As a wedding designer, there are lots of tools that can be useful when I’m working with a couple from the very beginning - from concept to delivering a fully fleshed out Wedding Design (available as part of all my Design My Wedding Packages)

I thought I’d share a little insight into the tools and ways of working that help my couples pull off their dream day.

1. SKETCHUP (Online scale modelling software)

SketchUp is an amazing bit of software I learnt how to use whilst doing my Interior Design HND and still use for events today when working out things like table layouts, ceremony layouts and more.

Last year i needed to work out the dimensions of a custom backdrop for a very specific tricky spot in a couple’s venue, and we managed to work it out to the mm using venue dimensions and mapping it out in the software.

2. Canva or Indesign - mood & concept boards

Indesign/Photoshop/Canva are great for wedding moodboards, colour palettes and trying out ideas for things like dinner tablescapes - where having images of candles, linens and flowers together can help you figure out what’s going to look good.

Back in the day you might have used a similar technique cutting and sticking from magazines (possibly from Bliss or Just17 mags anyone) but thankfully the digital version of moodboard takes less time and creates a better result There is also a free app called Shuffles I discovered a few years ago that’s quite fun and really easy to use on your phone.

3. Digital Tape Measure

Digital Tape Measure - essential for quickly measuring up spaces on my London site visits but I’ll always take a standard pull out tape measure too for tricky angles (the digital tape measure needs to be able to project a dot of light in a straight line from one surface to another)

4. Real Samples

Things like - Fabric samples for tablecloths and napkins. I’ve got a few linen hire companies that generously supply free samples of their fabrics so you can check it’s all going to work together with other elements in your wedding design scheme, tablescaping and decor. Fabric colours can look wildly different in real life to a laptop screen which is why I’ll always want to select from a sample when working on a wedding design for a couple.

5. MY LITTLE BLACK BOOK

Ok I wish it was a lovely leather-bound physical book but if I lost this collection of personal connections, recommendations and people I’ve worked with, I would be heartbroken. So these days it takes the form of a beefy Gdrive spreadsheet with a mix of suppliers that work with couples nationwide (i.e. delivering their goods or products which might be to keep or to hire) and in London specifically.

When I’m pulling together a design I’ll often know straight off the bat who is going to fit my couple’s brief.