Hi it’s Dave from Dave McIntosh Photographics. So, I have photographed hundreds of weddings in my decade of being a wedding photographer. I’ve seen it all, so what are the top steps for planning a wedding?
Outdoor blessings to festival field parties, Italian destination weddings to traditional English village church ceremonies, stately homes to rustic barns. I can also see what a massive difference even a bit of planning can make to the enjoyment of your wedding for you as a couple and everyone you invite.
I am a natural organizer, but I know not everyone is, which is why I love to help my couples as much as possible in the lead-up to their big day so that on the day itself you can relax and enjoy it all as much as possible.
Set a Budget
Is it fun or pretty? No. But before you go diving into wedding blogs and Instagram, and start planning a Pinterest perfect sun-kissed ceremony, start thinking about how much you will spend. Have those awkward conversations with anyone else who might contribute from the start, so you can have a (slightly more) realistic head on for setting out what you want from your day.
Cheapest isn’t always the Best
I’ve seen it happen before. People go for the cheapest option because money is tight, and I get it. Weddings can be expensive and it’s hard to decide on what to spend your budget on. But there are ways to cut back without going for the cheapest. For example, don’t scrimp on your photographer (of course I may be a tad biased here). But you want to make sure you book a quality photographer who knows what they’re doing. You won’t regret spending the money because you’ll have the photos to look back on for the rest of your life.
Plan how you want the day to go. This can help you decide where you invest and where you can save.
Take it Step by Step
It will be very tempting to dive in to everything and get quickly overwhelmed when you’re thinking – argh, what are the steps to planning a wedding?! You can start by thinking about where in the country (or indeed the world) you’d like to get married, and then the type of venue (Google is your friend here), and then the type of photographer you’d like, of course. Once you get these 3 things nailed, then look at any other professionals you’d like to get involved like a videographer, a cake maker, a florist, a day of coordinator (if you’re not hiring a planner I recommend doing this!), hair + makeup, and of course the fun stuff like dresses, suits, etc.
Think Over Your Options
You don’t have to have the most expensive item at every turn, nor do you have to do what anyone else says you ‘should’ be doing. This is your day, and it’s all about you, celebrating you two as a couple. Aunt Sue may well have an opinion about sitting on hay bales for your rustic barn ceremony, but you can put down blankets so her dress is protected.
What is important?
There will be moments where you may have tricky conversations. Where one of you believes something is a priority, and the other disagrees. That is completely normal. I highly recommend having date nights where you keep the entire day / evening wedding chat-free so that you remember what it’s all about.
Make it You
There are lots of ways to personalize your day to suit you both. You could add details to the table decor, the altar, to your bouquet, to the stationery. Lots of couples find it simplest to personalize by choosing their favorite desserts or flowers.
The point is, when you’re thinking – what are the steps to planning a wedding, there will be lots to consider, but hopefully with this advice at hand, you can’t go wrong.
If you have questions or want to check if I’m free for your wedding date, then get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.
About Dave McIntosh Photographics
My talent helps you remember each moment fondly. This means not only gorgeous photos and video but also a positive experience. When you look at the photos, you recall how you felt. Capturing special moments is more than picking up a camera. Sometimes is it creating a safe space for you to relax and be yourself. Sometimes it is creating a moment. Once you relax and be in the moment, the magic begins. I will guide you to create memories perfectly suited to you based on over 10 years of photographing weddings.