As many brides will tell you, planning your own wedding can be a stressful affair. There are many tasks that need to be ticked off and countless things to consider. It can be difficult to know where to begin. However, it is possible to make the experience itself a fun one and it is certainly a memory you’ll cherish when the big day is over.

Whether you live in a surrounding county or somewhere further afield, you’re in luck if you’ve decided to have a local wedding right here in Northamptonshire. Today, we’re going to provide you with some helpful tips and pointers so you can pull off a beautiful wedding in one of the most idyllic counties in the UK.

Tips on Preparing for a Northamptonshire Wedding

Here are some things you should know to make your wedding preparations as smooth and problem-free as possible.

1. Set a budget

Many of the decisions you’ll make regarding your wedding day will be guided by your wedding budget. As such, one of the things you should prioritise is establishing what your budget is and what areas, if any, you may be willing to extend it. If you’re going to pay for the wedding yourselves, check your finances and put a strict limit on your spending that you are comfortable with. If some of your relatives are pitching in, talk to them about how much they are willing to contribute. Once you have determined your spending power, stick to your budget. Keep in mind that as with many things in life, when it comes to your wedding the service you receive will be relevant to your spend.

If you’d like to make your budget stretch further, it’s worth considering a midweek wedding. Here at Crockwell Farm as with many venues, weekday weddings are significantly cheaper than those held at weekends.

2. Create a to-do list

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming. To ensure that you’ll get everything done on time, create a list of things you need to do before the big day. Make sure you get your fiancé involved, too, and discuss what you need to prioritise. Not only will it help you stay on top of things, but creating a to-do list can also help ensure that you won’t go over your budget.

If things have become too stressful, hiring a wedding planner certainly helps. At Crockwell Farm, we have friendly and highly experienced wedding planners who will work with you to build that perfect, bespoke wedding. We can guide you on every aspect of your wedding and put you in touch with some fantastic suppliers.

3. Pick the date

Now here comes the important part: picking the date of your wedding. When picking the date, there are several factors to consider. These include the weather or season and the availability of your chosen venue. You also have to account for the availability of the materials you’ll use for the wedding decor, especially if you’re planning to use seasonal flowers.

Try to be flexible when choosing the date. Select a few dates that you like so you won’t be too constrained when booking a venue and suppliers.

Spring and summer are the most popular seasons to get married in Northamptonshire. Because the local weather tends to be nicer during these times of the year, many couples in Northamptonshire marry between April and September.

At Crockwell Farm, dates tend to be booked between two years and 18 months ahead of the wedding date so it worth being organised if you are considering a weekend date, particularly in the summer. We can advise on when you need to be thinking about booking your wedding if you’re targeting a particular time of the year.

4. Choose a theme

Having a wedding theme makes the preparations much easier. It helps narrow down your choices when it comes to decor, food to serve, and other design decisions. Also, it makes things look more consistent and organised.

There are many popular themes you can use for your wedding. There’s the rustic wedding theme, which has been the most popular theme not only in Northamptonshire but also in other parts of the UK for the last two years. Using the magical charm of fairy lights and the natural splendour of the English countryside, this wedding theme emphasises the beauty of simplicity.

Outdoor and garden weddings are hugely popular, too. Similar to the rustic theme, it makes use of simple design elements. However, unlike a rustic-themed wedding, which is held inside a barn or farmhouse, a garden or outdoor-themed wedding ceremony takes place outside. This makes it perfect if you want to get married in summer. If you’re considering an outdoor wedding, our Orchard Pavillion here at Crockwell Farm is an excellent fit for your venue needs.

5. Consider the weather

As mentioned earlier, you need to account for the weather when planning your wedding. If you want warm weather when you tie the knot, the best time of the year for a Northamptonshire wedding is from late June to late August. For any time of year, it is important to have a good indoor contingency plan. Our newly refurbished bar and marquee areas along with our vaulted barn mean we have stylish indoor spaces whatever the weather. 

At Crockwell Farm, we’re always planning for the unexpected. Even on the very best sunny-predicted weeks, a downpour can occur. Because we always have these things in mind, your indoor back option will be set in case of  a last minute change of plan.

6. Choose the venue

There are many types of wedding venues in Northamptonshire you can choose from. For example, if you want something classy and luxurious, you can opt for a hotel wedding venue. Plenty of hotels in the area offer wedding packages that you can easily customise to fit your needs and budget.

If you’re looking for something more relaxed and romantic, a barn wedding venue like ours at Crockwell Farm might just be the thing you need. Barns are a favourite choice among many couples because of their rustic appeal and beautiful wooden interiors. Furthermore, the surrounding views of the countryside make an excellent backdrop for your wedding pictures.

Crockwell Farm is a very popular venue in Northamptonshire offering barn and outdoor settings for weddings. Located in Daventry, we are a favourite not only among locals wishing to tie the knot but also those from outside Northamptonshire and the surrounding counties for good reason. Our location is simply breathtaking. 

7. Choose a place for your guests to stay

Because not all of your guests are likely to live in Northamptonshire, it is important to have plenty of accommodation options nearby for the night before and night of the wedding. We have an extensive list of recommended local B&B’s and hotels which can be emailed to your guests to allow for advanced booking. 

At Crockwell Farm, there are nine bedrooms in total which will be available to the immediate wedding party, but we can also advise your wedding guests on the best local accommodation options.

8. Select your wedding dress carefully

Choosing your wedding dress is a huge part of the planning process and one which most brides will relish. Having said that, it can be an overwhelming task so it’s good to do some online research before you hit the bridal boutiques. It’s important to not only consider how you will look in the dress but also how you feel. Feeling comfortable, confident and like yourself are all essential factors. 

It is worth considering materials used and checking that they are appropriate for the time of year. For instance, chiffon and tulle work well for summer weddings because these fabrics are soft, light, and airy. On the other hand, mikado and brocade are ideal for winter weddings because they are thicker and more structured. For winter weddings a shawl or tailored jacket can be a great addition for outside photos. 

Apart from the material, you should also consider the design of your dress. Because you’d want to be the most beautiful woman in the room on your special day, you should choose a dress that best represents your personality and looks good on you at the same time.

For instance, if you’re the type of person who likes something simple and fuss-free, a wedding dress with a clean and modern design would suit you. This design, which features clean-cut lines and no huge adornments, rose to popularity due to the recent royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Another popular wedding dress trend these days is the use of lace. Whilst lace has always been a favourite amongst brides, this traditional fabric has seen a rebirth in 2019. Unlike its older version, however, the modern lace wedding dress looks more stylish and can be worn easily anywhere, thanks to the introduction of stretch lace.

9. Create a “wedding emergency kit”

It’s a great idea to create a wedding emergency kit so you can be prepared for minor mishaps during your big day. The emergency kit should contain blister plasters, hair pins and dress pins. At Crockwell, our staff are first aid trained so you don’t need to worry about more serious incidents!

Our honeymoon cottage, Dryden is a great spot for you to escape to if you need a break during the day or to re-touch makeup. Ask your make up artist, if you have one, to leave you with a top up of any essential items so that you can touch up if you need to. .

10. Confirm everything with your suppliers

Ensure that everything is in order by being in contact frequently and confirming everything with your suppliers, including the venue, caterer, photographer, band or DJ, hairstylist and makeup artist, and the florist. Not only will this assure you that everything will go according to plan, but confirming all the logistics of your wedding can also help you identify the suppliers who already got paid and those who are still awaiting payment. Our team will help you with this particularly at a detailed planning meeting six months before the wedding. 

Conclusion

Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event. Because this is a very special day, it requires thorough planning and plenty of preparation. In order to get the most out of the planning process and enjoy the experience, it is worth being organised, disciplined and setting yourself a budget early on. We will help with the rest!

If you’re looking for a wedding venue or you need help with the preparations, we are more than happy to assist you. Contact Crockwell Farm today. Our experienced team of wedding experts are ready to guide you and help you plan and create the most magical and wonderful day of your life.