Ten things to do when you get engaged

How to start planning your wedding

As a wedding venue, we know this time of year is a season of love and new beginnings. If you’ve recently said “yes” to the love of your life, congratulations; getting engaged is a special moment filled with excitement and anticipation for the future.

As you embark on this incredible journey, we’ve compiled a guide to help you navigate the first steps towards your dream wedding.

1. Celebrate and share the excitement

Your engagement marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life together. Cherish that moment, and then, when you’re ready, share your news with friends and family and let them join in your celebration. Choose how you want to tell everyone; in person, a surprise reveal, a social media post, whichever you choose have fun with it – the reactions of your loved ones will be some of the best memories of this time.

An engagement party is a brilliant way to get all your family and friends together to celebrate your exciting news and show off your engagement ring. It’s also an excellent practice for planning your wedding party.

2. Capture the moment

Engagement photoshoots are popular and can help capture this special moment. These photos can also be used to announce your engagement or later in wedding invitations and on your website if you choose to have one. Most importantly, find a photographer whose work you love and who you connect with so that you are comfortable during the shoot and delighted with the results.

3. Get inspired

You may have a clear idea of your dream wedding or be looking for inspiration. Either way, collecting examples of what you like in a vision or mood board can be really helpful. Collect colours, styles, themes, dresses, rings, favours you like, and anything that helps you build the picture of your dream wedding.

A few months ago we covered six of the more popular wedding trends for 2024, which you can find here.

4. Set a Budget

Set a budget before you begin hiring wedding vendors, purchasing wedding decor, and shopping for dresses and suits. It’s really important to have an open dialogue about what you can afford to spend and if anyone will be contributing so that you know what budget you have to work with. After you’ve agreed on a budget, use it to guide your choices and decisions and stick to it to avoid unnecessary stress. A simple spreadsheet budget tracker can be really helpful to stay on track.

5. Choose a (rough) date

One of the reasons wedding planning can feel complicated is trying to work out what order to do things in when they all seem to be dependent on each other. Like picking a date and finding a venue – you can’t do one without considering the other. So, start thinking about your wedding date early, but keep some wiggle room until you’re absolutely sure and ready to seal the deal.

When you get married can impact your budget significantly, and there may be dates or times of the year you want to avoid. But as soon as you can decide on a rough date, you can start talking to venues and get the ball rolling with suppliers.

6. Book a venue

With your budget, vision and rough date in mind, it’s time to start looking at wedding venues. It goes without saying that your venue will be the backdrop for your wedding day, but it really does set the tone for the day, and it’s usually the most significant cost. Consider your vision and how it aligns with the capacity, location, accommodation and supplier options when choosing a venue. Take your time to explore multiple options and schedule visits to ensure that everything aligns with your vision.

Depending on the time of year you’re getting married your options might differ. Check out this blog on the perfect wedding venues for every season. And if you’re looking for a beautiful woodland, lawn or marque setting, we’d be delighted to show you round our unique venue.

7. Choose your preferred wedding suppliers

Your wedding suppliers will also determine the overall theme, style and cost of your wedding.

Start with a list of all the suppliers you need, then begin your research. Your wedding venue may give you a list of recommended suppliers, which is a great place to start. You can also visit wedding fairs, or you might receive recommendations from friends and family. Whichever way you find them, choose suppliers that align with both your vision and budget.

Here are some of the key suppliers to look for:

• Photographer
• Florist
• Cake Maker
• Band, Music and DJ
• Hair and Makeup

If you’ve been thinking of a specific band for years or have found a photographer whose pictures are precisely what you want for yours, then start to move quickly. Popular suppliers often get booked over a year in advance.

As you sign up suppliers and part with more of your budget, it’s also important to consider wedding insurance if you haven’t already.

8. Guest Lists, Save the Dates and Invitations

With some of the fundamentals sorted, it’s time to begin thinking about your guest list and what role you want friends and family to play. If you need more time to share all the details of your wedding, a save-the-date can help let people know to keep that date free.

One of the most fun parts of wedding planning is often asking your chosen friends and family if they’ll do you the honour of being part of your wedding party. Take time to make your choices and then share the good news with them.

When you’re ready to send formal invitations, there are certain things you should include, such as location, RSVP information, menu choices if applicable and other practical notes.

To avoid any unwanted drama, make your wedding invitation wording clear: be specific about who is invited, whether or not a plus one is included, and whether they are invited as an all-day wedding guest or just for the evening. When you get to the stage of thinking about seating plans we have a useful guide for you here.

9. Buy your wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, and grooms wear

Finding the perfect wedding dress is an exciting and emotional part of planning. Give yourself time to visit multiple bridal shops to explore a variety of styles. Then, ultimately, it comes down to your personal preference. The same is true for the groom and the bridal party attire; a cohesive look aligned with your theme adds to the overall aesthetic of your special day.

10. Choose your wedding rings

Another exciting task is shopping for your wedding rings. Other than sticking to your budget, there’s little to advise here. Like dresses and attire, choosing a ring depends on your preference and what you’re looking for. We recommend making a day of it, going out for lunch or dinner together to celebrate this moment.

11. Stay on track, but also take time out

Planning a wedding can be stressful; there’s a lot to do to make the day the one you’ve dreamed of. But it’s essential to strike a balance so that it continues to feel exciting rather than stressful.

In addition to the ten things to think about we’ve listed above, there is much more to think about. The specifics will change depending on your wedding, but we recommend making a list and ticking it off as you get them done. Favours, tick. Vows and speeches, tick. First dance, tick. Honeymoon, tick. This will help you stay on track and avoid last-minute worries.

Amongst all these tasks, be sure to include some time for you and your partner away from all the planning to enjoy time together. After all, the wedding is one magical day; your marriage lasts forever.