Congratulations!

First off – congrats! Whether you’re knee-deep in Pinterest boards or just got engaged and are still staring at your ring like “wait, what just happened?” – you’re in the right place. Planning a wedding can feel like juggling flaming lightsabers while riding a unicycle. But don’t worry. I’ve got your back (and your best angles). Here are five wedding tips to keep you sane during the initial WTF moments.

Wedding Tip 1: BREATHE!

Before you plan a single thing, stop.

Sit together. Have a cup of tea. Take a breath. Then another.
You’re allowed to enjoy being engaged before turning it into a project.

You don’t need a date yet. You don’t need a venue yet. Nothing bad will happen if you don’t open a spreadsheet immediately.

Talk about how you’re feeling. Excited? Overwhelmed? Slightly terrified? All normal.
The best weddings start with calm, not chaos. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Not just yet.

Breathe.

Wedding Tip 2. Start with what you love

Right. Have you taken some time out?

Good!

Next up. Forget what the wedding magazines say. Your day should feel like you. Whether that’s a Pokémon-themed ceremony, a disco ball in a barn, or a quiet elopement with just your dog and a celebrant – own it. The best weddings are the ones where the couple’s personalities shine through. Whilst your mum’s wedding was apparently awesome, you have the right to throw the rule book out the window. Be you. And if you can’t be you, be Batman.

Wedding Tip 3: Grab your crew & don’t stress the small stuff

Remember what I said about breathing earlier. Well, sometimes you’ll feel stressed.

Just remember you’re not on your own.

So whenever you get stressed, talk to someone about it. Go on the internet. Join a Facebook Group. Ask all the silly questions you want.

And on that note – get some trusted suppliers behind you. You’ll quickly find that, even though this is (possibly) your first time, some of your nicest suppliers will have done this a thousand times before.

You know that film Bride Wars? No, I’m not saying go all Bridezilla. I’m saying have someone by your side who’s been at a lot of weddings. Ask us questions. Ask our advice. It makes us feel smart and clever and gives us warm feelings when we can be helpful.

Wedding Tip 4: Visit the Jewellery Quarter for rings, wedding photography and coffee

If you’re local to Birmingham – or fancy a little adventure – there’s no better place to do wedding planning than the Jewellery Quarter. It’s full of charm, creativity, and excellent coffee. There are over 50 wedding-related businesses in the JQ, spanning venues, florists, cake designers, stylists, and jewellers. There’s even a wedding guide to help you plan!

And whilst you’re here thinking about weddings, get your photography sorted too. I’ll buy you a drink, and we can chat all things wedding: what you’re dreaming of, what’s stressing you out, and how I can help make the photography part feel easy, fun, and totally you.

Tip 5: Book Early, Then Chill

A lot of us get booked up fast. Once you’ve found someone you click with, lock them in. Then you can tick that box and move on to the fun stuff – like cake tastings and playlist debates. It’s the same with venues. If you love something, don’t procrastinate. I did, and it took ages to plan my wedding! Go for what your heart says, then book. Your nerves will thank you for it.

That said, enjoy shopping around. Go out with the girls. Crack open the champers. Have I mentioned cake tastings? Do ALL THE CAKE TASTINGS!

THE BOTTOM LINE IS: Getting engaged is amazing and exhilarating and immense! But with it comes a lot of pressure.

Enjoy the process, don’t get stressed by it. Don’t get pressured by people who think they know what your day should be like. Your wedding should feel like your favourite people, your favourite things, and your favourite version of yourselves. 

Hope you found these wedding tips helpful.

If you did want a chat about that photography malarky, you can contact me here or press the button below. Or if you did want one of the best cakes in Birmingham, come and meet me in the Jewellery Quarter when you come shopping for rings, and it’s on me.