Bianca from Pretty Perfect Events is back with more wedding planning advise! Today she is providing us with some industry knowledge. See what is to offer!

Two weeks ago we laid out the items that should be tended to 12-9 months before your wedding date. Today we dive a little deeper into some of those items, offering tips on what to look out for, and what questions to ask.

We discussed budget and the guest list, and how important these two items are. Next on the list was the optional hiring of a wedding planner. Why do you need a planner, you ask? The short and sweet answer is, we make the planning process a breeze. Planners do all the legwork and take care of logistics while staying true to your wedding vision - sounds amazing right?

Apart from the actual planning, there are some other benefits that you might not be aware of, one of them being industry knowledge. Because we are accustomed to working with the wedding industry vendors, we know what various items cost and can therefore advise you when a supplier you have found might be trying their luck with their quoting. Another advantage of hiring a planner is that we more often than not have great relationships with various vendors, and can usually negotiate a good deal for our brides. Who doesn't want to have a few extra Rands in their pocket for honeymoon?

If you are 100% convinced that you do not require the services of a planner, then at the very least consider hiring their services for the day of your wedding. The last thing you as a bride (or your bridesmaids quite frankly) feel like doing the day before, or on your wedding day, is setting tables and making sure suppliers arrive on time, to mention a few. Most planners offer an 'on the day' service and this will without a doubt set your mind at ease so that you can focus on soaking up every moment of your special day and enjoying it with friends and family.

Next up is your venue. As mentioned previously, this is probably one of the biggest and most important decisions regarding your wedding day. Each venue is unique and will offer various items for the venue fee asked. Our biggest piece of advice is to read the venue contract. Make sure you understand every single line of the contract so that you are aware of the terms and conditions. This is tedious work but absolutely necessary. Some venues include tables and chairs, others will charge a fee if you don't use suppliers from their preferred list - make sure you understand it all. Have fun picking a venue - it's such an exciting time exploring all the options with your fiancé and the venue will forever hold a special place in your heart.

Here are some questions to possibly ask your venue:

1. What's included in the venue fee?
2. Do they have a preferred supplier list?
3. Is there a Plan B for rain?
4. Are ceremony chairs included?
5. Is there an extra hiring charge for the ceremony area?
6. Is there a kitchen fee?
7. Are wait staff included?
8. What time is music allowed until?
9. What time does the venue fee allow you to stay until?
10. What is the bar policy and corkage fee if applicable?
11. What time do hired items need to be removed the following day?

Another fun item on the list is picking your wedding party. We mentioned two weeks ago that we have some thoughts on this topic, as choosing bridesmaids is an exciting and important part of the planning process. As a generalization, the bulk of the planning gets left to the bride, with the groom only being consulted on some items. So it's wonderful to have a team of your besties who you can bounce ideas off and delegate small wedding tasks to. This support system not only has its practical benefits, but it also provides huge amounts of emotional support when you need it the most. But how do you go about choosing your team? The truth is, you can choose whomever you please, however, we would still think about this carefully, as each individual has some role to play in the planning process or on the day. Firstly, try and avoid 'honourary bridesmaid' situations as we like to call it. You know that person who does absolutely zip for your wedding day but rocks up and gets a fab dress, hair and make up out of it? That's an honorary bridesmaid, and you don't want that. Usually if you have any sisters and you are close, they should form part of your bridal party, but again, this is entirely up to you. Next to consider is if your groom has a sister that you are particularly close to, it might be a nice idea to include her. Lastly - have your pick of your besties - or include all of them! Consider the budget though when doing so, as you might want to offer to purchase their dresses and provide hair and make up on the day, and these costs rack up quickly.

Whilst we are on the topic of bridesmaids, we urge you to get a superstar Maid of Honour. This woman will be your right hand lady in absolutely everything you do - do not take this decision lightly! Your Maid of Honour is going to share in all your ups and downs, help you decide which shade of white is better, and answer your million text messages about décor ideas. Choose someone that you know will stand by you no matter what, and still love you in the morning.

That's it for all our tips for the planning process 9-12 months before the wedding. Stay tuned in two weeks time when we unpack what needs to be done 8 months before the big day. Happy planning!

All images supplied by Tyme Photography