The 10 Most Important Wedding Planning Tips You Need to Know

The 10 Most Important Wedding Planning Tips You Need to Know

So you have just got engaged? Congratulations! Now comes the fun (and sometimes stressful) part—planning the big day. In the last 7 years as a Shropshire Wedding Photographer, I have seen a lot of weddings – and the planning behind them – both good, and....well, less good! Thankfully, it appears that an Alex Ford Photography couple is quite good at planning and putting on a wedding...and I think the reason for that might be because they have subconsciously followed some or all of the tips below...But!

Remember, your wedding is your day. There’s no one-size-fits-all blueprint for planning the perfect wedding, but these tips, should help you plan and build a day that is something that your guests and you will be able to look back on and say it was unique to you!

Work out what you want early on.

Before diving into the chaos of wedding planning, sit down with your partner and talk about what matters most to both of you. Do you want to focus on creating an unforgettable experience for your guests? Or is it more important to have a day that reflects your personal style? Maybe you want to minimize stress and keep everything as simple as possible. Whatever it is, decide on your top three to four priorities. This will help guide your budget, make tough decisions easier, and keep you both focused when the planning starts to get overwhelming.

Share, but not too much...It’s tempting to spill all the wedding tea to your nearest and dearest, but we recommend keeping some of the details under wraps. The more information you share—like your first dance song or how much you’re spending on flowers—the more room you give for others to offer opinions or start debates. To avoid unsolicited advice or unnecessary drama, keep things vague with a simple line like, “We’re keeping it a surprise!” or “You’ll just have to wait and see!” Of course, share essential info that affects guest experience (think: dress code, location, or timing), but try to stay in control of the narrative.

We can’t get away from the fact the budget matters...

Wedding costs can spiral out of control fast without a solid budget in place. Whether you’re working with a tight budget or a more generous one, you need a clear financial plan. Start by figuring out what you can realistically spend, then break it down into categories (venue, catering, attire, etc.). Don’t forget to add a contingency fund—aim for at least 15% of your budget for unexpected expenses. Keep track of every expense along the way – becoming someone who knows their way around an Excel spreadsheet might not be what you thought of when starting out your wedding planning, but you never know you might be able to have a new entry on your CV at the end of the wedding. Staying organized will help you stay on budget, even if you end up going slightly over.

Pinterest is not always good for you

It’s easy to get sucked into an endless cycle of wedding research, and I am talking about Pinterest here. But remember that too much info can be paralyzing. Focus on the essentials—budgeting, finding the right suppliers, and understanding the costs in your area—and set deadlines for making decisions.

You don’t need to spend hours agonizing over wedding manicures or napkin folds. Once you’ve done your research, trust your gut and move forward. Your time is precious, and there’s no need to get bogged down in details that aren’t a top priority. Similarly, don’t try and copy a Pinterest board, because it might just not be you – and it also can lead onto a problem talked about in the next tip...

Trust Your Suppliers!

You’ve done the hard work of finding the right wedding vendors, now trust them to do their thing. It’s not our first rodeo – we’ve all done it before and you need to remember that these sort of articles are not just about helping you as clients – they are also needed by Google and they are about SEO and hoping that maybe a blog post goes viral and drives traffic to your website...

So whether it’s your photographer, florist, or DJ, the people that you hire are experts in their field. Tell them what you are looking for – a decent one might even ask you what your vision is! Then let them work their magic. If you find yourself getting too micromanage-y, remind yourself that you hired them because they know what they’re doing. A good supplier will make your life easier, not harder—so lean on us!

Skip the Things That Don’t Matter to You

Weddings come with a lot of traditions and expectations, but don’t feel like you must ‘include everything just because it’s "what you're supposed to do." If the thought of giving a speech makes you break out in a cold sweat, skip it. Don’t want a bouquet toss? Ditch it! Your wedding day should be YOU as a couple and your personalities, so if there’s something that doesn’t feel good for you, don’t do it. Just make sure to keep the elements that truly impact your guests' experience, like food and seating arrangements, in mind.

Let’s look at speeches – I’ve had no speeches, I’ve had too many speeches, I’ve had speeches spoken in the mother tongue of the couple and then done again in another language. I’ve had recorded speeches via video. But one thing that has worked across the board is that the speeches were part of the day, or not, because it is what felt right to the couple.

People...

Cutting down your guest list is one of the toughest parts of wedding planning. We recommend using the A, B, C, and D list method to make it easier. Divide your guests into categories based on how essential they are to your day. Your A list is the must-haves—close family and friends who you absolutely can’t imagine your day without. The B list are people you’d love to have but aren’t essential. The C list might include distant relatives or colleagues, and the D list could be people you might invite if space or budget allows. This method helps you trim down your list quickly without second-guessing yourself.

A slightly more brutal way of deciding on guests is the old...have we spoken in the last year? It’s harsh...but if you haven’t spoken to that person – either face to face or even electronically – in the last year, do they really need to be at your wedding.

The guest list is where the most stress and conflict comes from, so bare this in mind when discussing it – what is important to you might not be so important to your partner, or vice versa, so this is where consideration, patience and kindness comes in.

Dates...

This is even more true when dealing with other people and invitees. One thing I have repeatedly heard from couples is that some guests were really bad at replying and even though an RSVP date and maybe even a method of replying had been included some still had to be phoned to ask if they were coming or not. It’s another area where the stress can really rise – so be prepared for...well...people to be people...

A hint might be to provide an RSVP date that is a couple of weeks in advance of when you really need to know by, or this might be a throw-back to the last tip – if someone is going to send you an email to reply and not actually speak to you face to face – then should they really, really, be on the invite to your wedding...?

Let Go of the Little Stuff

It’s easy to get caught up in worrying about the small things and is the fault of wedding magazines and Pinterest.

These are things like whether the chair covers match the napkins or if your third cousin is sitting near the best man. But in when the push-comes-to-shove, these little details won’t matter much once the day is over. Stick to thinking about the really important stuff; your vows, the time you will be able to spend with your partner, and the people who are there to celebrate with you.

If it comes to the tiny details, ask yourself: “Will I care about this a week from now? A month? A year?” If the answer is no, let it go.

Delegation is the name of the game...

Wedding planning can feel like a never-ending to-do list, and you don’t have to do it all yourself. That way, madness lies! So, ask for help!

Your family, wedding party, and friends will likely be eager to pitch in, and delegating tasks can take a huge load off your shoulders. Some people will be great at handling big projects, while others may prefer small tasks like addressing invitations or helping the me to organise the group photos.

Keep track of who’s doing what (that spreadsheet could be your friend here too!) so that nothing is missed and that one thing isn’t being organised by two different people, and be sure to show your appreciation—whether that’s with a thank-you note or a shout-out during the reception.

Finally, a bonus tip...

Don’t slavishly follow ‘How to...’ articles. It’s your wedding, it’s your day. Do it your way! The most important thing is that you are getting married and when all the stress is over, all prosecco has been drunk, the canapés have been scoffed and the dances have been danced...You will be married to your best friend and will be spending the rest of your life with them.

Finally…

This is my 8th year as a Shropshire Wedding Photographer - I’ve seen a lot and experienced a lot of weddings and whilst some have been better than others, all have been brilliant and I have loved every single one! I’m not just here to be the bloke that takes pictures but also helps you along the way, if you want that, gives you advice and acts as your advocate to other suppliers on the day itself. All that for £1250 for a full day? I call that good value…