So you’ve just got engaged – congratulations! Understandably you’re on cloud nine and nobody can wipe the huge smile off your face right now. But what next? Planning a wedding is a huge deal – just where do you start?

First things first, have you both decided whether you want a civil ceremony or a religious ceremony? The difference being, a civil ceremony is being married in the eyes of the law and the religious ceremony is being married in the eyes of the faith you follow. Your faith will also determine what ceremony you will have if you’re planning a same sex marriage, as some faiths will not allow a religious ceremony, meaning that you will need to book a civil ceremony.

For couples who are having a religious ceremony, you will also need to check with the church you’re planning to marry at whether you need to book a local registrar. If this is the case, make sure you book both at the same time to avoid a change of date or time further down the line, which could be costly especially if you’ve sent out save the dates or your invites.

Once you’ve made your decision on the type of ceremony you wish to go for, you can then choose your venue.

If you’re having a religious ceremony, you’ll need to look at the logistics between the church and the wedding reception venue. How long does it take to drive between the two and what is the maximum capacity for each, so you know how many guests to invite?

And, if you’re having a civil ceremony and wedding reception both at the same venue, then you’ll also need to check what is the maximum number of people you can invite. You will also need to ensure that it has a suitable area for immediately after the ceremony where can your guests relax if the room needs to be turned around for your wedding breakfast.

There are plenty of other questions to ask when it comes to choosing your wedding venue but, to start with, make sure you visit a variety of venues so you have enough information to compare different places and options.