Organisation and decision making may be second nature to some people but it really isn’t for everyone! Here is a quick run down of some key first steps and thinking points to set you on your way with wedding planning…

1. choosing where to get married

There are lots of things to consider, obviously you can start with where you have a connection to; where either of you are from, where you live now, OR you can think a bit wider.

For me, it was all about finding the space that would let me do what I envisioned. I wanted somewhere we could stay late and wouldn’t get kicked out at midnight, serve our own drinks, and let me transform and decorate it without any limitations (with a long build/time).

So when Rob’s Auntie offered us her property we went for it. Rob had more of a connection to it than me, as he had been going there since childhood, but I fell in love with the possibility of the derelict barns and open green space.

2. when to get married

Do you want to get married as soon as possible and you’re not bothered about the time of year? Or are you planning a big travel trip you want to do first? Is there anything you were planning in your business or at work that you can’t miss? 

Get all of these dates mapped out on a big annual calendar. You can download for free from here https://www.calendarpedia.co.uk/ and print out. 

Bear in mind, a lot of traditional wedding venues can be booked up a year (or two) in advance depending on their popularity BUT if you’re going to do a DIY venue in a non-wedding venue/building (my fave) or at your home, you’ve got a lot more choice for when it takes place.

3. working with the seasons

Each and every season has it’s appeal and can make a beautiful and atmospheric setting for a wedding. Just work out what speaks to you both - do you want your guests partying into a warm Summer evening outdoors or prefer a cosy, warm, candlelit interior in Winter?

This choice might also be dictated by the answers to the point above, but if you’re limited for choice of season, take heart that each can be magical.

4. How much you want to spend on a wedding

It can all rack up if you let it but ultimately you’ve got a finite amount of money that you can, and want, to spend on your wedding. And you can absolutely do a wedding on a budget if you want. Check out my wedding money-saving tips blog post for some ideas on how.

Write a list of the non-negotiable things you NEED and a list of things that would be nice but totally not essential, to start working out what you want to spend your money on.

5. HOW MANY WEDDING GUESTS

A good way to do this is to have a chat with your partner about categories you’re bothered about having there (large glass of wine advised).

For example, do you want ALL your Cousins, Aunties and Uncles? What about plus one’s you’ve never met? Work colleagues? How many guests would you be comfortable with? Do you want something intimate or a large rave? I LOVE a party but then I’m also a bit of an introvert at heart so this was a struggle to work out for me! As you can see from the picture below, the party-loving side won!

Reach a decision together then each go away and start listing your guests. Come together and go through each one, use some colour coding to categorise (definite, maybe, no) and be prepared for some interesting conversations! Keep this word in mind: COMPROMISE!