Just Engaged? My top Wedding Planning Tips
First of all - congratulations! Getting engaged is such an exciting milestone, and deserves to be enjoyed just as much as the wedding day itself.
If you can’t wait to get stuck into wedding planning, I completely understand! I’ve had the privilege of working with so many newly engaged couples at the very beginning of their planning journey. If you’re wondering where to start (or feeling slightly overwhelmed already), these wedding planning tips will help you start with confidence and clarity. I’ll do more blog with more wedding planning tips later in the year.
Ready to get started? Here we go!
When looking around venues, have a think about the kind of couples photographs that you would like, and whether they can be achieved at your venue. How gorgeous is this woodland walk at Camp Katur??
Celebrate your engagement
Before you book venues or start scrolling endlessly through wedding inspiration, take a moment to celebrate. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chapter. Whether you’re planning a relaxed barn wedding in Yorkshire or an intimate outdoor celebration, enjoying your engagement sets the tone for everything that follows.
Think about booking an engagement session - some photographers will include this in their package and for others it is an add-on. An engagement session is a beautiful way to capture this part of your story - and can have the added bonus of getting you comfortable in front of the camera and seeing how your photographer works.
Your engagement shoot can be a fun and relaxed way to get used to being in front of the camera. They can also be used on your wedding stationary / wedding website too! This was a lovely pre-wedding shoot in the Peak District.
Decide what matters most to you as a couple
Every couple is different. Some prioritise incredible food and a great party, while others value meaningful moments and natural wedding photography that tells the story of the day.
Sit down together and talk about what’s most important to you. This will guide your decisions — from your choice of venue, to deciding where to invest your budget. Talk about the look and feel of your day, prepare your inspiration board.
There are so many ideas and resources available - take the time to have a think about what you really want and look at all of the options before making your decision. Ultimately it is your day, and it is about you as a couple - advice and trends are great, but you do you.
Confetti can present a lot of questions in itself - paper, dried petals or other? Where do you want to do it? When looking at venues, if confetti is important to you, check if they have any restrictions on the type / locations that can be used.
Set a realistic budget early
Setting a budget early makes the entire planning process smoother. Knowing what you’re comfortable spending helps you choose the right suppliers and avoid disappointment later on.
Costs can quite easily mount up very quickly, even when no particular item seems particularly excessive.
The grounds at Yorkshire Wedding Barn provided an amazing backdrop - and make it super easy to sneak out for five minutes while your guests are being seated, allowing you to make the most of your drinks reception.
Think about your wedding date and venue
Is there a particular date that is special to you? Is it the season which is the most important consideration? Wedding venues and timeslots with the registrars can book up quickly, especially during the peak wedding season.
Try to visit your venue at the time of year as your wedding so you really get a feel for what it will be like on your special day.
Securing your date and venue will be the first step - potential suppliers will need to know this in order to check their availability. Unless of course there is a supplier you want that badly that you will pick a date based on their availability.
Book key suppliers as early as possible
Have a think about what are your must-haves and what are your nice to haves. The closer to your date that you leave it to book your key suppliers, your first choice may no longer be available.
I’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing florists, stylists and cake makers - I mean look at this set up at Camp Katur
Your Photographer
Photographers are usually one of the first suppliers that get booked after the venue and the date. Long after the cake is eaten and the flowers have wilted, your photos will remain.
Choose a photographer whose work you love and who makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. Out of all of your suppliers, you will spend the most time with your photographer on your wedding day, and trust and connection can be just as important as the photographs themselves.
Enjoy the process
Your special day is important - of course it is - but it is just one day. When planning starts to feel overwhelming, take a step back and remember why you are doing this in the first place: choosing each other and starting your marriage.
Everything else is simply part of the story.
