Jan 11, 20214 min read

Newly engaged but unsure of where to start?

Updated: Jan 13, 2021

Here are a few of my top tips for newly engaged couples.

Firstly congratulations, even in these very strange times, it’s an exciting new chapter for you both. Make sure to embrace and enjoy this time, share your news with loved ones (whether that's in person, on the phone or via zoom); pop open the bubbles, and show off that smile and ring.

So where to start? It might feel a little overwhelming; a lot of my couples often feel like this. Especially with the variety of wonderful Pinterest possibilities out there, but I’m here to help with a few tips to ease you into it all.

1.Make the most of being engaged.

As I’ve already said embrace being engaged, take time as a couple to enjoy each other’s company. Even if you’ve been together for years it will feel different and exciting to be now planning a wedding. Talk about what you both want from your wedding. Are you on the same wavelength? Write a list of all the things that pop into your head no matter how big or small or silly they might sound. (You can edit this list later down the line.)

Think back to weddings or events you’ve been to in the past. What did you like or enjoy? What stood out to you or made a mark on your memory?

2. Create a wedding email address.

It may sound cheesy and unnecessary, but believe me you will be talking with various people over this time, suppliers, venues and businesses alike. Keep it organised - having everything to hand and in one place will make things easier in the long run (and if you need to delegate to someone else). Once the hard bits are out the way you can use the same address for RSVPs.

3. Count the numbers

In this case we are not talking about the pennies, we are talking people! Get an idea of the number of guests you may want – this might seem a little crazy so early on but it will help for 2 reasons.

Gives you an idea for your budget
A lot of suppliers will need this to give an accurate quote

Think about how much you can realistically afford, what you want to spend and what things cost. It’s a good idea to talk about this so you can start saving and have things in mind when you’re researching ideas.

4. Get researching

There is a lot of information out there. It can seem a little daunting at first. Especially as there are lots of things to think about, so it’s a good idea to do your research, find a team of expert suppliers to work with and start putting your ideas onto paper. There are a number of places to start:

Pinterest – an online pinboard which you can ‘pin’ all your ideas to, with different boards, sections and links. This is one of my favourite tools to use to find inspiration so why not check out my profile.

Instagram – a place for you to find a showcase of suppliers, real life weddings, venues and recommendations. You can save posts easily to come back to and set up a wedding hashtag for the big day.

Wedding blogs – there are some great blogs out there, with real life weddings, styled shoots, directories, DIY’s, top tips and more. Some great ones to check out are; Want that Wedding, Love my Dress, The English Wedding Blog, Whimsical Wedding Wonderland, Botanical Weddings UK and Junebug Weddings.

Wedding magazines – there are national magazines which are more generic or use local ones to find suppliers and small businesses within your area. Check out Bristol and Somerset weddings for local inspiration.

Wedding fairs – these are great to actually speak to people, see and sample products and get a feel for the industry. Although sadly these aren’t running at the moment, there have been a number of virtual ones on instagram/facebook and via venues websites. Keep an eye on my profiles for upcoming events.

Venues – when you decide on a venue they often have a list of recommended suppliers that can help you create the wedding you’re looking for.

Google – use local keywords to search for wedding suppliers in your area, check out reviews.

5. Most importantly - Be yourselves

You will likely find yourselves going off track whilst you embark on this journey. There will most certainly be ups (I’m a sucker for losing hours to pinterest) and downs. Try to make sure you choose the things that are important to you both as a couple, that have meaning to you and meet your values (bit deep, sorry). You will also find yourself doing things that you maybe never even thought about, or have been suggested to do by someone else but make sure you do you! At the end of the day your wedding is for you as a couple and making the decision to spend the rest of your lives together, not for anyone else.

To help you with continuing your planning journey I have put together a checklist of all the things to consider, time frames, ideas, top tips and my love list of local suppliers.