**Congratulations you’re getting married! Wondering where to start with the wedding planning?**
You’ve just got engaged! What should you book first? Where to start?
The moment you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived — someone popped the question, and you said yes! Now the excitement of planning your dream wedding begins, a day you may have thought about for years. But before diving into the details, it’s essential to sit down with your partner to establish your budget and timeline, do you want to get married in Summer, or off season when it’s usually cheaper? It used to be tradition to get married on Saturdays, but the covid backlog changed that and couples get married on any day now and you may pick up a Monday - Thursday bargain.
Once that’s set, here are the first six things in my opinion as a former wedding venue manager that you should book to kick-start your wedding planning adventure!
One top tip - don’t choose New Years Day, it sounds romantic with a new year to have your new start together as a married couple, but in reality your guests turn up hungover and asking around for painkillers, trust me it’s not a vibe handing out hangover kits pre ceremony!
1. The Wedding Venue
This is the biggie! Your wedding venue sets the date for your entire celebration. But then you have to decide what kind of a celebration you want.
Are you dreaming of a festival vibe with a teepee adorned with fairy lights, or would you prefer the elegance of a stately home, a luxury hotel venue or a cozy village hall?
Maybe you’re a nature lover and envision an outdoor wedding in the summer, overlooking a serene lake, or perhaps you’re lucky enough to have a relative with a fabulous garden to host your special day.
For those of you with a sense of adventure, why not consider a destination wedding on a beach, where you can say “I do” barefoot in the sand?
Or if you and your partner are thrill-seekers, imagine an exhilarating wedding abseiling off a cliff (my friends at Lost Earth Adventures could assist with this) or an adventurous ceremony being winched down to the foot of Gaping Gill!
And let’s not forget about transportation as locations for your ceremony, you could marry on a vintage steam train, or sailing down the canal on a barge? The possibilities are endless!
2. Time Off Work
You’d be surprised how many couples forget to set reminders to book their annual leave! Make sure you take the time off as soon as possible to enjoy the lead-up to your big day. And don't forget to tell family and friends to save the date — they’ll want to mark it on their calendars!
3. Me!
The sooner you book, the sooner I can get to know you both and begin to craft your story. www.celebrantled.com
4. Legal Registration
Book a simple 2+2 legal registration at your local Register Office to take care of the legal side of things. This step is crucial to ensure everything is official, save your personal vows and the exchanging of wedding rings for your ceremony in front of loved ones.
5. Wedding Insurance
This might seem like an afterthought, but trust me, wedding insurance is a must-have! You wouldn’t believe the amount of panicked calls I’ve received from brides dealing with unexpected mishaps — everything from broken bones to last-minute emergencies with poorly parents. Protecting your investment will give you peace of mind leading up to the big day.
6. Photographer
Finally, securing a talented photographer is essential. The best photographers get booked up quickly, so don’t leave this one to the last minute! I used to manage a wedding team and have a wealth of contacts in the industry. If you need recommendations, just let me know! Some of my personal favorites include Hayley Baxter, Lisa Kershaw, and Vivienne Edge — each of whom captures the magic of weddings beautifully.
With these six essentials in place, you’ll be well on your way to planning the wedding of your dreams. 🍾 🥂 Let’s toast to love, laughter, and happily ever after!