WEDDING PLANNING TOP TIPS
Wedding Planning Tips
Introducing…
Europe’s Top Wedding Planners
I’m a big believer in getting the right people for the task at hand. So, with that in mind, rather than me writing this section, I’ve asked one of the top wedding planners in Europe to share some of their industry secrets on how to plan a wedding. A REALLY GOOD wedding!
Here are some amazing WEDDING PLANNING TOP TIPS.
Meet Vanessa
Oh, Hey!
I’m Vanessa – A wedidng planner who spends my life helping couples create weddings that feel relaxed, meaningful and beautifully “them,” whether on snowy mountaintops, Italian lakesides or tucked away in tiny French villages.
I’ve planned hundreds of weddings across Europe, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
You don’t need to know everything from day one, you just need to start in the right place.
Here are a few of my favourite planning tips, the ones I give friends over coffee, long before they book.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PLANNING THE PERFECT WEDDING
“Don’t forget to enjoy it – This is a celebration and not a performance.”
WHERE TO START…
When you have no idea how to plan a wedding!
Before you dive into Pinterest boards or colour palettes, pour a glass of wine, sit down with your partner and begin with three simple things:
These three decisions will narrow your venue search by 80%, honestly. Everything else becomes infinitely easier once they’re set.
Welcome to our Guide to Planning Your Perfect Wedding
WHAT TO BOOK FIRST
Book Your Venue Before Anything Else
The venue dictates everything: your date, your team, your logistics, your timeline, and sometimes even your design.
Once you know your venue, you can build clearly from there — and avoid the classic mistake of booking suppliers before the date is confirmed.
PLANNING GOLD
01.
Quick Wins
The secrets we tell every couple
– Pick 3 priorities.
Food, views, party, photos, whatever they are and build from there. Keep decisions intentional and not impulsive. This helps stop your budget from running away from you.
– Put a 10-Minute Couple’s Walk After the Ceremony in your timeline.
Just the two of you. No cameras, no guests. It grounds the day, helps you breathe, and is always one of the couple’s favourite memories.
– Create a “Day-Of” WhatsApp Group. Add your wedding party + key suppliers. One place for updates, lost groomsmen, and last-minute logistics = sanity saved..
02.
Pitfalls
We’ve Seen THESE Too Many Times
– Underestimating travel time. Whether it’s from the Church to the venue, or trekking through the mountains. Europe is stunning but slow, especially in summer traffic or snowy mountains.
– DIY overload. Looks easy on Instagram, becomes chaos on the day. Less is more and outsourcing can, in the end, save you money.
– Booking the venue without checking weather backup plans. Your future self will thank you. If you’re not happy with Plan B – don’t book it.
– Not budgeting for staffing. Staff are the difference between smooth and stressful wedding, especially a DIY one.
03.
Get Creative
Ideas We Love
– Welcome Parties: They take all the pressure off the wedding day with a day before party.
– Unplugged ceremonies: The professional photos are 1000% better. Tell guests to enjoy the ceremony without thier phone and to make beautiful memories through their own eyes.
– Post-wedding brunch: Your guests will rave about this more than the cake.
– Two outfits: If you’re torn between classic and fun, do both. The photos are insane.
Our biggest tip?
Your Timeline Will Save Your Wedding Day
Pad everything by 15 minutes.
Getting ready, speeches, photos, transitions, the magic happens in the white space.
The couples who try to squeeze too much in are always the ones who feel the rush.
WHY CHOOSE ME?
TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR WEDDING
Any planner will tell you, life’s too short to waste time standing around for endless group shots or feeling uncomfortable posing for pictures that just aren’t you. I love the authentic moments and believe that you don’t need to spend hours making portraits and should instead be spending those hours making some amazing memories with all your family and friends leaving me to photograph your wedding in all it’s effervescent, crazy fun and emotional brilliance, for posterity. I’ve shot hundreds of weddings from luxury chateaux and villas in France to Industrial weddings, barns to tiny Iceland Elopements. All of them wonderful in their own way.
If you want a creative and relaxed wedding photographer who won’t spend hours shooting portraits or endless groups shots, you’re in the right place.
WHY I LOVE WORKING WITH WEDDING PLANNERS
As a photographer, knowing there’s a planner taking care of things is worth its weight in gold .
“As a photographer, having a planner can take your wedding from great, to EPIC”
OUR FINAL PLANNING THOUGHTS
Don’t Forget to Enjoy It.
Weddings can feel like logistics… until you remind yourself:
This is a celebration and not a performance.
Focus on how you want to feel, pick people you trust, and leave space for the unexpected little moments that make the day unforgettable.
So there you go!
I hope you find this helpful! For more tips and tricks, check out our YouTube channel, where I have videos on everything from where to start to timeline tips!
Happy Planning!
Your Wedding Wingwoman x
LET’S DO THIS!
Let’s get together and talk all things wedding PHOTOGRAPHY.
If you’re planning to get hitched and wanna have images that are out of the ordinary, I’m your guy. Hit the button below to get all the info you need and find out pricing.
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