of options, with sample menus available. You can discuss with our wedding coordinator and chef your choices, and how any dietary needs are met, such as for vegetarian or vegan guests.
Decide what kind of party you want after dining. Do you want to dance? Do you want live music or just background music? Do you want an open bar or limited drinks? These kinds of choices will affect your budget as well as the atmosphere of the event itself, and we can advise on your options.
There's no such thing as "too many options." If something sounds good but isn't exactly what you had in mind at first glance, you might be surprised by how much better an option could be than what you had originally planned.
Talk with the suppliers about what they can do for you and what they can’t. Every supplier has their own style and way of working, so make sure they're in line with what YOU want before booking them!
Where will you stay the night before and on the day of the wedding? The estate has lovely Fuller's cottage that sleeps up to eight people. Or you might want to book luxury accommodation at Leonardslee House, our sister estate just three miles away. There is also superb Michelin Star dining. We can advise on other local hotels.
Ask for help from friends and family! It's easy to forget that there are people in your life who want to support you on this journey and will be thrilled when they get an invitation. It can be hard to accept help sometimes, but it's so worth it!
Keep your partner involved in the process as much as possible and let them know what's going on at each stage so that they feel included in the planning process as well as able to give their input when needed (or even when not needed).
Make sure that everyone involved knows what their role is and when they need to do it (and if there's any flexibility around that), in your wedding planner. Be realistic about what you can do yourself and what you need to hire out
Your wedding friends can help with everything from setting up decorations to sharing photos afterwards, so make sure everyone knows what's going on and what their role is in it all.
Don't forget about yourself! Yes, planning a wedding might be stressful at times but don't let it become an obsession that takes over your life - take time out for yourself every day if possible so that you can relax and enjoy the process as much as possible.
Remember that this is YOUR day, and only you know what you really want out of it!
At Mannings Heath Estate your wedding coordinator is here and ready to help. So if you haven’t already, do book an appointment and we can show you the venue, and talk with you about your plans for the day. There is no charge and we’ve ample parking and are just three miles from mainline Horsham station.
