Everything you need to know about planning your wedding

First of all congratulations on your engagement! this is huge and I'm super excited for you! Planning a wedding is an exciting yet challenging journey. With so many details to consider, having a wedding planning timeline can help you stay organized and ensure that nothing is overlooked. As a wedding photographer, I understand the importance of timing when it comes to capturing those special moments, so I have sat down and put my decade of experience in to this blog to help you get the most out of your wedding day and make it a little easier for you to keep on top of everything!

12+ Months before the wedding day

1. Set a Budget: Everyone has a different budget from small to eye-watering amounts that they could or would spend on their wedding day.This is obviously has the biggest effect on everything about your wedding Determine how much you can/want to spend and allocate funds to different aspects of the wedding, including venue, photography, video, flowers, wedding dress, venue styling, and the list goes on and on. Try to think of everything you need and pop it on you list and figure out what is important to you
2. Choose Your Venue: Book your ceremony and reception venues. This is crucial as they book out faster than photographers and that is saying something but it can affect your guest list and style, so this is the first port of call when planning a wedding. Also they can help you out and make things feel a little less daunting too as like any wedding vendor we have done this a thousand times. ( I will ad some venues below to help get you started)
3. Consider hiring a Wedding Planner : A planner can help ease the burden and keep you on track and also help you out when it comes to booking other vendors and making choices as we all know each other and how people work.

11-9 Months before your wedding day

1. Create Your Guest List: Start compiling a list of family and friends you want to invite and don't feel bad about the ones you don't have space for or simply don't want there on the wedding day. When you are paying in excess of potentially £100 a head it is rightly so your decision on who you consider important and want to witness your wedding day!
2. Book Your Photographer: This is where I come in! Choose a photographer whose style resonates with you and secure your date.... Really secure it as soon as you can. we book out very fast sometimes over two years in advance and every year all photographers have disappointed couples contacting them only wishing they had not waited around. Also consider scheduling an engagement shoot as well a lot of my packages include this as I think they are great, not only do you get almost a pre-view of what your wedding images will look like you get images for wedding invites and more importantly you get to know your a photographer a little too and they aren't some stranger turning up on your wedding day and spending the next 8-12 hours following you around. (Click here to go to my website)
3. Decide on the Wedding Theme: This bit if you are like me is pretty exciting. I thinking about colours, styles, layouts, food, doughnut walls, confetti, sparklers, cakes, dresses, suits, garden games and all the things that go along with a wedding day. So get yourself a big old pad and pen a build the most in-depth list you have every put together even if it is out side the box this is probably better.

.

8-6 Months before your amazing day

1. Send Save-the-Dates: Inform guests about the wedding date, especially if it’s a destination wedding. What ever you do! Do this now. you don't want your best friend or someone super close to you booking a holiday or something they can't get out of! that's disappointing for everyone involved eh? Top tip, you can get these sent out straight from some wedding specialist printers that do an incredible job.
2. Shop for Attire: WOOO! it is that time and I bet you have jumped the gun and have already been looking for that dream dress that will make you feel like a princess. So if you have found it then get out there grab a glass of champagne and drop the cash on it. If you haven't already though it is time to begin the search for that perfect bridal gown as they will need time for fitting and Adjustments. Also don't forget bridesmaid dresses they will need something to wear, and suits for the groom and groomsmen these boys will want to feel baller even if they won't admit it.
3. Plan the Menu: Possibly my favourite bit this is, tastings with caterers to finalise your menu for you and you wedding guests! Now don't get me wrong choosing what you want to eat tomorrow is hard enough but choosing what you want to eat in 6 months time now that must be impossible but hey you get to try some incredible food made for you ...

4-5 Months Before Your Wedding Day

1. Book Vendors: It is time to secure the remaining vendors, including florists, DJs, bands, videographers, food for the evening, Photo Booth, and all the things you can think of for your wedding day! generally these guys make up most of the afternoon evening and getting them right makes your night!
2. Register for Gifts: Create a wedding registry that reflects your needs and tastes. This is kind for like a shopping list for your guests. Being a pretty old school idea to buy the bride and groom gifts a lot of people ask for a donation to their favourite charity or anything else you would like your guests to do I suppose.

2-3 Months Before the Big Day

1. Send Invitations: Now we have sent the save the dates I know but this is a formal invite and should have an RSVP on there so they can let you know they are coming. Try choosing a design that matches your theme and send it to guests there are lots of places you can design these for free like Canva or you could even go to one of the many companies/Apps that allow you to do it digitally if your into saving a few tress and keeping it simple for your guests too.
2. Finalize Photography Details: This is where we discuss must-have shots, including family portraits and specific moments, your wedding portraits and I start to let my creativity flow giving you the ideas I have for you too. We will have a little questionnaire that turns into my work sheet on your wedding day so I don't miss a thing and you get everything you want in your wedding album.
3. Have a Detailed Timeline: Let's put together a schedule for your wedding day to ensure smooth transitions between events and timing of photographs is within reason. Be sure to let your venue, coordinator and planner have a copy of this too so that we are all aware of the situation and know where to be.

( TopTip: Group photos take between 3 and 5 minutes each so bear that in mind)

1 Month Before ( Not Long Now)

1. Confirm the Guest List: By now hopefully all your wedding guests that you sent invites to have gotten back to you and let you know they will be there for your wedding day, If not reach out to those who haven’t responded and finalise the guest count. So your caterer knows how many they are feeding.
2. Consult with Vendors: Go over final details and confirm timelines with all your vendors and make sure they know what time they need to arrive ( Bands have a tendency to be late).
3. Wright you speeches: It's that time to put pen to paper and really thing about your life together, funny moments, happy places, how you met and everything that's happend. There's a lot of ways to go about this but here is a few do's and don'ts to help you .. Do's: Thank everyone, Acknowledge anyone who helped and make the whole thing meaningful and funny. Don'ts: Try to be a comedian ( it's the best mans job). Top Tip: Print this out on actual paper. phones are distracting and look bad in the photos too.

1 Week Before the Wedding (Times Running Out)

1. Prepare Your Final Checklist: Grab your best friend and a large glass of wine, make a list and check it twice or even thrice! Ensure that everything is in place for your big wedding day. leave no stone unturned.
2. Relax and Enjoy: By now everything should finally be in place so it's time to take some time for some self-care to be in the right mindset for your big day. Try to relax and maybe treat yourself you have just planned a wedding day with military precision and everything is done and if its not its probably to late so let it go.

The Day Before the Wedding

1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep: Rest up for your wedding day or grab a few friends and a few bottles of wine and have a good time! I don't know about you but this is far more relaxing to me than going to be at 7pm. Also try not to go over the top, you don't want to be hanging on your wedding day.
2. Make sure you have everything: If you are staying at the venue or a friends house or anywhere you have to go too, grab that list and check off everything as it goes in the car. You don't really want to be sending the best man 20 miles to go grab your special underwear on the morning of the wedding day.

The Wedding Day

Enjoy every moment as it unfolds and we will capture it. Trust your photographer! your stress is over and now ours begins. We will document your love story, capture the moments and make sure you have some fun along the way. Enjoy the day—these moments will become cherished memories for a life time.

Conclusion

By following this wedding planning timeline, you can stay organized and ensure that your special day runs smoothly. Remember, the key to great wedding photography is a good time, lots of energy and a little planning. If you’re ready to book your photographer, let’s chat about how I can help capture the magic of your wedding daybed just popping your details in the form below. If not check out some of our other really helpful blog posts and get all the info you need.