Wedding Planning can easily become overwhelming and where to start is often an issue. This is why I have put together a few helpful hints to make your journey through the process as painless and enjoyable as possible.

Do some Research

Ok so this might be an obvious one, but it’s a great place to start my list.

Research into weddings as a whole. Take a look at what sort of venue you like, what styles you are into and any particular colour schemes that you’re drawn to.

Look online and in person. Ask people you know that have recently got married or in the process of wedding planning. Ask suppliers who they would recommend. I have a list of my go-to people on my website https://pinkphotographics.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/

Having a list of things you don’t like is as useful as having one for what you love.

Set a budget

This is a hard one, especially as everyone’s budget and priorities are different.

There is no right or wrong amount to spend on a wedding – you just need to be realistic with your expectations.

Wedding insurance

A lot of people I speak to have never heard about wedding insurance. But it is so important – especially since Covid.

So why do you need it?

Imagine booking your venue, paying the deposit, signing a contract. Then you have all your other suppliers booked in for that date and location.

Your venue goes into administration. You have wedding insurance, so you have financial protection.

As with all insurance policies, price and cover depends on which company you go for.  Prices generally start around £40 and can go up to a couple of hundred £s.

Wedding email address

This is an easy one to do. If you create a wedding email address, for example nameandnameweddingdate@…. you can give this to all your suppliers and use it for wedding related communications. Everything will be in one place, and it will save you hours of searching for the info you’re looking for.

Work out your priorities

What things are important to you? What are you going to spend the biggest part of your budget on or want to book first?

Are you a foody so you want the best caterers in your area?

Is Photography top of your list? (Oh Hi! I know a great Photographer www.pinkphotographics.co.uk !!)

Are you all about the party so want to invest in entertainment?

Every single couples list for this is going to differ. Be true to yourselves. Prioritise what you want, not what you think you should have.

 

 

Book the big stuff early

This will ensure your fave suppliers are available and you will know what budget you have left nearer the time for extras.

It makes me sad when I have to say no to a couple as I’m already booked. So if you’ve got a supplier you love, book them in as soon as you can and let the happy dances commence!

To do lists

I love lists!

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed with wedding planning. The best way to tackle it is to break them down into smaller lists.

Give yourself little goals such as having a week to research into Florists. Then the following week to have chats with a few that you’ve short listed.

Then the following week get it all booked in, contract signed and deposit paid. In a few weeks with no pressure, you’ve ticked off another thing to sort.

Alternatively, I’ve spoken to plenty of couples at wedding fayres that are there to book certain aspects of their wedding e.g photographer and videographer. Going in with a clear goal has helped them with decision fatigue and the distractions of looking at the other parts to their wedding.

Ask for help – Delegate the small stuff

You don’t have to do everything yourselves!

Many friends and family members would love to help with your planning and craft/diy projects. Utilise any skills they may have.

On the lead up to your wedding, make sure you’re not taking on too many little jobs so you can’t enjoy your last few days before the wedding.

Delegate the small things that you don’t need to be in control of – snacks and refreshments for the morning of your wedding, who’s in charge of handing out the confetti.

 

 

Make time for each other

Wedding planning can be stressful, and you may get to the stage where all your free time is spent talking about the wedding.

When you have a weekend off together make sure you have a night of wedding planning, but also a night where you’re not allowed to talk about anything wedding related. If either of you brings up the subject of weddings, then you owe your partner a drink/bar of chocolate/washing the dishes tomorrow!

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Be honest with your suppliers that you may need help with certain aspects of your planning.

We understand that most couples are planning a wedding for the first time, so wont fully understand what it all entails. This is where we can help.

Although I don’t know how much other suppliers cost or when you need to book your registrar, I do know the running order of a wedding and what is a realistic expectation for your day.

Remember none of us can control everything

The weather, illness, last minute issues, injuries, family dramas, the spot thats appeared the morning of your wedding. None of this can be controlled however organised you are.

You just need to breathe, and remember why you’re doing all of this. You are marrying your person.

Don’t get pressured into things

Wedding trends come and go, and you don’t always need to be a fan of what’s in fashion at the time of your wedding.

Just because something is popular, it doesn’t mean it’s right for you. It’s all down to choice, not something that you legally have to have.

Suppliers have different approaches to get you to book them. Some simply send you the relevant info, give you time to look through everything and check in a couple of times with no pressure. Others have the total opposite way of working and are quite pushy from the start. They make out that you’ll miss out on the best deal ever if you don’t instantly book. Yes, we all have special offers available for limited times and love getting a booking confirmed, but dont let a suppliers urgency convince you that they are the one for you.

It’s your wedding, get rid of what doesn’t resonate with you!

Yes, you read that right an actual real life Treehouse!

When chatting to Grace at a local wedding fayre, I knew I needed to be part of their wedding as soon as she said “we’ve booked Alnwick Tree House and we’re having a twilight ceremony outside.”

Arriving in Alnwick on the Wednesday evening felt like a real treat. I had a cute little Airbnb. The weather was fab and I was full of excitement of viewing the Tree House and seeing Grace and Calum.

The Day before the wedding

The next morning I had a little wander around checking out potential photo spots before meeting everyone for a quick run through. My little Photographers heart was full as soon as I arrived at The Treehouse. It was like something straight out of a Fairy tale.

That evening knowing I had a lie in due to the wedding being late in the day, I enjoyed a leisurely meal at The Dirty Bottles. Followed by a walk to check out where the sun was due to set ready for couples photos after the ceremony.

 

Morning Prep

Groom prep was calm and quiet with only a few people about. Suits were hanging up ready, and things were very organised. A few of the groomsmen had already been out for an explore around the area trying to burn off the pre-wedding jitters.

In great contrast, Bridal prep was wonderfully noisy with lots of excited chatter. Grace was sat calmly having her hair done while her gorgeous bride tribe popped in and out of the many rooms in the guest house.

The Bridesmaids had seen a few TikTok’s they wanted to create. This took much longer than any of them anticipated and gave me endless joy watching them rehearse.

In usual wedding day fashion, the day flew by and it was soon time for Grace to get into her dress. Now, we all know my love for oversized bows and Grace’s Vera Wang wedding gown did not disappoint! Yes I did squeal when I saw it.

 

The Wedding

To be honest, the wedding from start to finish was uh-may-zing!

The venue was stunning. The guests were dressed for the occasion (including the wedding VIP Maverick) and Grace and Calum were elegance personified. Their ceremony had the just right amount of nerves, smiles, tears and filled with so much love.

After the I do’s we moved onto a few groups shots and said bye to Mav. We then went over to the gardens where we had the whole place to ourselves, to do portraits in front of the fountains and beautiful gardens.

This was not only a perfect photo location, but it gave the newlyweds time alone together. Grace and Calum were able to spend a few minutes away from their guests to take in everything from the day so far.

 

The wedding continued with canapes and signature cocktails in the Potting Shed, followed by speeches and a delicious Wedding breakfast.

As the ceremony was at 5pm in the Autumn, we were short on daylight. Being a Photographer who mainly uses natural light, I used this opportunity to get creative. I used ambient light from the Treehouse, play about with fairy lights as well as direct and bounce flash.

The whole day had a magical romantic vibe. It felt like an elopement wedding, like we’d travelled to somewhere really special.

 

Dream Team

Photography – Pink Photographics

Bride prep – Greycroft Croft Place, Alnwick
Groom prep – Bottles Lodge Alnwick
Wedding venue – The Treehouse, Alnwick
DJ – Marvellous – Disco DJ
Photobooth – Crazy Pix
Arch – Made Simply Perfect
Hair and MUA The Big event hair
Cake – DT treaties

What to consider when getting married abroad

The first thought people have when destination weddings are mentioned is that the cost will be far more than a wedding here in the UK. This is not necessarily the case.

The average cost of a UK wedding in 2025 was around £20,822 (bridebook) whereas on average a wedding abroad is around £8.5k! (perfectweddingsabroad). Obviously, it all depends on which country you choose but wowsers what a difference!

 

 

Different countries have different venue options so why not make the most of this and go for an all-inclusive hotel that specialises in onsite beach weddings where everything is all in one place. Or book a local traditional restaurant/ winery/ bar/ castle/ village/ cliff top hideaway where you can enjoy the food, views, service and hospitality of the local area of the place you’ve fallen in love with.

 

 

Can destination weddings be Eco-friendly?

If you’re worried about the carbon footprint of your travels, there are simple ways to help offset your print. By combining your wedding and honeymoon into one location, means you’re only travelling/flying once – the same as you would if you’re honeymooning abroad and having a UK wedding. Most airlines are in the process of being carbon neutral if they’re not already. Only take abroad the items that you need to. Using local businesses and products is a great way to include the local economy. This means you can have something different and connected to the country you’re getting married in. Buying from sites such as https://www.vinted.co.uk/ and reusing items you already own will also keep costs down.

It is worth mentioning that there are still a few countries where a wedding won’t be a legally binding one. Always check the legal requirements for your chosen country and what paperwork etc that needs to be done. When this is the case, why not make the most of the situation and have 2 weddings?! Many couples opt to have their legal wedding at home with those family members/guests that can’t travel abroad – UK wedding VIPs baby! – then fly out for wedding number 2.

 

 

But my destination wedding package comes with a Photographer..

When talking to couples about destination weddings, I often get told “Oh my wedding package includes a Photographer”. I totally get it. This can be a cost saver, and an easy way of ticking off another thing on your list. But make sure you check what’s actually included – often it’s only the ceremony/ short coverage. Find out if you get to meet/ choose the photographer before the day. What style of editing do they have? Do they speak the same language as you? What happens if you don’t “click” with the provided Photographer? Take a look at my blog on choosing your Wedding Photographer to give you a bit more information http://www.pinkphotographics.co.uk/choosing-your-wedding-photographer

Keep in mind just because a couple of hours photo coverage is available to you as part of your venues package, you don’t have to have it. Why not see if they can switch the supplied Photographer for something else?

 

 

Taking a Photographer (me! https://pinkphotographics.co.uk/about/) with you definitely has its pros. You know who will be your Photographer on the day. You know you love their style and have a great relationship with them. Your chosen Photographer can be contacted easily before and after the wedding. Also, if you’re having a UK wedding or party you can ask them to Photograph that too. That way your photos will be consistent and will look fab as a whole gallery. Plus, just think of that lovely happy feeling you will get when you see the joy a destination wedding gives your Photographer!

Wedding Photography is a very personal and subjective choice.  So, when choosing your wedding Photographer it’s definitely worth doing some research.

Social media https://www.instagram.com/pinkphotographics, wedding fayres and asking for recommendations are all a great way to start. Look at websites www.pinkphotographics.co.uk and portfolios and ask to see more examples if needed.

It will probably feel like you’ve looked through a million photos and at times like a different language is being used. We as Photographers also struggle to find which styles/genres best describe our work too!

Hopefully I can help you work out what we’re all talking about!

What styles are there?

Consider which wedding photography style most appeals to you.  It’s perfectly fine liking more than one!

Traditional or classic – Formal group shots, posed photos.

Documentary/ Reportage – Natural, candid moments, non-posed.

Creative and Fun – Filters, movement, unconventional group shots.

Fine Art – Elegant and posed couples portraits, creating pieces of “art”.

Look at your favourite images, what editing style do they have?

Dark and moody – rich, warm, deep colours and shadows.

Light and airy – soft pastel tones, low contrast, cooler colours.

Authentic – true to life colours, natural tones.

Colourful and saturated – Bright and intense colours, high contrast.

Keep in mind when looking at websites/portfolios the actual wedding styling and colour scheme isn’t down to the Photographer. We are there to shoot what is on the day. So don’t let photos of bright colours and busy days put you off if you are going for a smaller, quieter neutral toned day.

One important thing to look out for is if the photos on a website are consistent in shooting/editing style.

By this I don’t mean are they all similar in style of wedding, but do the photos look like they are taken by the same person? If the feel and look of the photos vary greatly, it may be that the Photographer has changed style or that the photos are not their own!

In this situtation I would ask the Photographer for clarification on which style is current. If it’s the one you like, ask if they can send you a full gallery. If you’re still unsure, a cheeky Google image search will let you know if the photos being used are stock wedding photos or not.

 

 

What next?

Once you’ve worked out what you do/don’t like, contact a few Photographers that match that style. If you’re still unsure, ask Photographers to describe their work. We all work hard to create our own editing style that we feel represents us, so we don’t mind couples making sure we are right for them.

I would describe my approach to photography as relaxed, informal documentary with candid, editorial and creative moments. I’m authentic with my editing style keeping your day true to how it was, so that means no heavy colour casts or filters. It’s your wedding, I want my photos to reflect that.

Once you have a short list of Photographers, find out what’s included in their packages. Please don’t assume albums, prints, printing rights etc are included. Some Photographers are very clever (read as sneaky!) with wording so their deals sound too good to miss out on, and what you think you’ve booked isn’t what you end up with. This is why I’m very clear with my packages! https://pinkphotographics.co.uk/prices/

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

By this I mean genuine questions. Not a copied and pasted list of “100 must ask questions for your Photographer” you’ve found on a wedding website. These lists are not helpful to anyone!

Before booking, talk to your Photographer. I would say to always have a meeting of some description (in person, via a phone call or video chat) before you commit to booking if you can. You need to “click” with each other as you will spend more time together than anyone else on your day.

Please don’t book a Photographer just because they’re the first one you’ve found/ they have a special offer on/ you’re in a rush to book. It’s not only the end product that needs to be considered, but the whole process from initial enquiry right up to receiving your finished gallery.

I’m a big believer in attracting your tribe. Find someone who understands you, you like their style of work and like them as a person. It will show in the photos if you’ve not made the right decision. Trust me, none of us want to look at photos and see anything but joy and the real emotions of the day.

 

 

3 wedding dates, Batman, Dinosaurs, Vikings and a Princess.

I met Kerry and Callum at a wedding fayre back in 2018. They planned their wedding for November 2020 at the home of Batman, Wollaton Hall in Nottingham.

But thanks to Covid, along with the rest of the world, things got postponed a couple of times. However, 3^rd date lucky and everything went ahead as planned.

Kerrys Bridal prep started off round the corner from the venue in a purple palace. I was pleasantly surprised with the BEST walk-in dressing area with fab lighting!

Sharon from Blush Moments and Natalie Flewitt MUA worked their magic on the girls, and as a result, a soft Princess Bridal look was created which fits perfectly with a wedding at Wollaton Hall.

 

 

 

 

After the usual morning prep chaos, the Bridal party arrived at Wollaton in style. A green VW camper matched the colour scheme perfectly.

The wedding day was running to plan (well as much as they do!) until a sat nav and the joyful Nottingham one way system had an argument, meaning the loss of a VIP guests and a delay to the ceremony!

 

 

 

 

Thankfully Kerry and Callum had chosen to have a Celebrant led ceremony, which was conducted by a family member. https://www.thecelebrantdirectory.com/find-a-celebrant/weddings/show/graham-ellis/ This meant timings weren’t too crucial, and the day was made that bit more personal. It was a lovely touch including their 2 boys in the tying of ribbons.

 

 

 

 

Photo opportunities at Wollaton hall

After the ceremony everyone braved the cold outside for confetti and group shots. From there we then headed up the small spiral staircase to the rooftop for a couples shoot, with the views of the deer park below us.

The Prospect room, often used for wedding ceremonies was the perfect place for a bit of dress swooshing and practice for their first dance. Not only did we get some beautiful photos, but more importantly, it provided the newlyweds 5 minutes to themselves, before joining the rest of the guests for the meal and emotional speeches.

 

 

 

 

Wollaton Halls Camelia House

One of my favourite parts of Wollaton (apart from the roof top) is the Camelia House. The natural lighting in there is uh-may-zing whatever the weather. When the flowers are in bloom, the colours just pop, so it was definitely worth walking down there to get a few more natural photos of the 2 of them cuddling up and enjoying a well-deserved glass of fizz.

 

 

 

 

A Dark Knight Rises

A few weeks prior to the wedding, Callum’s mum rang me to let me know that she had booked a surprise for during the meal. Giving your suppliers a heads up on things like this is certainly muchos appreciated btw!

As Callum is a big Batman fan, and The Dark Knight Rises was filmed at Wollaton, she booked singing waiters with one to be wearing a batman suit! No-one else knew about this, not even the bridesmaids or best man.

Throughout the day I just kept thinking “act natural Rodney, act natural”. I was so worried I’d look guilty keeping the secret in.

This was especially hard when Kerry was having her make up done in the morning. She said was half expecting Callum to have something Batman related planned to surprise everyone. My GCSE drama and A Level Theatre Studies obvs paid off and the secret was kept until Batman burst through the curtains microphone in hand!

 

 

 

 

Kerry and Callum’s Dream Team 

Venue: Wollaton Hall https://wollatonhall.org.uk/

Hair and Make up: Blush Moments and Natalie Flewitt MUA http://www.blush-moments.co.uk/

Singing Waiters: Amazing Live www.amazinglive.co.uk

For more Wedding inspiration and photos have a look through my portfolio https://pinkphotographics.co.uk/portfolio/

This winter wedding took place at The Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa

Christine and Martin’s love story started at the most glamorous of locations – the local Co-op! 

The two of them told me that they felt an immediate mutual connection. They knew they were meant for each other just after that first conversation. As you can imagine my inner Disney Princess started to swoon and I was already excited to hear more.

Martin, the eternal mischief maker, ditched his idea of proposing over dinner at a fancy restaurant. While Christine was on a video call with her work friends, he decided that was the moment to pop the question!

Christine obviously said yes, much to the delight and amusement of all her friends sat there watching through their screens. I would love to have seen their faces!

The Woodhall Spa wedding

The wedding took place at The Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa in December. Even though it was a winter wedding, they steered clear of the obvious Christmas colours and décor and opted for a beautiful pastel winter floral theme.

They used soft pinks, ivories and light purples accented by eucalyptus to give a winter-frosted appearance to the bouquets and table centrepieces. The theme was continued across to the three-tier wedding cake which was decorated with matching fresh flowers. The combined smell of cake, eucalyptus and flowers was uh-may-zing!

Christine opted not to have morning prep photos.But I arrived a little earlier than planned and was able to capture the last few finishing touches. She looked simply stunning in her elegant, fitted lace dress, and the Bridesmaids looked glamorous in their pale pink dresses. (Well, until the 5^th round of shots later that afternoon!)

As Christine was very organised – andhad pretty much everything ticked off her lists –Martin was simply given 1 job to do.Make sure Christine’s three sons were “suited & booted” on time. Luckily Martin’s Best man/wing man was on hand to supervise. (while wandering around the house, providing some background music playing the guitar). So everything went to plan, and they all looked fab.

The whole day was friendly and relaxed and had one clear message – the importance of their friends and family.

The couples priority for their Petwood Hotel wedding

Having their parents at their wedding was a priority forthem both. Christine was desperate for her dad to give her away, and exactly a year to the day after being discharged from hospital he walked her down the aisle. Not only had he undergone a quadruple heart bypass but he contracted Covid whilst in hospital recovering! His nervousness at potentially getting things wrong when he gave her away was the sweetest.

Martin’s dad – what a character! I especiially enjoyed listening to the stories of how he and his friends used to go skating on the lake in the winter and what it used to be like when he was a boy. He undeniably had all the venue staff wrapped around his finger, even when he was giving them instructions on how to put together the dancefloor. My favourite part was the himpointing his walking stick as a way of directing what they should do next.  

Unfortunately, a key guest couldn’t make the wedding due to Covid. But the Best Man solved the problem of him not being in any photos on the day – a life-sized photo of the missing guest’s face on a stick! He became the ultimate photo bomber and looked like he had a quality night!

The wedding dream team

Venue: The Petwood Hotel www.petwood.co.uk

Photographer: Pink Photographics https://pinkphotographics.co.uk/portfolio/

Bride’s dress: Phase Eight www.phase-eight.com

Bride’s accessories: Wilcox and Carter Jewellers www.wilcoxandcarter.co.uk

Hair: Gemma Clare

Make-up: So Chic Beauty Clinic

Bridesmaids’ dresses: Coast www.coastfashion.com

Groom’s suit: Coneys of Boston www.coneysdesignerwear.co.uk

Ushers Suits: Cavani at Coneys www.cavaniatconeys.com

Wedding cake: Rosie’s Cakes and Bakes

Flowers: Flowers by Maxine www.flowersbymaxine.co.uk

Stationery: Pumpkin Wedding Designs www.pumpkinweddingdesigns.co.uk