It's the new year and for us at Jonathan David Photography, it's always a busy time as we get more and more newly engaged couples turning to us to start their wedding planning journey.
What people don't tell you about wedding planning is that it can quite often be a daunting task and just starting to make plans can be quite stressful in itself.
When you first get engaged, it's important to take some time to celebrate and enjoy this special time with your partner, but it's also helpful to have an end goal in mind so that you can make sure you're wedding day will be the day of your dreams.
Once you've had a chance to soak up the news and excitement, here are some things you might want to start planning:
Set a budget:
Determine how much you are willing and able to spend on your wedding. This will help you make decisions about the size and scope of your wedding, as well as which vendors you can afford to hire. It's no secret that things are getting more and more expensive, but be realistic with your budget, don't set things too low, or too high. They'll often be things in the wedding process as a whole that you hadn't even thought about, so having some spare money in your budget will accommodate for those extra refinements.
Choose a venue:
Start looking at potential venues for your ceremony and reception. Consider factors like location, capacity, and style. Venues often get booked up very quickly, so getting in early is my absolute best advice for this one. The venue will no doubt be one of your biggest expenses from the day, and as places generally have an annual price increase, get in early, and secure your date at the first opportunity, it'll give you more time to pay off the balance and ultimately save you some money. The first question I ask any couple approaching me for a quote is "Do you have a date and venue booked?" purely because I can't guarantee my availability without that information.
Select a date:
Choose a date for your wedding, keeping in mind the availability of your preferred venue and any other important factors such as holidays or significant events. Bank holidays and Saturdays in mid-summer are always among the first dates to disappear and will often come at a premium, so get in early and choose your preferred date as soon as possible!
Create a guest list:
Make a list of the people you want to invite to your wedding. This will help you determine the size of your wedding and the number of guests you need to accommodate. As I mentioned before, your venue will no doubt be the most expensive part of your day and due to catering and drinks packages, and more often than not, a venue will charge on a per-person basis. The more people you invite, the higher the cost. In my experience, this is usually where most budgets spiral out of control.
Book your vendors:
Start looking for and booking your vendors as soon as you've confirmed your venue and date, including a photographer, videographer, florist, and DJ or band and be conscious that more popular services will again get booked up very quickly. Even just taking a look at my diary now, I have couples booked in as far ahead as 2026 and 2027. It might seem like an age away now, but it really will take the pressure and stress out of planning if you've got the key things booked nice and early.
Announce your engagement:
Let your friends and family know about your engagement and start spreading the word about your upcoming wedding. Wedding websites are always a fantastic idea and a great way to easily keep track of RSVPs, dietary requirements, and other information you might need from your guests. Remember that even your guests will plan things years in advance, so a great way to guarantee your best mate Courtney isn't away in Marb's on your day of choice is to again, let her know as far in advance as possible!
There's my little guide on where to start when planning your wedding, the main piece of advice being that preparation is key. Get a date, and a venue secured and the rest will fall into place. Trust me.
It's been a very busy start to 2023 for us, with dates disappearing quickly, so if you're on the fence about booking, definitely fire me a message and get your date in the diary! I'd love to capture your day!
Peace. Love and Photos.
Jono x