Where Do We Even Start? 3 First Steps to Kick-Start Your Wedding Planning
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” - Martin Luther King
Congratulations, you’re engaged! 🎉 The excitement is real, but so is the overwhelm. Between Pinterest boards, Instagram reels, and endless “must-have” lists, it’s hard to know where to begin. The good news? You don’t need to plan everything at once. The trick is to start with the right steps.
We've met so many couples who are panicking about not having booked a photographer, or chosen the perfect invite, but yet, haven't picked a date or a venue. There is no point in getting carried away with the details until you have an idea of when, where and how much it's going to cost.
That’s why our Wedding Planning Community is built on real-life, practical support. Here are the 3 first steps to kick-start your wedding planning - with free resources to help you along the way.
Step 1: Guest List First
Before you fall in love with a venue, you need to know how many seats you’ll need.
Your guest list impacts everything - venue size, catering, and your budget. Start with a rough draft, even if it’s just scribbles on paper. You’ll instantly feel more in control.
👉 Use our Guest List Planning Activity (FREE in our membership, or just £5 here) to get started
Step 2: Budget with Confidence – Know Your Numbers
Money conversations aren’t always easy, but they’re essential. Knowing your ballpark figure early on prevents heartbreak later when you realise something you’ve set your heart on just isn’t possible.
First, you need to work out roughly how much you have to play with - how much are you prepared to set aside for your big day, and who else might contribute. Once you have that rough figure, you can start to map out what it all might cost.
Our blank budget planner (FREE in the membership, or just £5 here) gives you space to jot down how much you want to spend on each item. As you start to add everything in, you’ll see your overall figure. If this is higher than you’d like, then you may need to remove some “nice-to-haves,” or revisit your guest list and see if numbers can come down.
If you’ve no idea where to even begin with the numbers, we’ve also created a pre-populated spreadsheet with industry averages. Of course, costs will vary depending on your choices, but it gives you a realistic starting point. You’ll find this in our Devotion membership, or you can buy it for £10 here.
Step 3: Shortlist Your Venues – Because Date + Place = The Rest of the Plan
Once you know who’s coming and what you can spend, it’s time to start shortlisting venues. This is one of the most exciting parts, but it’s also one of the most important - your date and venue will shape every other decision.
Take a moment to think about what kind of space fits your style. Do you see yourselves in a luxurious boutique hotel, a rustic barn, or perhaps a grand manor house?
Our Venue Picker Guide (FREE in our membership) will help you get started. And if you’re inside our Community, you’ll also benefit from the knowledge of local suppliers who have worked with venues all across Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, and Bedfordshire. They’ll be only too happy to share their real-life experience to help you make the right choice.
Other resources to help you start planning your wedding
Here is a quick checklist to get you started with you website blow. Remember imperfect action beats inaction, get started and keep publishing.
Be part of our Community
In a digital world, weddings remain the ultimate symbol of human connection - and your planning journey should feel just as special. If you’d love practical tools, expert advice, and a supportive community cheering you on, join our free membership today and take your first step with us.
