Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming: you’ve watched countless friends turn into frantic versions of themselves, clutching endless to-do lists and panicking about centrepieces. But it really doesn’t have to be this way.
Know What Actually Matters to You
Before you get swept up in wedding magazines and Instagram inspiration, have a proper chat with your partner about what you both genuinely care about. Maybe you’re both foodies who’d rather spend money on an amazing chef than fancy flowers. Perhaps you’re introverts who’d prefer 30 close friends over 150 acquaintances.
Set your budget early and be brutal about sticking to it. We all know couples who’ve gone into debt for their wedding day, which rather defeats the point of starting married life on the right foot.
Sort Your Venue First
Your venue dictates almost everything else, like the catering style, decoration possibilities, even your dress choice if you’re getting married on a beach versus in a cathedral.
Don’t limit yourself to traditional wedding venues either. Some of the most memorable weddings have been in unexpected places. A marquee can transform your parents’ garden or a local field into something spectacular. If you’re in or around London, you can look for Marquee hire London companies who offer the flexibility needed so you can create exactly the atmosphere you want without being constrained by someone else’s décor or rules.
Work Backwards from Your Date
Once you’ve set your date, create a timeline working backwards. Popular suppliers get booked up months ahead, particularly photographers and venues. Send your invitations about eight weeks before, any earlier and people forget, any later and they’ve made other plans.
Accept Help (But Choose Wisely)
Everyone wants to help plan a wedding, but not everyone should. Your control-freak aunt might mean well, but she might also drive you up the wall. Choose helpers based on their actual skills and reliability, not just their enthusiasm.
Professional suppliers exist for good reason. A decent wedding planner might seem like an extra expense, but they often save you money through their contacts and prevent disasters you hadn’t even thought of.
Communicate Everything Clearly
Wedding suppliers deal with stressed-out couples all the time, so they appreciate clear communication. Confirm important details in writing, not just texts that might get lost in your phone.
Create a detailed running order for your wedding day and share it with everyone involved. Your photographer needs to know ceremony timings, your caterers need to know when speeches will happen, and your DJ needs to know when you want the dancing to start.
Prepare for Murphy’s Law
Rain happens. Suppliers occasionally disappear and flowers wilt. Having backup plans means these hiccups become minor inconveniences rather than disasters.
If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony, have a wet weather option sorted. Know which local suppliers could step in if needed. These contingencies cost nothing to arrange but could save your sanity.
Keep Perspective
The thing nobody tells you about wedding planning is that you’ll forget most of the details anyway. Years later, you won’t remember whether the napkins matched the flowers perfectly. You’ll remember how you felt, whether you had fun, and whether your loved ones enjoyed themselves.
Focus on creating moments rather than perfection.
Your wedding day marks the beginning of your marriage, not the pinnacle of your relationship. Plan something you’ll both enjoy rather than something that looks good on social media, and you’ll have a much better time getting there.
