10 Steps to Plan a Wedding

Welcome to My BLOG

I've been wanting to start a blog for a while and have been putting it off for ages, but I've decided to just go for it! I apologise in advance if it's a bit wordy!

Since most of my clients are brides, I wanted to start off by sharing some advice I've learnt about planning a wedding.

Legendary Makeup by Becky Howard

I’ve been doing wedding makeup for a long time now. Would you believe my first wedding was way back in 2009?! I remember feeling so excited when I was asked to do a bride's makeup. I had done makeup for photoshoots and for friends and family but there was something a bit different about doing a wedding.

I’m a hopeless romantic and love the little quirky details that make your wedding personal to you.

Anyway, enough about me-for now!

He put a ring on it

You’ve just got engaged, congratulations! You’ve been waiting for your partner to pop the question for weeks, months, even years and the time has finally come for you to plan your wedding.

If you are anything like me you will have dreamed of your wedding since you were a little girl- the fairy-tale romance, a room full of people who love you, the food, the dress!

So, where to begin? It can be pretty overwhelming to know where to start. Firstly, remember- this is supposed to be fun! Don’t get too hung up on the tiny details and focus on what is truly important- celebrating the love the two of you share and coming together to get married.

HOW TO PLAN A WEDDING

1. I think it’s important to start with your budget- you don’t want to still be paying off your wedding in 10+ years! If any family members are contributing, make sure you have a conversation to ensure you are on the same page. If you are footing the bill yourself, make sure you have a hard look at your finances and discuss as a couple what you can afford and feel comfortable spending. Once you have the final figure- stick to it!
   

2. Make a list of what is most important to you- the guest list (if you were to get married abroad would Granny and Grandpa be able to come?), do you have a certain Makeup Artist you absolutely CANNOT live without?, kids/no kids… (this can be a tough one if most of your friends have children- it makes it especially hard if you choose to get married abroad, just remember it is YOUR wedding, but also be aware you may lose a few guests if you do so). Is it the venue? Or a certain wedding date? Prioritise these details and be willing to compromise on the rest. This helps you to ensure you are focusing on what really matters to you.
   

3. Make a Pinterest board! I can’t stress enough how helpful Pinterest is when planning a wedding. You can pin any pictures you like the look of, and can share with the suppliers when trying to explain what style or look you are after. I personally love when a bride shows me images during a trial- it ensures we are on the same page and I especially love if you pick my own images! Check out my Pinterest page here... (5) Pinterest
   

4. Create a wedding email address. You can then use this when signing up to wedding-related things, so your emails don't get lost amongst your personal emails.
   

5. Create a checklist- book makeup trial, book hair trial, suits, dress, shoes, childcare, hen do, jewellery, perfume, guestlist, seating plan, food, band, photographer. It will feel amazing once you see those big ones being ticked off!
   

6. Select a theme- the theme sets the tone for your big day and will help to ensure each part of your day is aesthetically cohesive. Do you want a romantic theme? Do you prefer a vintage feel? How about a whimsical look? Is modern chic more your thing? How about rustic?
   

7. Hire a wedding planner- Some couples would rather hire a wedding planner and hand over all responsibilities to them, which is a great way of relieving the stress of the planning. Wedding planners can be as involved as you want them to be. I always think word of mouth is the best recommendation you can get. Speak to friends who have used a wedding planner before, what was their experience? If you are more of a DIY kind of person, then you may want to use your money somewhere else.
   

8. Start on your guestlist

- Write a list of everyone you'd even consider inviting. - Separate your top tier guests. - Work out how many people you can realistically afford. - Consider the input of anyone contributing. - Be fair with family (don't only invite 3 cousins if the fourth will be upset).

9. Only book suppliers/vendors you are comfortable with! Don’t feel pressurised into booking someone just because they are available on your date. If you do not feel they match your theme, or that you will not get on then find someone else! The people you choose to be involved with your wedding should have a good sense of your vision and you should be able to trust them to make your day as stress free and wonderful as possible!

10. Pick your bridal party carefully! Who do you really want to get ready with on your wedding morning? You don't need any negativity on your big day.

What did you think?

So that was my first blog! I hope it was helpful and interesting enough to keep you reading. My next blog will be on How to pick your Wedding Makeup Artist - keep an eye out!

I hope you enjoyed my blog post, please leave a comment and let me know what you thought- and if you have any suggestions on what else you'd like me to write about.

Thanks,

Becky