If you are one of the newly engaged couples from over the Christmas period then massive congratulations to you. This is such an exciting time that you’ll never get back so please do enjoy the early days before the wedding planning kicks in! Our biggest piece of advice is to enjoy these early stages of being engaged. Flash the ring, take some ring selfies, celebrate with your fiancé and start dreaming big. Trust us once the wedding planning commences your free time will become a little more limited.

What kind of wedding are the two of you dreaming of? This is the time to discuss your individual expectations of your day. One of you might want a fantasy destination event with 20 guests on a gorgeous sandy beach while the other might want a rustic, countryside wedding of 200. You want to make sure your ideas are in sync right from the start, and if they aren’t, find room for compromise where you need to. Talk about what the most important aspects of the wedding day are to both of you – perhaps it’s food, headcount, location or music. It’s crucial to know what your future spouse is hoping for to make the big day special for them.

Need help identifying a reliable wedding planner or supplier? Save time and gain confidence by consulting our directory. All UKAWP members have proven their dedication to the wedding industry before being accepted and each is committed to continuing their training wherever possible to become the best they can possibly be. Please be assured all members have met our entry criteria and must comply with our code of business practice before being accepted into the UKAWP. If you are interested in hiring a wedding planner then these guides might be helpful

We asked some of our members for their advice for the newly engaged and this is what they said.

“Have the difficult conversations early on. It’s easier to do it before emotions and stress levels start to rise. For example, you might want to an open discussion about who is contributing financially and what influence over things they expect in return?” Caroline Sian Weddings

“Establish the budget very early on in your wedding planning. There is no point in beginning the planning of your wedding without an idea of the level of budget you can commit to it. The budget level will determine your abilities for your venue and from there the rest of the planning can follow. Obviously engage the services of a super wedding planner at the get go and you will be on the right track!” Melanie Kiani, Belissimo Weddings

“When thinking about the design and style of your day, don’t get lost down the Pinterest rabbit hole. Sit down together first and work out what kind of wedding day, feel and vibe, you want so you can establish what your priorities are. I would also pick 3 words that describe the overall feel and look too e.g. City chic, boho, relaxed, decadent etc. Then when you do start looking for inspiration you have a starting point that means something to you both.” Andri Benson, Always Andri

“Take five. Now you’ve pinned a gazillion images its time to sit down together and make a plan for your big day. Start by both discussing what you think makes a great wedding and subsequently whats important to you. This could be having your cousin from Australia there or getting married in sunshine, write it all down. Once you have a list of sorts, reorganise it into priority order. This is a great help when you start allocating your wedding budget.” Alex, The Bijou Bride

“Work out what is important for the both of you? The dress / the food / the party / the styling – all of the above? Write them down and focus on these throughout the planning/budgeting process.” Libby Summers, Caper & Berry Catering

“Make sure your gorgeous new ring is insured! Doesn’t cost much to add it onto your contents insurance” Louise Wearmouth, Your Fabulous Wedding

“Decide the location of your destination wedding and find out how much it will cost early on in the planning process. The earlier the better as greek destinations get booked far in advance.” Anna, Greek Dream Planners

Photo Credits

Engagement ring by member Michael Frank 

All other photos by Kate Nielen