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 and 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.

Delegate the small things

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!