Congratulations, you’re engaged! Perhaps this is the very first article you have read since the all important question was popped – we have some top tips for you to start planning your perfect wedding.

The first thing you should do when you get engaged is to take a break and celebrate. You need to take some time to enjoy the moment and be with your fiancé for a while.
It is important that you don’t rush into making decisions and instead, focus on what matters most: celebrating with your loved ones and getting ready for the big day!
A wedding is a day to remember for the rest of your life. It is the most special day in many people’s lives, and it’s important to make sure that you’re prepared for it.
Top tips:
- Set a budget. Make sure you’re on the same page with your partner about finances. If you are planning to use loans or credit cards for any part of the wedding, make sure you are both in agreement
- Research wedding venues. The really popular ones get booked up years in advance. This will help you to set a date – if your heart is set on a particular venue, then you might have to work around them
- Think about honeymoon spots – this is the fun bit, and you need to inject some fun into your wedding planning. It can be stressful, and choosing your honeymoon can be a welcome relief
- Start thinking about colours and themes for the wedding. This is key, as it will help you pick everything from your wedding invitations to your dress and flowers.
The Dress!
Its so exciting to look for a wedding dress, make sure you make the most of it. Look at magazines and online – websites like Prom Dress Finder will give you ideas on the perfect shape, and its a great site for bridesmaid dresses too. When you are ready, you could go to wedding boutiques to get the exciting “Yes to the Dress” experience, but still purchase online to save some money.
Wedding Stationery
There are many things to think about when planning a wedding, but one of the most important details is your stationery.
Wedding stationery ideas are not just about picking the right colours and fonts. It is about creating a memorable experience for your guests. Wedding stationery should be used to create a tone of voice for your wedding. This is why it’s important to consider the type of message that you want to convey with your invitation cards, save-the-dates, menus, and more. This is actually an important part of the perfect wedding experience.
You want good quality, well designed stationery, that shows your guests you really want them there. Get some samples of invites and menu’s so that you can start to understand what it is you would really like. I’ve been looking at some great samples from Aura-Print, which show their quality and also the different types of design. When you get samples, you can even gain inspiration from the type of wording they have used – they are the professionals after all!

If you have set your wedding date for quite some time in the future, it’s a good idea to send out Save the Date cards in plenty of time. That’s why its important to pick your stationery right at the start of your wedding planning journey. You can decide on the actual wording of your invitations later on. Things to consider for that is whether you want to have a gift list.
Wedding Lists
Wedding lists are a way for guests to show their appreciation for the couple’s generosity.
The list can be in any form, but it is a good idea to provide guests with an opportunity to make donations in lieu of gifts. There are lots of great poems online – most people will ask for honeymoon spending money. However, if you are moving into a new house, it might be the ideal time to ask your guests for new kitchen items or furniture.
Photographs
Of course, you will have a wedding photographer. Who you choose depends on your local availability, and budget. Make sure you check their reviews online, and ask to see lots of examples. All photographers now will have a website so you can get a feel for their preferred style, and whether it matches yours. Make sure you meet them in person before you sign up – you need to know you will be able to get on with them.
For more personal photographs, ask your wedding guests to take photos throughout the day and then share them at the fantastic Wedding Photo Swap – this will allow you to see all the areas of the wedding that you didn’t get to see. These photos will be the real memories, laugh out loud moments that you will treasure forever.