Recently engaged? Here's a list of things to think about when planning your wedding.

Engaged? How exciting! Now comes the fun bit…the wedding planning. We’ve collated some top tips and inspiration to help you plan the wedding you’ve always dreamed of.

Tell your friends and family…and celebrate!

This is an exciting time so give yourself and your fiancée the opportunity to celebrate and share the big news with friends and family. Over a celebratory drink (or two) chat through some ideas and really talk to each other about what matters to you as a couple.

There are some great online sources you can explore for inspiration. Pinterest is brilliant for ideas plus you can create mood boards of colours, themes and styles that you can share easily with family, friends or suppliers. Just be mindful that Pinterest can include some highly styled and not so budget-friendly options so you’ll need to keep it real and stay focused!

^{Place settings in The Courtyard at St Tewdrics House.}

Instagram is another favourite channel for couples to browse for creative ideas in the planning phase. You can engage with potential suppliers and venues and view their latest creations and weddings. Make sure you read the captions as well as scrolling through gorgeous imagery and videos as you can pick up gems of ideas and information that will help shape your decisions.

Set the date

Are you going for cosy Autumnal vibes or chic Summer celebrations? This is where revisiting those mood boards to determine the season in which you want to get married will come in helpful – costs and availability vary greatly across the year.

Setting the exact date might not be practicably possible as the first thing you do but think about key dates that are important to you. You might want to avoid birthdays, other close family or friends’ weddings and don’t forget to scout around to find out key events such as extra bank holidays or school term times, particularly if you are thinking of a mid-week wedding.

^{Image credit: Philip Warren Photography}

Talk budgets early

Take your time to crunch some numbers and determine your wedding’s budget. Most of your plans will be led by the venue you choose but before you commit to booking somewhere, you need to have a realistic idea of the amount you want to spend. If anyone in your life has kindly offered to contribute to your big day, now’s the time to confirm the details.

Start by noting down what’s a priority and what’s not and roughly allocating funds to each part. Things will change as you move forward so it’s a smart idea to start with a spreadsheet or one of the many planning apps available, or perhaps even both!

^{The Courtyard at St Tewdrics House set up for wedding ceremony.}

Your guest list and wedding party

This is where you need to keep your budget in mind – if only you could invite everyone! The reality is, you’ll need think about who is contributing or whether you are footing the bill. Either way, really think about who you want to be around you to help you celebrate the best day of your lives.

Choosing your wedding party is going to be heavily influenced by your budget. If money is no object then a huge wedding party is achievable but if the purse strings are slightly tighter, you may need to have a more modest group around you. Really think about who you want right beside you and what role they will play on the day. Coco Weddings have a great blog about modern day wedding party roles and responsibilities you can read here for some ideas.

^{Image credit: Hannah May Miles Photography}

The venue

Choosing your venue is tied into everything we’ve mentioned above, particularly your budget. However, the reality is that many venues are often booked up years in advance so if you have a specific date in mind early on, it’s best to get your venue search game on strong – sooner rather than later.

We think the venue search should be lots of fun. If you have a clear (ish) vision in mind for your big day, you’ll know the venue as soon as you find it. Think about what you need from your venue. Do you want the option of on-site accommodation, good transport links, easy access for travelling guests and flexible indoor and outdoor spaces? Make a list of the essentials and nice-to-haves and then have fun. Make a road trip out of your visits to some beautiful venues and perhaps even a romantic mini break if you can!

Keep an eye out for venue tours and showcases too – for most of them you’ll need to book in advance. This is a great way to explore your venue in more detail, and often it will be dressed and set up for a wedding with some of the venue’s preferred suppliers available for you to chat to.

^{Grade II listed St Tewdrics House and seasonal wildflower meadow in full bloom.}

At St Tewdrics House, our Grade II listed, 19^th Century Italianate Villa is nestled in 10 acres of Monmouthshire countryside and features luxury en-suite accommodation and a seasonal wildflower meadow. We’ve a team of wedding experts and a finely crafted list of talented, local suppliers on hand to help you create a wedding you will cherish forever. Our venue showcase weekends run at various times throughout the year or we welcome any potential couples to join us for a personal venue tour and a chat about your big day at a time that’s suitable for you.

Finally…breathe!

Don’t forget to relax and enjoy your wedding planning journey. You don’t need to have a finely detailed plan in the first week after getting engaged. This should be a fun time for you and your partner and remember that it’s your wedding, a time to enjoy each other and watch all your ideas turn into a beautiful reality. And if you need us, we’re here to help so just get in touch when you’re ready. Congratulations on your engagement and happy planning!