The first five steps to help you get started with wedding planning

Figure out your guest numbers

Look at your venue options

Take plenty of time searching for a venue to hold your wedding at. This is where your discussion from step one, really comes into play and how many guests you have will help you decide which venues to look at. This will save you so much time in the long run, and will enable you to only visit the best choices for you that fit your requirements. I see couples get this so wrong at times, and it's purely because they pick a venue first based on it's popularity, based on the price or because it's local to them. And this is where things could start to get difficult, because obviously a venue need a deposit to secure your date and if you realise the further you get into planning, that the venue doesn't for example match the style you want to create, or the atmosphere of the surroundings doesn't align with the vibe you wanted, you obviously will lose your deposit if you change your mind, meaning a costly mistake or you will have to work harder at getting it to be what you really wanted. One of the common mistakes I see is couples thinking a rustic wedding style will work in a posh hotel. It just doesn't! So please remember to choose a venue that compliments the vision you have.

 Photo 166 Photography

Attend some wedding fairs

There will be lots of wedding fairs for you to attend in your local area, once you start looking for them. There may even be one pop up at a venue you want to visit, this is quite common these days. I have some great tips on attending fairs which you may like to watch here.  It's a fantastic chance for you to meet wedding suppliers in person and chat to them face to face. It's an opportunity to ask them questions, get ideas that you maybe haven't thought of yet, and you can see their work in the flesh, which is much better than looking through a computer screen. You will also get a better sense of what they will be like to work with. Suppliers are keen to help and advise you and love talking about weddings so definitely check some out to visit, you never know what you are going to find.

 Photo Danny Inwood Photography

Collect Quotes 

Before you book anything, I would highly advice starting a spreadsheet so you can list all the suppliers you are interested in working with. Put the suppliers at the top who are your priority and then work your way down. Ask for quotes based on your guests numbers, the packages you are drawn to and the services you require. This way you will clearly see what your budget looks like. Helping you stick to your spending and you can make adjustments as you go.