Congratulations, you're engaged! Whether you nervously popped the question or were presented with a gorgeous ring this Valentine's Day, no doubt you'll be smiling from ear-to-ear – and quickly turning your thoughts to planning your big day.
Valentine's Day is one of the most popular occasions of the year for proposals. But if you're keen to get married soon and have your heart set on a summer wedding, an 18-month engagement can feel quite lengthy.
The good news? There's no need to wait another year-and-a-half when you can plan a perfect wedding in six months. That might sound like a short time to get everything sorted. But with your Memory Maker on hand to help, you'll be ready for the day of your dreams this summer.
Our step-by-step guide will take you from Valentine's Day engagement to summer season wedding day and help you put those plans into action.
1) Book your venue
Before you even begin making the guest list and deciding on your dress, you need to know where you're going to get married. Make Marriott your perfect starting point, with over 50 hotels across the UK, catering for every party size, style or budget.
Start narrowing down your list by deciding what kind of venue suits your personal taste. Perhaps it's the stunning scenery of a countryside escape at one of our Hotels & Country Clubs, where you can welcome 300 guests to the historic 14th-century manor home at Delta Hotels St. Pierre Country Club? Or if a stylish city ceremony suits you better, take a look at London's Delta Hotels Bexleyheath or Delta Hotels York. You'll be right by the city centres for easy guest access – yet still on the outskirts for a more secluded setting.
2) Send your invites
With a six-month planning process, there's no need for Save The Date cards - you can send out your main invites straight away. This is an important task to tick off your to-do list when your wedding is approaching so as many guests as possible can join you on your special day. It also really focusses your mind on inviting the people who truly mean the most to you.
As well as helping you make quick decisions, forgoing Save the Date cards reduces both expense and environmental impact. You'll be saving money, cutting the cost of the design, print and postage on a second set of cards. And, you'll be supporting sustainability by cutting the carbon footprint that comes with sending an extra round of invitations.
3) Pick your suppliers
Booking and coordinating suppliers can be time-consuming, which may put you off a short engagement. Yet at Marriott, we're here to make your life easier, so we've created our own wedding Wishlist.
The Wishlist is an exclusive selection of upgrades and experiences, ready and waiting for you to choose from – and covering everything from your photographer to your favours. You'll discover things you might not have thought about, like a flower wall and flower arch for photo backdrops and aisle arrivals. You'll also find plenty of extra special food and drink options to take you from day to night: think tailored gin bars, ice-cream stations, and midnight snack chip'n'dip bars. Instead of needing multiple caterers to pull this together, our dedicated team of wedding experts are on hand to coordinate it all for you.
4) Find your honeymoon
Booking your honeymoon is a hugely exciting part of wedding planning. Winter honeymoons give you some impressive destination choices, but they're often more expensive as you need to jet off further away to get the sunshine.
With a summer wedding, it's easier to honeymoon closer to home. Whether a family moon with your children lends itself to short-haul flights, you're looking to save some money, or you'd love to explore the impressive cities of Europe, a summer honeymoon is another reason for booking that summer wedding.
What's more, when you plan your wedding with Marriott, you can sign up to Marriott Bonvoy ™ Events. Become a member and you'll earn points you can use to redeem free room nights, Member Rates, airline miles and even access exclusive experiences with Marriott Bonvoy Moments™.
5) Relax – your day's almost here!
Preparing for one of the biggest days of your life is always going to feel momentous, no matter what help you have on hand. So as your big day gets closer, it's time for you to sit back and relax. You're ready to savour every moment, knowing Marriott has taken care of everything. As experts at combining the grand gestures with the finer details, there'll be nothing left on your list except to make memories and say ‘I Do'.
Engaged this Valentine's Day, but would love to get married this summer? Your Memory Maker at your dream venue will help you plan your perfect wedding in six months with enjoyment, and ease.