Planning your big day during wedding off-season is a good idea, as it gives you easier and faster access to vendors.

Before you plan all the details and book your venue and vendor visits, think - what kind of wedding do you want? Something big, something small, something bigger than big? An elopement with just a couple of witnesses, a micro wedding with up to 30 guests, or a traditional wedding with 50 - 200 guests. There is beauty in each of these options.

Once you’ve decided the best option for the two of you - time to get planning!

WHERE: Local or destination wedding (Click here for our favourite venues). Book a venue visit.

WHEN: If you’re planning a couple of years in advance, you may be able to determine the date. Otherwise, it generally comes down to venue availability. Also, weekday weddings are becoming more popular. Get married on a Thursday? Yes, please!

WHO: How many people are you inviting? Start on a list. Once you’ve chosen your bridal party, here are some ways of asking them to be by your side.

PLANNER: Will you enlist the services of a great wedding planner to help you organise your wedding? Here are our favourite options. Otherwise, this wedding timeline from Lisa at The Event Boutique will help!

TO BOOK:

• Photographer/Videographer: You want to book an excellent photographer, who won’t miss the most important moments! Check their Instagram for details of their work. Here are our favourites!

• Celebrant: The person who makes it official and stands up there with you - so choose a good one, rather than a cheap one! Perhaps you’ve seen a celebrant at another wedding - always a great way to know what they’re really like. Perhaps they’re part of a network of celebrants - another way to know that they’re a good choice! Check their Instagram for videos or to gauge their vibe. Here are our favourites!

• Clothing: What are you two going to wear? Here is a great place to start for fashion.

• Caterer: What kind of food would you like to feed your guests? Here are some ideas.

• Cake: The masterpiece at your reception. Check Instagram for their previous work and check our ideas of the best cakers.

• Flowers: Fresh, dried, faux or a mix? You might be fresh all the way, but you have a choice! Check here for our favourites.

• Hair and beauty: One of the very important vendors you want to book early - because they book out fast, and you want to look your best! Check these ideas.

• Entertainment: From pre-ceremony music, through to dancefloor music at the reception. It sets the atmosphere for your day - so you want it to be awesome! Here are some ideas!

• Jewellery: Whether you’re looking for some rings or jewellery as gifts, we’ve got you covered with some perfect places to look.

• Transport: Wanting to get some photos with a view or to arrive at your wedding in style? We have your transport by air options covered. Or needing to get your guests to your out-of-town wedding safely? Here are some ideas.

• Signage and stationery: From invitations to welcome signs and seating charts. Here are some vendor ideas.

These are the main things you want to consider for your wedding. Everything else is up to you and the points of difference you’d like to make on your big day - the latter of which we’ll cover next month.

Until then - make the most of the wedding off-season to get started on your planning!