How To Navigate Your First Wedding Planning Decisions

You're engaged! Congrats! First things first, take our advice and stay in your engagement bubble as long as you want; there are no rules, and there is no right or wrong way of doing things from here on in. This is your wedding planning journey, so enjoy the ride!

It's also worth mentioning that it is completely natural to feel overwhelmed at this stage, though, and you may be thinking about where to begin. You've probably got people asking you questions about your wedding that you haven't even thought about yourself yet (are we right?!), so it's time to set some boundaries and get some responses locked down. Replies such as "We're still enjoying being engaged just now" or "We haven't thought that far yet; it's early days." should do the job! But really, you should simply be relishing your engagement and only start planning a wedding when you're ready.

This blog is for those who are thinking about embarking on the wedding planning journey but are unsure where to start. Don't panic---it's going to be a fun ride! So settle in as we guide you through your first wedding planning decisions.

Define your wedding vision and budget together

You may have been dreaming about your wedding vision for what seems like a lifetime, but your partner's not inside your head, so your ideas need to be communicated and then agreed upon. It's important you're both on the same page regarding the wedding as a whole from the start, so consider your priorities and make a list of what's most important to you both. For example, do you want a big bash or a small and intimate celebration? Do you want a destination wedding or a local DIY kind of party? Get to a good place where you agree with the fundamentals of the wedding you'll host, communicate freely throughout the process, and you'll get off to a great start!

Next, it's time to determine your wedding style and budget, as this will guide you through the wedding planning process. Setting a realistic budget and sticking to it will avoid financial stress down the line. This is also the time to do your research and gather inspiration for your wedding vision, which you can bring to life closer to the wedding.

A lot of what follows from this list will largely depend on your dedicated wedding budget, so it's important that you decide how much (or how little!) you want to spend on your wedding. Your wedding budget can help you make decisions about what is necessary versus what is lovely, so get this nailed early on and stick to it!

Choose a wedding date and wedding venue

It's likely that you won't be able to decide on your exact wedding date until you've decided on the location of the ceremony and reception, but it's still important to have a few dates in mind. For example, do you fancy a spring wedding, or are you more of a festive celebration kinda couple? Having a date range will help lay the groundwork for the rest of the process. Remember that giving yourself 12 to 15 months' notice is the best way to guarantee that all your dream vendors will be available and have enough time to help you bring your wedding to life.

Now that you have a price range and a few dates in mind, you can choose the ideal venue for your wedding. The location should, above all, feel like the ideal setting for you to begin your life together as husband and wife. The venue's design should complement your wedding's overall look, whether modern glam, rustic-chic, or pure beach vibes. Additionally, remember that it is not practical to fit 200 people into a space that can accommodate only 100!

Assembling your dream wedding team

This is the time to consider whether you will hire a wedding planner to help with the planning process or not because if you are, this is the time to bring them in! Research and interview potential planners to find the right fit for you; you're going to be working pretty closely with this person for a while, so it's important you all get on well. Ensure your planner is experienced and has a good reputation within the industry; speak to previous brides and grooms who have worked with them, read reviews, and check out their portfolios before you commit.

This is also the time to research and gather all the wedding inspiration you can manage, as well as book wedding vendors such as photographers, caterers, and DJs. Decent suppliers get booked up years in advance, so get in quick! We always recommend reading reviews and asking for referrals to find the best vendors. One of the first questions you should ask before you have your heart set on them is if your vendors are available on your wedding date!

Building your wedding party and guest list

One of the most exciting aspects of wedding preparation is selecting your wedding party since it allows you to include your closest friends and family in your special day. This list shouldn't cause you any stress, but it may well do if you have large families or a big group of friends.

Now that you have a venue reserved and an approximate number of guests, it's time to select those attendees! Everyone you would like to be with you on your married journey should be on your wedding guest list. Family members and close friends who have supported you both from the start and the ones you love. Don't feel guilty if your never-met third cousin twice removed doesn't make the cut.

Now it's time for the fun stuff!

Research and plan your honeymoon to ensure a relaxing getaway to recover from all the wedding celebrations. This is your and your partner's time to get away as a newly married couple and start the beginning of your next chapter together. Also, consider planning pre-wedding events such as a bridal shower or bachelor party and the rehearsal dinner if you're planning to have one.

Create a wedding website to share details with guests. This wedding task can be started anytime and built on throughout the process. You may want to hand out your wedding website URL with your save-the-date cards to drum up excitement for your guest list and give them a flavour of what's to come! Via platforms such as Say I do, you can also design and send out wedding invitations and stationery and collate your RSVPs digitally, giving your guests enough time to get organised.

Choose your wedding attire and rings! Picking your wedding dress can be fun for your wedding party, bringing your best girls together and making a day of it. The same goes for the groom, too; making a social event out of some of your wedding tasks makes them feel less like chores and more like fun social things to do. But don't forget other (perhaps less glamorous tasks) such as sorting wedding insurance, transport, and organising your guests' email addresses!

There's actually no right or wrong order to do things; if you find your wedding outfit on day two of wedding planning, great, you have one job down. Or if you change your mind about something (as long as it's not too major) the day before the wedding, that's cool, too. Wedding planning can be stressful at times, but just remember why you're doing this and work as a team, and you are well on your way to creating your dream wedding.