Just Engaged? Start Here: The First 5 Steps of Wedding Planning
So you’re engaged 🩷🧡
The most scrumptious news. Big feelings. And suddenly… a lot to think about. (Although I do hope you’ve been enjoying your bubble before reading this!)
Before the spreadsheets, the Pinterest boards and the well-meaning advice - here’s where to start. These are the first five steps I recommend to every couple, whether you’re planning a funky city wedding in Bristol, something elegant in Bath, or a laid-back celebration somewhere beautiful in the South West (or anywhere else in the world to be fair!)
1. Set a Rough Wedding Budget
This is not about precision.
You just need a comfortable starting point - something that helps you make decisions without stress. Once you have a rough budget in mind, everything else feels clearer (and calmer).
2. Decide How You Want the Day to Feel
Before you book anything, talk about the feeling.
Relaxed and informal?
Stylish but unfussy?
A proper celebration with great, big, fat energy?
This will guide every choice you make - including the kind of wedding celebrant who’s right for you!
3. Choose a Date (or a Season)
You don’t need to land on one perfect date straight away.
Having a season or a few options gives you flexibility, especially if you’re planning a wedding in popular areas like Bath, Bristol or across the South West. A weekday wedding in winter will most likely cost less than a weekend date in the summer for example.
4. Book Your Venue
Your venue is the backbone of the day.
It shapes:
Guest numbers
Ceremony layout
Timings
The overall atmosphere
Once this is booked, everything else starts to slot into place.
5. Book Your Priority Vendors
Some suppliers book up quickly - often a year or more in advance.
Your celebrant, photographer, planner and music are worth securing early.
Your celebrant, in particular, sets the tone for your ceremony - the heart of the day and the part of the day where everything actually begins.
On That Note…
Your ceremony isn’t something to get through before the fizz.
It’s the heart of the day.
Warm, joyful, meaningful - with laughter, tears, and all the good feelings. A moment everyone remembers for the right reasons.
As an award-winning wedding celebrant, I create modern, personal ceremonies for couples across Bristol, Bath, the South West and beyond - relaxed, heartfelt, engaging and never, ever awkward.
Ready to Talk About Your Ceremony?
If you’re starting to imagine how you want your ceremony to feel - or you’re simply ticking off priority suppliers - I’d love to hear from you!
I work with couples who want something warm, thoughtful and genuinely enjoyable (for you and your guests).
👉 Get in touch via my contact page to check availability and start the chat.