Congratulations! You’re engaged! This is such an exciting time for you both as a couple and there is so much to organise. Knowing where to start can be a bit bewildering, but hopefully these tips will point you in the right direction.
Telling the world
First things first, tell your family and then your close friends. If you can’t visit them because they’re too far away perhaps a FaceTime call is in order. They are going to be super excited for you and it will be lovely to see their faces when they hear the great news. Sending an email may be ok for acquaintances but loved ones want to hear the news from you in person. Don’t forget to ring the older generation too – I remember how thrilled my grandmother was when I told her my news.
Next it’s onto the engagement ring selfies to tell the rest of the world about your great news. Remember as with all selfies you need decent light, especially if you want that ring to dazzle! My top tip would be not to bother looking for TikTok inspiration in this instance – just do something that’s really you for this one.
Celebrate!
Mark the occasion of your engagement. whether that’s a party with friends and family or a quiet meal for two. But however you do it enjoy your time together as you celebrate this momentous occasion. You don’t have to rush straight into planning mode.
Make sure the ring fits perfectly
If your ring is a little tight or a little loose make sure that you go to the jewellers and have it resized so that it’s the perfect fit. There would be nothing worse than it rolling down the plughole… and whilst you are at it, I would recommend that you put it on your insurance too. I know someone who nearly lost their wedding ring in the shower on the first day of their honeymoon!
Start gathering inspiration
There are loads of great resources for wedding planning; full of inspiration, checklists, budget planning and supplier lists. Tiktok and Instagram are two obvious channels. And there are apps like Bridebook that can be helpful too. Don’t forget to make yourself a Pinterest board. Just so that you can start gathering all of your ideas. You might want to start considering which is your favourite season, colours, flowers, are you an indoors or outdoors kind of person, the type of venue that you’d love to have and so on. Keeping a visual record can help to find a common theme and bring your ideas together.
Setting a budget
I know, boring! But so important. Before you begin visiting venues or making any solid plans you need to sit down and discuss this together. Will either set of parents contribute towards the cost? Do you have savings? Once you know your overall budget you can then start to allocate your funds. It would be a pity to see a dream venue but not be able to afford it, better to know the realities before you visit.
Visit venues
You can book visits to view possible venues. Many venues run showcase events and open days, both with and without recommended suppliers. You can also visit wedding fairs. Look online to see where and when events are being held. Wedding fairs and showcases can be a great source of inspiration. You get to see the venue set up for both the ceremony and wedding breakfast and you can meet different wedding suppliers. My advice is don’t be shy, ask lots of questions and you should come away with lots of helpful information.
What to book first
Your wedding venue is the first thing that you need to book; for both the ceremony and the reception. Fridays and Saturdays are considered peak days, with Sundays to Thursdays being off peak. Certain months are cheaper, as is late availability, all facts to bear in mind if you need to stretch that budget. For more information on what to ask wedding venues I wrote another blog post last year.
Dress shopping
The excitement is palpable! This advice comes from a couple of different bridal shop owners that I know:
- Visit 3 or 4 different shops.
- Take just 2 or 3 people with you.
- Be openminded and try on lots of different styles.
- Remember it’s your day and you can wear what you want.
Booking your photographer
This is something that I suggest you do fairly soon after securing the venue. Your photographer will be able to help you with your timeline and with recommendations for other wedding suppliers. You want to make sure that they are someone that you like, after all you are going to have them around all day from bridal prep right through to the first dance. Check that you’re happy with their editing style, which you’ll see in both their portfolio and social media. Ask to see full galleries of their work, not just the highlights. Ask your photographer about an engagement shoot too, if you need persuading why this is a good idea, read this blog that I wrote.
Enjoy your wedding planning journey
Even if you love making lots of decisions and organising events, there can be times when wedding planning is stressful. It might be a good idea to plan a weekly date night with your partner, time just to relax and have fun – it could become something that you carry on into married life 😜
If you’re planning a countryside wedding in the South East, I’d love to photograph your wedding. Please click here to get in touch with me and to check my availability. Or click here if you would like to see my portfolio.
Updated April 2026
