If you have made it to this blog post then you have most likely just got engaged and I am super excited that our paths have crossed! As a photographer, I’ve had the opportunity to witness many weddings and I have learned over the years that they come in all shapes and sizes, I am here to bring in some of my knowledge to hopefully guide you through the process and give you new ideas to help you with your wedding planning.

We have compiled this small list of things to keep in mind, to keep everyone in the right side and get the wedding planning started in the right foot.

1. Great news are always better when told in person:

   Don’t overthink it, just go with something simple and meet face to face with your future in-laws to tell them the great news, it’s always better for the news to come from you rather than any other friends and remember to tell your immediate family before you post anything on social media.

2. Start by imagining your ideal wedding day and don’t be scared of going wild:

   At this stage of your planning, you can start a list of ideas and wedding vibes that are a Must for you, this will help you to guide your decisions later on when you need to start researching your wedding vendors. This is the ideal time to have a look at wedding blogs like Polka Dot Bride to find out about the wedding trends and the vibes your day could have, a great tip to keep in mind is: don’t be scared of thinking outside the box and not follow traditions.

3. Let’s talk wedding budget:

   The B-word doesn’t have to be painful, and you can have a wedding day on a budget without it being tacky. I am a big believer that with a budget you will be able to put your money where your priorities are without getting lost on the details and wasting money on shiny objects that will get lost on the day. To help out we have developed our own wedding budget to give you an initial idea and a place to start. We have compiled a series of wedding planning blogs and we are always looking for new ideas to stretch your wedding budget further.

4. Start considering the size of your wedding day:

   This step will be closely linked to the previous number two-section, if you would like to go down the elopement wedding format then consider having a party later on for close family and friends, this can be on a different date, and it’s a good way of still including loved ones if you choose to have your wedding ceremony in an exotic or remote location.

5. Start a mood board for your wedding day:

   This is a great time to start thinking about colour palettes and themes that are relevant to both of you and to your relationship and your story. Again, try to think outside the box and get back to basics, I love to do my mood boards with cut out images from magazines and colours and textures.

6. Keep your options open when it comes to your wedding venue:

   Once again don’t be scared of getting creative when you start thinking about your wedding venue, keep an open mind, some of my favorite weddings have been on family properties and restaurants that mean something to the couple involved. In regards to your selection on dates, the further ahead then the more chances you will have to line up your guests and your favourite suppliers to work with you, as well as the more flexibility in price you will have.

7. Consider a couple photoshoot or pre-wedding engagement session:

   This is a great way to getting to know your photographer and the way we work. In my case, I love engagement sessions because they allow me to meet you face to face and talk about the wedding logistics and at the same time you can get an idea on how I work and this will allow you to be more comfortable in front of the camera on your day.

8. Start researching your wedding vendors:

   We have our own little compilation of planners and other wedding professionals that we love to work with, but you can also get started with your own research by adding your favorite vendors to your saved list on Instagram and screenshotting images that speak to you.

9. Create a wedding email address to be used for only wedding relevant correspondence and contacts:

   This will allow you to keep everything in one spot, you will have a lot of emails and back and forward with some of your wedding vendors, so the best way to keep everything organized is by starting with a wedding email address that will allow you to keep all your quotes in one place.

10. Find a wedding diary or a wedding planner or a folder to keep everything in one place:

    I am a big fan of the pen and paper and I love to be able to take notes and keep everything in one place. We have created this round up of wedding planners to give you a headstart, but there are numerous options with many bells and whistles or you can keep it as simple as using just a shoebox to keep everything together.

And there you have it! By ticking some of these items of your to do list you will be in a great frame of mind to get your wedding planning on the way. If you would like to see what a real wedding looks like, then come and have a look at this client gallery.