8 things you should consider while planning your wedding - Bristol Wedding Photography
POV: you just got engaged to the love of your life, now you’re ready to dive into wedding planning. Congratulations!
Maybe you’re starting from zero with no idea where to begin, or maybe you’ve been dreaming of your wedding for years and you already have a hundred ideas. Either way taking a dive into the wedding world is huge and sometimes a bombardment of targeted ads, unlimited options & suddenly everyones unsolicited advice.
So, as someone who’s been to there fair share of weddings and is an advocate for “your wedding your way”, here are my top 8 things you should keep in mind while wedding planning to make sure your wedding is the day you want it to be!
Feels over aesthetic
The most important thing about your wedding is that you get to enjoy it and it evokes amazing memories - in my experience the common thread is that you make your day authentically, whole-heartedly YOU. That means that you optimise your timeline and choose vendors who make sure you get to be truly present on your wedding day. Your photos will remind you of more than just how everything looked, they’ll remind you of how your felt.
Remember why you’re getting married in the first place
You found each other in this huge world full of people and have chosen to get married. That’s epic! So don’t lose sight of the fact that when all is done, you’ll be married to the love of your life and that in itself is worth every bit of celebration. So during the planning check in with each other, make the important decisions together and keep each other grounded during the process.
The wedding you want, not the wedding you think you should have
There is no “one size fits all” wedding, everybody’s version of a perfect wedding day is different so lean into the things that make you happy. This is YOUR day, don’t get lost in what other people want or think you should have.
Questions to always come back to are “will this make our day better?” and “is there a more us version?” For example:
- how do you see yourself getting ready in the morning? Maybe getting ready together fits better with who you are, maybe doing your own make up would make you feel less stressed (or maybe it would be more stressful).
- does cutting a cake add to your experience, or do you not really care?
- would a band be more likely to get the party started than a dj?
Create a list of priorities (for both of you)
This is the simplest way to align your priorities for your wedding. Making a list of your non negotiables can help you start creating a day based around the things that will bring you the most joy.
For example, your main priority could be that you want to have just your favourite family & friends there which could lead to you having a smaller guest list. Or you prioritise your dream venue, but having it in peak season is less important.
As a photographer I know this’ll sound biased but think about more than just the wedding day itself, your photos and videos will become the most important thing to you once the day’s over, reminding you of your wedding day and even capturing moments you missed (because you can’t be everywhere at once), so making sure you find your perfect photographer should always be high on the list.
Budget
I’m a big believer in sticking to a budget so starting off knowing your ideal maximum spend is always crucial.
If you come across your perfect vendor and they’re out of your budget then communication is key, don’t write them off without speaking to them about it. A lot of the time showering someone with kind words and adoration is a good place to start, then ask them if there’s a way to work with them in your budget - tip: phrasing is key, don’t go in with “can we have a discount” but an approach of “we adore your work, our budget is £XYZ is there anyway of being able to work together” is far nicer.
side note - “wedding tax” isn’t a real thing, vendors put in a lot more effort and time for weddings so that everything is perfect so don’t lie to vendors, being honest about your budget is a much better approach
Don’t stress about things out of your control
The weather, something not arriving in time, guests not being able to make it. There’s a vast number of things that are out of your control on a wedding day, and that’s ok! Coming to terms with the fact that not everything might go to plan and preparing for the things that you can preempt for will put your mind at rest. For instance, if it looks like it might rain then get some brollies and think about your venues rainy-day options. This also ties into “surround yourselves with only the best people” (8a), if the people around you are panicking or stressing you out it won’t make anything better.
Don’t get sucked in by comparison
Easier said than done. Targeted ads & social media can suck the joy out of all the amazing things you’ve got planned, so where possible try to have breaks from scrolling and turn off your ad tracking.
You bring the vibe
Probably the most important thing on your wedding day is that YOU BRING THE ENERGY! People will mirror your energy and it’ll be reflected in the photos too - if you’re chilled, if your excited and definitely if you’re stressed out. Make plans before the day to delegate, for example
give your most Type A person the job of fielding questions, you shouldn’t be answering questions about parking or where the loos are on your wedding day.
If you know you’ll get stressed by the little things, hire a planner or coordinater to take over so that you don’t have to worry
create a timeline so that have maximum time to enjoy your wedding - it’s something I go through with all of my couples so that your day flows and you’re away from your guests as little as possible.
plan to switch your phone off (or on aeroplane mode) on the day so that you don’t get bothered - make sure all vendors have an alternative number for any emergencies.
8a. surround yourselves with only the best people
A little add on which follows on nicely… who you surround yourself with! It will literally change the atmosphere of your whole day. Having a Debbie Downer in your ear when you’re getting ready, or a panicker when there’s rain is only going to bum you out. Sometimes it can even be your vendors so make sure you choose someone with experience who you really get on with (and refer them to your type a friend with all their questions).
So that’s my round up, out of these 8 thing I wonder how many you’ve already considered? And it’s been interesting while writing this blog to think about how many of these points are about other people involved in your day. If you’ve read this blog and are booking me as your wedding photographer, mention it in the form, i’d love to hear your thoughts!
