So, you’re engaged and ready to embark on your wedding planning journey. Or at least you would be if you knew where to start!
Luckily, you’ve found me, Val, Director and Head Planner at Benessamy. With over 15 years of experience planning events, I can offer plenty of insight and advice. Here’s where to start with wedding planning…
In the beginning, it can be difficult to picture the finer details of your wedding. Colours, flowers, the cut of a bridesmaid’s dress. If this is the case for you, I’d suggest starting with the overall vibe you’d like to achieve. How do you want your wedding to feel? Informal and relaxed or opulent and traditional? Contemporary and chic or quintessentially British?
When you imagine your friends and family together, what are they doing? Are they sipping drinks on a terrace in the sunshine? Watching you exchange vows in a beautiful country garden? Or are they soaking up the sunset on a Caribbean beach? Once you can see the bigger picture, the finer details will start to reveal themselves too.
As well as identifying an overall figure, consider how you’ll prioritise spending. The venue and catering tend to be the biggest expense, usually accounting for 40-50% of your total budget. Other significant costs include photography and videography, flowers, décor and your attire. If you can identify things that are important to you versus details you’re happy to overlook, you can allocate your budget accordingly.
The size of your guest list impacts a number of decisions, primarily your choice of venue. There’s no point falling in love with a beautiful historic house that can accommodate 70 seated guests if you’re planning to invite double this amount.
Don’t worry, at this point, nothing is set in stone. You can always revise your guest list at a later date, but you’ll need a rough headcount before you start shopping for venues, caterers and other suppliers.
With a budget in place and a loose idea of how many guests you’ll be inviting, you can begin your venue search. You might find the following links helpful:
Country Vs City Wedding – Which is Right for You
Benessamy’s Guide to Planning the Perfect Marquee Wedding
Is a Destination Wedding Right for You?
Everything You Need to Know About Exclusive Use Wedding Venues
Choosing the right suppliers for your wedding is a big task. They can really make or break your event, so you need to feel comfortable and confident with your choices.
Nowadays, there are many different ways for wedding professionals to market themselves so you can find them. Social media is definitely a useful tool, and wedding shows can be great, but I still believe the best place to start is recommendations. Ask your married friends if they’d recommend any of their suppliers. If there’s a specific detail you remember admiring, such as a bouquet or wedding cake, ask them who was responsible.
I’d also encourage you to mine other wedding professionals for advice. A wedding planner’s little black book of recommended suppliers is worth its weight in gold! We see everything behind the scenes, so we know who’s good at their job… and who isn’t. At Benessamy, we have extremely high expectations and demand the very best from the suppliers we work with. If we say they’re the best, book them!
Although it’s a joyful time, planning a wedding can feel overwhelming. If this is the case for you, take a deep breath. Allow yourself a little time to enjoy your engagement. Talk about your hopes and dreams for your wedding day, so you can figure out what matters most to you as a couple.
Remember to pause before making any big decisions. Read reviews, do your due diligence, and double check contracts before you commit. Finally, don’t feel you have to appoint your wedding party right away. These people will play an important role in the smooth running of your wedding, so it’s always a good idea to give it some thought.
Still not sure where to start? Benessamy can help! We have plenty of experience planning joyful weddings and events in the UK and overseas. Discover our Wedding Planning Services or get in touch to arrange a consultation. You’ll also find more inspiration via the links below:
Val Mattinson is the founder and Head Planner at Benessamy, specialising in luxury weddings and beautifully curated celebrations across the UK and the Caribbean. With over 15 years of experience, Val is known for her calm, reassuring approach and meticulous attention to detail — supporting couples and hosts who want an unforgettable experience without the overwhelm.
If you’re beginning your planning journey and would like expert guidance, get in touch to arrange an introductory call. Val would love to help you create a celebration that feels thoughtful, joyful and effortlessly seamless.
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call +44 (0)7787 422451
mail events@benessamy.co.uk
Will you be serving cake at your wedding? Have you chosen a design yet? Sampled any flavours?
Are you hoping to get married at a country wedding venue in the UK? As an experienced wedding planner, I’ve spent many years helping couples find the perfect setting for their celebration.
