First of all, congratulations on your engagement!

Aside from the wedding itself, becoming engaged is quite possibly one of the best feelings we’ll ever experience! (For me it certainly was!). But once the initial excitement is over, what actually happens next? For many couples, knowing where to start can be incredibly daunting and can be a bit of a deer in the headlights situation.

With so much to consider and take in, here are my personal tips on what should be your next steps:

1 : Take a breather

If there was one piece of advice for couples who have become recently engaged, it would be to just take a step back and absorb everything. So many couples make the mistake of rushing in head first, and not actually taking the time to sit down together and discuss everything in detail. Becoming engaged is one of life’s many exciting milestones, so cherish and enjoy it! You can very easily get caught up in a whirlwind, where questions from friends and family get fired at you left, right and centre. But just remember, as much as a wedding is about being with your loved ones, it’s mainly about you.

So be sure to set off on the right foot, when you are both ready and remember to take your time and don’t rush!

2 : Research

Many couples would have experienced getting engaged and planning a wedding for the first time. Unlike you, we have many years of experience under our belts, so for us the job comes easy. But just like a job, if you start something new without being prepared, it will not be enjoyable and expectations will not be set. My second major piece of advice would be to do as much research as you can before you get started. You will naturally feel more comfortable making key decisions if you are in the know and up-to-date on how it all works. When it comes to carrying out your research, don’t just rely on what Google says. As much as it’s a wonderful thing, some of the information on there can be misleading, especially when it comes to pricing and managing your expectations on the budget. It may be worth while reaching out to some planners and suppliers initially to get a good idea of how much things actually cost, as well as to check out wedding blogs and publications. Carrying out research is one thing, but making sure the information you have is reliable and helpful to you, is another.

3 : Talk budget

One of the most, if not the most important task before anything else should be deciding on a budget. It’s not something that people like to do, but by having an open and frank conversation with your partner will be a crucial step in the wedding planning process. It’s also important to be realistic and know what you can afford. The wedding process should be enjoyable and not something overshadowed by stress and anxiety caused by huge, unmanageable bills.

Step 4 : Decide on your priorities

Now that you have a better understanding of your wedding budget and have carried out a certain amount of research to know what is involved in planning a wedding and certain things you need, you’re in a perfect position to start discussing details and priorities. Everyone wants an epic, meaningful wedding that your guests will talk about for years to come, but you need to explore further exactly what elements make up that epic wedding, which are completely suited to you and your budget.

Whether it’s a beautiful set up, live entertainment and music or incredible food, here is where you outline the ‘must haves’ and where you figure out the less important parts.

Step 5 : Who’s invited?

You probably would have figured out by now that your guest list essentially defines your overall wedding budget. The more guests you have, the more you will have to consider paying in order to find a venue big enough and to cover the cost of catering. If having a large wedding is the most important thing for you, that’s completely fine! But just bear in mind that a large percentage of your budget will go towards the venue and food, where you may have to cut back on other elements such as florals and decor. If a beautifully aesthetic wedding is your main priority, that’s also fine, but again try and consider how much things cost and keep your guest list small in order to achieve this.

It’s also important that you finalise a rough guest list before you start to consider locations and venue, as this will help determine your options.

Step 6 : Set the scene

For those of you who have not already created an ‘inspiration board’, now’s the time to start doing so. Creating an overall ‘look’ and ‘feel’ to your wedding day gives the occasion a cohesive setting and will guide you throughout the process when making key design, location and supplier decisions. For me, the best online tool is Pinterest. It’s a free, easy way to create a ‘mood’ or ‘inspiration’ board that gives you access to a wealth of imagery and ideas. But try to also think outside of the box and use every-day objects, passions or interests to define your style.

For example, you may be inspired by a painting or a piece of furniture, or you may be inspired by a certain trip you had with your partner or something sentimental to the both of you. Think about your story together as a couple and how that can transcend into your wedding day in order to make it as unique as possible.

Step 7 : Get it booked in

Unless you would rather have a planner research various venues and locations for you, the first element you will need to decide on is where you’re going to have your wedding. This may be somewhere close to where you live, somewhere completely new or even overseas. Where many couples now look to cover the cost of the wedding themselves without relying on family, they naturally allow as long as possible to plan. The planning journey can now take up to 18 months in advance, sometimes even longer, so when discussing a date try to bear in mind the demand many venues have, especially if you want somewhere incredibly popular.

It’s also worth noting that venues in particular will have varied pricing according to peak days and months in the year, the most popular being Summer. Perhaps having an Autumn or Winter wedding could be an alternative option in order to keep costs down, or perhaps you could look into having a wedding during the week or on a Sunday, as apposed to a weekend. Whatever your choice, make sure you look into a couple of options and you give yourselves plenty of time.

After taking a look at the above, you may just find that working with a wedding professional might be the best option for you. I offer a range of services and packages specifically tailored to all of your needs, whether it’s full planning, a little creative assistance or the all important on-the-day management and coordination.

Please feel free to check out my list of services here, and please do not hesitate to reach out should you wish to book and receive any further information on how I can help you.