I’m engaged! Now what?

Engagement ring image credit: Robin Quinn

If this sounds like you, you are definitely not alone!

Don’t be fooled by anyone who seems to have it sussed, we all have that moment of panic when we realise there’s a million things to arrange but no clear place to start.

For example, did you think that a photographer would be one of the first things to organise? Me neither!

I had no idea in what order to do things when we were planning our wedding so now I’ve been in the industry for a few years, I’m sharing some tips so you can feel more in control.

About the author…

I’m Sarah, an accessory designer who creates uniquely personalised experiences for brides choosing their accessories.

I work with women who see the magic in the details and help them to feel like superstars in the run up to their special day.

Before anything else, there are three things I recommend you do first:

Make a list of things you both really want so you know where to prioritise your budget;
Do some research to find out how much things cost on average - look at cakes, venues, photographers, dresses and suits and florists to start off with as these are likely to be your biggest expenses;
Now you have a rough idea, plan a budget and think about when you’d like your wedding to take place.

With that in mind, the next step is to find a venue and plan the ceremony!

Visit as many venues as you like (many do virtual tours now too!) by arranging appointments with their wedding coordinators. There’s no set number of venues you need to visit before you make a decision; keep looking until you find the right one!

Wedding coordinators will oversee your day and make suggestions to help you, or you could hire a wedding planner to help take the pressure of you both.

Focus on the decor and the views, and look for places you could take nice photographs, both indoors and out as you can never rely on our British weather!

You want to feel comfortable with the team that work there too, as you’ll feel much more relaxed on your wedding day if you like and trust them.

If you are having your ceremony at your venue, check with the wedding coordinator to see what spaces you can get married in and what you need to do to book a registrar. If you’re getting married in a church, or hiring a celebrant, make appointments to see them, confirm dates and any other details you need to.

With a date confirmed, the next step is the photographer, videographer and, if needed, any catering companies.

Photographers often book up years in advance so be sure to book yours as soon as you can. I see some brides comment about how much photographers charge, but I can’t emphasise enough how much they are worth; you will only feel disappointed if you choose someone because they were the lowest priced option.

Scroll through Instagram and look for photographers whose style you like and that represent your dream wedding ideas. Take a look on Pinterest too for photo ideas - I wish we’d done this for our wedding as it would have given our photographer much more focus and we would have felt more comfortable on the day.

If you need to source catering companies, I would start looking at that now too, so your venue and food are both covered.

Now you’re on a roll, it’s time to assemble your dream team of suppliers!

Think about the style of your wedding and find suppliers that fit with what you have in mind.

(I have a freebie for you to help! Click to download my quiz and style guide, complete with Instagram accounts to inspire you!)

If your style is their specialty, they’re more likely to understand what you want and interpret it in the same way as you imagine.

Florists often get booked up in advance so they’re a good place to start, especially if you’re planning to have larger floral displays.

Invitations and save the dates, dresses, suits, cake and entertainment are good places to turn next, closely followed by hair stylists, make up artists, accessories, venue decor and transport.

Finish up with the little touches, like favours, place cards, table plans and activity packs for kids (or hire someone to keep them entertained - worth their weight in gold!)

The truth is, no matter how much time you have to plan, in the final weeks it will feel as though there’s never enough hours in the day!

Don’t overwhelm yourself by taking on too much at once; take your time and do your research to find suppliers who you resonate with as it will make your life so much easier (plus they’ll be a great support to you too!).

Hiring a wedding planner or venue stylist can also help lighten the load, particularly on the day and I would wholeheartedly recommend this if you’re planning a destination wedding - planners have contacts for all areas of the industry so will be able to save you time, money and stress in the long run.

Share any other ideas you have below that might inspire a fellow bride!

Happy planning!