Updated: 6th March 2025
Planning Your Wedding: 5 steps to get you started
Just engaged and not sure where to start with the wedding planning?
In this handy guide, I’ll help you get started on planning your wedding.
Just engaged? Congratulations! Wedding planning can feel overwhelming with so many details to consider—colour schemes, table plans, outfits, and décor. Before you get lost in a sea of inspiration, take a step back.
These practical tips will help you get started with a clear plan and make the process much more enjoyable.
1. Celebrate your engagement!
Take a break from planning, pop some champagne, and celebrate with your nearest and dearest! Whether it’s an engagement party or a cosy get-together, take the time to share your exciting news, show off your ring, and soak in this unforgettable moment.
2. Decide on your budget
Setting your budget early will make decision-making easier and help you avoid falling for things that are beyond your means. Are you working with a fixed budget, or is there some flexibility? Will your families be contributing, or are you covering everything yourselves?
It’s also wise to set aside a contingency fund for any unexpected costs—if you don’t need it, you can always put it towards upgrading your honeymoon! To keep everything organised, consider creating a budget spreadsheet to track your spending. This will help you stay on top of deposits, payment deadlines, and any adjustments you might need to make along the way.
3. Decide on what Kind of wedding you would like and Pick a Venue
One of the first big decisions in wedding planning is choosing the kind of celebration you want. Do you picture an intimate local wedding or a far-flung destination affair? A classic church ceremony, a grand castle setting, or something totally offbeat and unique? Even if you have a dream venue in mind, be prepared to compromise on dates—popular venues book up quickly, sometimes years in advance.
There’s a huge variety of venues to choose from, so start by narrowing down your options. Do you want a traditional church or registry office, or are you drawn to a rustic barn, a country estate, or even a live music venue? Maybe a theatre, a beach, or a mountain top? If you’re having a humanist ceremony, your possibilities are endless—many humanist celebrants are happy to be as adventurous as you are!
Once you’ve settled on a general style and location, start researching venues that fit your vision. This will help you create a shortlist of places to visit, saving time and making the decision process much easier. There are incredible wedding venues everywhere.
By focusing on what feels right for you as a couple, you’ll find a venue that sets the perfect tone for your big day!
You can view some inspiration from venues I’ve photographed via my blog. Click here to view.
4. Secure your Date
If you have your heart set on a specific date, you may need to be flexible when choosing a venue, as availability can be limited. If you’re open to options, consider narrowing it down to a season—do you envision a spring wedding with blooming flowers, a warm summer celebration, a cosy autumn atmosphere, or a magical winter setting? Even choosing a 4-8 week window rather than a single date can give you a much better chance of securing your ideal venue.
If you have a dream venue in mind, check if they offer discounts for mid-week weddings or dates outside the peak summer season. A little flexibility could go a long way in helping you secure the perfect setting while keeping your budget in check.
5. Pick your guest list and wedding Party
Think about the people who mean the most to you both and decide on your wedding party first. Once you have this in place, consider how many guests you can realistically invite based on your budget and venue capacity.
A good approach is to make two lists—one for your absolute must-invite guests and another for those you’d love to invite if space and budget allow. This will help you prioritise and make adjustments if needed.
Consider factors like plus-ones—can you accommodate them? Do you want to invite children, or would you prefer an adults-only celebration? These decisions should reflect what you both want, not just what friends or family expect.
Also, keep in mind that the closer your venue is to home, the easier it will be for more guests to attend. If you’re planning a destination wedding or one in a remote location, you may need to factor in travel and accommodation considerations for your guests.
Bonus tip: Have an engagement photoshoot
Why not celebrate your engagement with a beautiful engagement photoshoot? It’s a great way to get comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day while capturing this exciting time in your lives.
An engagement session also gives us the chance to get to know each other ahead of your wedding day—I’ll learn what makes you both feel relaxed and confident, and you’ll get a feel for how I work. I’ll guide you with posing tips and natural prompts to ensure you look and feel amazing in your photos.
You can go all out and dress up or keep it laid-back and casual—whatever feels most you. Plus, these photos can be used for your engagement announcement, invitations, save-the-date cards, a signing board, or even a guestbook at your wedding. Or simply as a lovely keepsake of this special moment together!
I hope my hits and tips help you get started with the wedding planning. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think. Wishing you all the best of luck with your wedding planning.
“Thank you so much, the photos are better than we ever could have dreamed of! You are so incredibly talented, everyone who has seen our preview photos are amazed at how beautiful they are. Thank you again, from the bottom of our hearts.”
– Brogan & Michael, Edinburgh eLOPEMENT
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EDINBURGH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Based in Edinburgh, Scotland. I capture wedding and elopement photography worldwide.
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