Planning a wedding takes up a massive amount of time and thought, not to mention cash.

It’s hard to know where to start – and when to stop – when it comes to all the equipment and supplies you’ll need. Plus, there’s always a risk you’ll forget something really important. Like glasses.  Or chairs. You’ll be surprised what you might forget.

And then there’s the question of whether you should buy new, second-hand or hire your wedding supplies.

Don’t know where to begin?  Let us give you a hand with our handy wedding supplies checklist.

The big ticket stuff

Marquees, tables, chairs and glowing dance floors (or mini-golf courses even – yes, really!) are among the things that are good to hire (unless you’re planning to get married again any time soon or start your own events business).

Shop around, do your research and plan to do some bargaining – some companies will offer deals if you hire multiple items. Find a party-hire supplier close to you here. Also consider the time of year you’re tying the knot and whether you’ll need extras, like sun umbrellas or heat lamps.

If you’re having a small wedding, buying chairs second-hand could be a good option, particularly with a vintage theme (old mismatched dining chairs can look great). Plus, you’ll be able to pay this stuff forward, resell or share the wedding love when you’re done with them.

The "must not forget this" stuff

It may sound simple, but don’t overlook the basics. If you’re sourcing everything yourself, and don’t have a wedding planner or venue doing it for you, you need to make sure you’ve got the bare essentials ticked off:

• glasses, 
• crockery 
• cutlery, 
• table linen, 
• vases 
• ice buckets.

Hiring is cost-effective and guaranteed to get you good-quality items, but if you do go down the buy-it-yourself route there’s usually a good reselling value online. You’ll find other prospective newlyweds are more than happy to snap up these things in bulk, provided they’re still in good condition.

The quirky stuff

If you’re wanting to give your wedding that personalised touch your guests will remember, it’s fun to add in a few unexpected surprises.

Chocolate fountains, photo booths, bouncy castles and ice-cream carts (and don’t forget that mini-golf thing) are becoming popular wedding supplies extras. It’s generally easier to hire these things, but if your budget won’t stretch to it, there are some quirky DIY options that are just as good. Why not try setting up a stand of lollies with boxes so guests can serve themselves, or a "decorate-your-own-cupcake table"?

The decorative stuff that brings it all together

Whether you buy or hire the decorative extras depends on your budget and how crafty you want to get. It’s a lot of fun making decorations and even doing your own flowers, but getting it looking how you want can take a lot of practice. Check out Pinterest for crafty wedding inspiration.  If time isn’t on your side and you’re very particular about your theme, it could be wise to buy your decorations as you’ll probably be able to resell them afterwards.

Strings of fairy lights and tea-lights can be picked up new or second-hand and are a gorgeous way to add atmosphere to your big day as evening falls. Plus, keeping them to use again at future events is a nice way to remember your day of all days.