Engaged!...Where do you go from here?

Dec 30, 2017
5 min read

So you're engaged, congratulations, but where do you go from here? an exciting time and my very first tip is to step back and enjoy the moment. Many dive straight in to organising and forget to take the time to enjoy the engagement itself which should be a time to make special memories too, not just the wedding day. Remember there is a reason you have decided to marry, and its to enjoy each other now and for the rest of your lives.

Research: My next tip would be to get a feel for what you would really like and don't rush in to just planning without thinking it through and researching. There are so many great websites out there now that can really help you get some magnificent unique and personal ideas that you may like or may inspire you. From my experience the personal touch really makes your wedding day that extra bit special and less like everybody else's. Pinterest is just one amazing site that is flooded with ideas and inspiration.

Your Venue. This is one that you really need to think through carefully in my opinion and don't be tempted to just rush in to booking 'the usual'. The usual is just fine if it ticks all your boxes but you have first got to figure out what those boxes are that need ticking for you. The top things to consider when it comes to the venue are ...

1. Distance (Time travelling)

Have you decided if you are spending the night before at the venue and getting prepared there the next morning or are you travelling to your location on the day? If you are staying then you have all the time in the world. Perhaps you have decided to get married in your childhood parish church or get ready in childhood bedroom at your home, then if you are travelling then take in to consideration distance from where you are travelling and weather, yes weather. Ok so nobody can know what the weather will be like on the day but you can have an idea what to expect from season. Winter weddings can be colder so therefore you should consider the possibility of frosty/icy conditions which may slow you down.

2. Photo Opportunities

Would you like to stay at your venue for your wedding photos? If so is it suitable? Remember you will have many photos from your day, its doubtful you will want them all from the one room.

It is nice to have a varied look. Is it close to a location that you can easily travel to or does it host its own gardens? Your photographer can help you with some ideas perhaps that you may not have thought about if you chat to them before booking your hotel. Also a huge one is if the weather is bad is there inside opportunities for family photos and for nice portrait shots? Is there nice light? Flash can always be used but nothing can beat natural light photography. Dark hotels are fine for some moody shots but do you really want all your photos to be with flash?

3. Personality

Are you looking for that vintage feel, a countryside residence, a town hotel or perhaps something completely different? There is nothing wrong with any but I feel that your theme and personality will help you decide on what will best suit you. If you are looking for a venue where you will be holding your ceremony look for something spectacular that best suits your personality.

Photography The next main things to consider in my opinion is your photographer. Its obvious I have a passion for photography but there is a reason for that. I love to capture pure emotion and to give people the gift of memories. Some believe its worth it to skip the expense of a photographer or to skimp on the expense but if I was to offer one piece of adivse its to remember this. You spend so much time, love, effort and money in to choosing the right dress, the right venue, the right suits to match your theme, the right flowers, the right shoes. You will spend extra on all these things, and so you should as its what makes your day personal and all about you. However you spend all that time, love, care, money on all those things that last but hours and think nothing about it. Your photographers job is to capture all of those things that made your day so special and to make them lasting memories that you will have FOREVER. Its just about the only thing that you can take away from your day and have forever and the one thing that combines everything that you put all your love and care in to.

My advise is not to skip or skimp on the one thing that collects every little detail and all the passion and memories from your special day, otherwise why put all that effort in?

Photography can be also personal, first of all I believe its important that you click with your photographer so you are as relaxed as you can be. Secondly you must obviously like their style. Photography is an art and each photographer will see differently through a lens. Some couples love the more posed style of photography and some the more relaxed candid style. Find a photographer whose work you love, research their work, do they

capture the moments you want captured from your day, do you like their style?

I personally love capturing memories, the passion and love of friends and family and the fun. The waiting, the laughter, the loving gazes, the whispers...... all the little things that made your day and some of the things you may have even missed. Along with all your usual shots I love the idea of personality seeping through ......

One last tip if I could give one on wedding photography is to consider booking an engagement/pre wedding shoot. Although it may seem pointless to some it pays big time on your wedding day as you are automatically more relaxed in front of the camera and your photographer and know exactly what is expected of you therefore its easier on the day for it to flow naturally rather than feeling uncomfortably guided. You can enjoy your moments together on your wedding day and almost forget your photographer is there.

Budget: The final thing that may be of help to you is a budget planner I found on confetti magazine. Although not exact its a guideline of an average spend. Of course there are many places where you can save and again lots of sites than can give you plenty of tips to help you along the way but its certainly no harm to have a guideline of what the average is before you set off on planning.

The main thing I would say it to enjoy doing it together. Planning can be fun once you take the time to discuss what it is you want as a couple before diving in head first without knowing what it is the other truly wants from your special day.