7 Top Tips to Kickstart Your Wedding Planning

Congratulations on your engagement!

Excited to get your wedding plans underway but don't know where to begin? Well here are my 7 Top Tips to help you get started.

1. Talk Money

An often tricky subject but oh so very important! If you don't get this right from the outset you may find it coming back to bite!

Before you buy or book anything or visit any venues, agree and decide on your budget envelope or financial comfort zone. This is so important - all your wedding planning decisions will depend on it - when you want to get married, where, who you want to invite, the style, the size of your wedding party.......the list goes on. Be clear how much and from where and understand if any contributions come with 'strings', conditions or expectations attached.

2.  Be You

Photography by Marta May Photography

Remember who you are and choose a wedding style that suits you - if you're comfortable with formality and formal is what you're looking for that's fine but don't be pressured into opting for a style that just doesn't reflect you. This goes for choosing your suppliers too!

3.  Must Haves / Don't Wants

Identify your 'must haves' and 'don't wants'.

When my husband and I bought our very first house together, we had a clear idea of the area we wanted to live in and our budget. A good starting point but we also made a list of Yes and No's  - number of bedrooms, dining kitchen, good transport links into the city etc. Approach your wedding planning in the same way. If you want to get married and have your reception in the same venue, want accommodation on site for your guests or just for your wedding party, or don't want to have guests staying at the venue....set all of these requirements out on your list of Must Haves / Don't Wants.

4.  Draw up a Planning Schedule

To do list/Action List/Wedding Checklist -  What ever you want to call it - This will help you with what you need to do and by when. It's important to be organised but also be realistic about the time and the skills you have. If the 'blank canvas' wedding appeals to you (maybe a marquee in private grounds), a dry hire venue option or a multi-day celebration (my favourite!) do your homework to find out exactly what will be involved in bringing your wedding vision to life. What help do you need? Do you have access to the level and type of help you need? Do you need to enlist an expert? (hint, hint....we can help!)

5.  Inspiration, Inspiration, Inspiration

Draw on as many sources of inspiration as you can. There are lots of fabulous wedding blogs, the treasure trove of inspiration that is Pinterest, and of course, recommendations or referrals from friends, family and venue recommendations. Be careful not to get distracted away from the type and style of wedding that YOU want.

6.  Look After Yourselves!

Photography by Hannah Dufffy Photography

Try not to get too obsessed with wedding planning - (I know that sounds a little strange coming from a wedding planner!) but try to make time for regular breaks from your plans to spend time with each other - enjoy being engaged rather than just seeing it as a gap between being single and married! Check out my 5 Self Care Tips to Help You Survive Wedding Planning.

7.  Be open to flexibility but don't be forced to compromise

Remember it's your wedding day and and as I've already said BE YOU. Don't be pressured into choosing something you really don't want (for example, suppliers or venues encouraging you to choose something that you don't really want because ''it comes as part of the package"). Keep in mind your Must Haves and Don't Wants.

Happy Planning!

Val

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