NEWLY ENGAGED AND PLANNING A WEDDING IN 2022

Well what a year it has been! I am not sure the wedding and event sector have ever seen a busier Summer season, and it's been such a joy to see people celebrating love and milestone events again.

For those couples who have been engaged recently over the festive period - CONGRATULATIONS! I know it can be a little intimidating when you first start looking at making plans and finding a venue, and this year is particularly hard work given the sheer number of bookings already in the diary. Don't panic! I have some tips and advice to start out with for you.

1. Find a Wedding Planner and/or Designer

This is absolutely the first thing you should do if budget allows. They will take away all of the stress of sourcing a venue and suppliers, filtering what is within budget, suitable to your requirements, available dates and arrangement of viewings. How do you know which one to choose? Not easy, but it's so important you find someone relatable that you know you'll be happy to work closely with, whom you can trust, and who offers excellent value with services offered.

Absolutely ask about their experience, look at their portfolio of real weddings (be careful about styled shoots and editorials), be clear about your budget and expectations, and check to see if their fees are transparent. Many UK planners take commission from your suppliers behind closed doors and in addition to the fee you pay them - here at Studio Sorores we never ask for accept referral fees/commission payments. Our fees are straightforward and upfront, and we price ourselves fairly based on the scale of the event and average number of hours work undertaken in a planning period.

Can't afford full planning from start to finish? Don't panic! You can book in hourly consultations or bespoke services that typically include budgeting, venue search & selection, design planning, final co-ordination and styling.

2. Set a Budget

I cannot stress enough how important it is to do this early. It's really not wise to start booking things in and adding as you go, or you will quickly get yourself in a muddle and possibly have to compromise on things you wouldn't otherwise have had to. It doesn't really matter the scale of your wedding, absolutely everyone has an upper limit on what they feel comfortable spending and cost vs value for different elements.

If parents are likely to be paying or contributing then do have those conversations up front and early.

One you have an idea of your potential spend then it is so much easier to break things down and gather proposals to fit your brief.

3. Pace Yourself!

I know it's so tempting to rush in and book things quickly, especially in a year when availability might be problematic, but please do take a breath and approach planning calmly and with time to consider your options. There are always solutions and suppliers, and it is important that not only a great team is formulated and commissioned, but that you actually enjoy the process and don't rush it too.

Take care of the big things first - typically venue or marquee, then catering and photographer (after your planner!).

Have fun, it's the best process and feeling in the world and should definitely not be a stressful experience.