Wedding Planning Tips - Engaged now what?

Are you engaged? Well congratulations!! How exciting. By now you have probably told your engagement story thousands of times an d looked at your ring millions more (I know I did)! Friends and family may have already started asking you all about the pending wedding, wanting to know all the wedding planning details - When? Where? How many guests?

Now, you may have this sorted and know exactly where you want to get married, what you want to wear and who is coming! If so, well done you. But most likely you may not have had a chance to think about it all yet! This article sharing some wedding planning tips will help you to decide what to do next or first, when you are ready! So here goes!

1. Celebrate your engagement

Tell your friends, family (don’t forget those who are abroad) about your engagement but also celebrate privately just the two of you. You could even book an engagement photo shoot. Your engagement season is a very special time so enjoy it. After this period the next celebration will be your hen and stag do! So, lap up this engagement season as it can go by so quickly!

2. Decide on your wedding priorities

This is now the time to consider some of those questions that everyone has asked. First you and your partner need to discuss the essential things for your wedding that you won’t compromise on. For example, location, type of music, food or perhaps the time of the year you want to get married, it may take a little while to agree on this! (It did for me and my hubby, ‘compromise’ was our friend 😊).

Make sure the two of you are clear on your priorities, because EVERYONE will make suggestions, about your wedding. After that respectfully and honestly discuss with your family what your priorities are and get their buy-in early. Give them time to come to terms with things they may want to do that are different to what they expected. But please remember a wedding is about the two of you. So, do it your way! 

3. Set your wedding budget

4.Choose your wedding guests

5. Select your wedding venue options

Decide where first, a location and if you already know a venue. Always check their availability. Some venues can get booked up years in advance! So, if you have your heart set on getting married at a dream location book in early. Or if not do some research about venues in your chosen area, my blog has more tips for choosing your wedding venue. Find the date/s that work for you and decide whether you want to get married at the weekend or during the week (which is often cheaper). In the UK, according to Bridebook Trend report the most popular months for weddings were July, August and September and January was the least popular. 

6. Gather your wedding inspiration

This is the time to start considering what type of wedding you want. Think about the following

a. Your style – is it romantic and candlelit, a beach vibe or formal sit down, glamorous or rustic

b. Colour schemes – vibrant colours, pastel tones, or all white

c. Fun elements you may want to include.



Keep your budget in mind (as mentioned above) as there is no point falling in love with some elaborate flowers or dress that you can’t afford. 

Inspiration is everywhere so don't forget to check out magazines, social media especially Instagram and Pinterest and real wedding photos—and don't limit yourself to the obvious sources. Something as unlikely as a wallpaper pattern or a scene from a favourite movie can spark your creativity. 

You can find some ideas on my wedding inspiration page. 

7. Marriage Guidance

This can often be forgotten amongst the excitement of planning a wedding. But getting married is a serious thing, you are committing to spend your life with this person. Consider whether it would be useful to have pre-wedding classes. This can be a great way to work through key things like communication, how to deal with conflict, your families and your plans, where will you spend Christmas! My hubby and I did this and it was so helpful. Even if your plans change (and they will), it’s good to know where you both stand. You can arrange this through your church or if you are having a civil ceremony through signing up for pre-wedding counselling. Working through these details can be challenging but so rewarding and will make you remember what this is all about. A wedding is a day, but marriage is for life!

8. Choose your bridal party

For some this is an easy decision, for others it is painstaking, it’s important to have the conversation early before one of you starts asking friends or family. One key thing to consider is to choose people who will support you throughout the planning. You will spend time with the wedding party and they are donating their time for free. Keep the budget in mind too as you may want to pay or contribute to the bridal parties’ attire, flowers or even wedding transport, all this adds up. The sooner you ask the better to ensure that they are available. Have a read of my blog post with 5 tips for choosing your wedding party.

9. Choose your key wedding suppliers

Start to research some of your key suppliers such as a photographer or florist. With so many talented suppliers around, choosing them can be overwhelming. It is important to book your suppliers as early as possible once you have a venue booked. However, it is just as crucial finding the suppliers that you are comfortable with, so take the time to locate those that are the right fit for your day. Also consider local wedding magazines, recommendations from family or friends, or if you have seen their work at another wedding great. Check out this blog post with tips on choosing suppliers for your wedding. As a wedding planner I have a range of brilliant suppliers and can make suggestions for your consideration, as part of my services when you book me. There are also tips on



10. Hire a wedding planner

This is one of the wisest things you can do. Why? There is a long road ahead and it may feel like ages away, but time will creep up and the list of to-dos will grow. There are lots of decisions to make. If you have a busy life, with little spare time, then hiring someone like me will help. Getting a wedding planner on board early on your wedding planning journey, is a great way to save time in the long run. I take care of everything for you from finding talented suppliers, budget and guest management, to making suggestions for your wedding design for your agreement. I will ensure you are prepared for the entire wedding and be there with you throughout the planning and on the day to expertly bring it all together for you to ensure you have the wedding of your dreams. Check out my blog post on 5 reasons to hire a wedding planner.

At a minimum do consider having a wedding planner there just on your actual wedding day. This involves coordinating your wedding day everything from guests to suppliers, setting everything up for you and ensuring your special day runs smoothly. You will need some help on the day so why not hire a professional, as trying to do it all can be overwhelming.

I hope this article provides useful wedding planning tips on the key steps to take after you get engaged. If you need any help with planning your whole wedding or parts of it, I would be delighted to assist. 
Planning weddings is my bread and butter and I love it. With my knowledge and experience I can save you time and help make your wedding planning seamless. You can find more about my services . Please do get in touch natasha@pearlineevents.com or use my contact form.

Natasha x