.......NOW WHAT?



The venue is booked. The date is in the diary. You’ve probably celebrated, told everyone, stared at your booking confirmation about 47 times… and then realised you’ve got absolutely no idea what you’re supposed to do next.

Don’t worry. You’re definitely not alone.

I completely get it


I completely get it because I’m currently planning my own wedding for 2028 too, and even as someone who works in the wedding industry, I know how overwhelming it can feel when suddenly there are a million decisions to make.


THEN THE QUESTIONS START.....


What do you book first?
When should you book everything?
How much should you actually be spending?
And why does everyone seem to have an opinion on what your wedding should look like?!

There’s no single right way to plan a wedding. Some couples have spreadsheets before they’ve even got engaged, while others are very much taking it one decision at a time.

And honestly, both are fine.

My job isn’t just to turn up on your wedding day and take photographs. I want to make the whole experience feel as easy and relaxed as possible, which means I’m here to guide you through it too.
You don’t need to know exactly what you’re doing. You don’t need to have every decision made. And you definitely don’t need to feel like you’re planning this completely on your own.

I’ll share what I’ve learnt from photographing weddings, help you think through timings and photographs, answer the questions that pop into your head at 11pm and generally be your extra pair of eyes when you need them.

So, if you’ve just booked your dream venue, here are a few things I’d think about next.


A charming red brick English country manor house with white-framed windows, surrounded by lush green lawns and picnic benches.
Elegant outdoor wedding ceremony with white chairs, pink draping, and floral arrangements under a wooden arch.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: GET YOUR DATE AND TIMINGS STRAIGHT


Your venue might have your date secured, but there are still a few details worth confirming before you start booking everything else.
Find out:

What time can you actually get married?
If you’re having a registrar or celebrant, check what options are available and whether there are any restrictions around ceremony times.

When can you access the venue?
This can make a surprisingly big difference to your plans, particularly if you’re bringing in décor, flowers, entertainment or anything that needs setting up.

What time does everything need to finish?
Check your venue’s rules around music, last orders, curfews and when everyone needs to be out.

What does a typical wedding day look like there?
Your venue will often have an idea of how weddings usually flow in their space, which can be really useful when you’re starting from scratch.

You don’t need your entire wedding day planned at this point. You just want to know the boundaries you’re working within.

Elegant wedding reception hall with round tables, white linens, gold centerpieces, and lush floral ceiling installations.
Elegant barn wedding venue with wooden beamed ceiling, cross-back chairs, and stone floor aisle.

THEN HAVE A PROPER LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET


Now that you know what your venue is actually costing you, it’s time to look at the bigger picture.

How much do you have left?
And, more importantly, what actually matters to you?

Maybe food is your absolute priority.
Maybe you’ve always dreamed of a packed dancefloor and a brilliant band.
Maybe flowers are your thing.
Or maybe you know that you want to invest in photographs because you want to remember how the day actually felt.

There’s no correct answer here.

Your wedding budget should reflect your priorities, rather than what Instagram tells you a wedding is supposed to look like.

Grand neoclassical government building with ornate clock tower against cloudy sky in London.
Ornate marble staircase with wrought iron railings and decorative arched ceiling in a grand historic building.
Historic red brick building with arched windows, wooden doors, and a Town Hall Register Office sign, framed by autumn trees.

NOW START THINKING ABOUT YOUR KEY SUPPLIERS


Once your venue and budget are sorted, the supplier search usually starts to feel a lot easier. There are some suppliers who can take on multiple weddings or events in a week. Then there are the suppliers who can only be in one place at one time.

Your photographer is one of them.
So are your videographer, band or DJ, planner and sometimes your hair and makeup team.

Once their date is booked, that’s it.

They can’t squeeze you in because you asked nicely. As much as I’d love to have mastered teleportation, I’m still working on it.


SO… WHY BOOK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER EARLY?

This is something I speak to couples about all the time.
You might think:

“We’ve got ages. We’ll sort the photographer later.”

And technically, you might.

But if you’ve already found someone whose work makes you stop scrolling, whose approach feels like you, and who you can genuinely imagine spending your wedding day with…. I wouldn’t leave it too long.

IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST THE PHOTOS

Your photographer is going to be around for a pretty significant chunk of your wedding day.
We’re there while you’re getting ready.
We’re there when the nerves kick in.
We’re there for the hugs, the happy tears, the chaos, the confetti, the questionable dance moves and all the moments you didn’t even realise were happening.

So yes, you want to love the photographs. But you also want to love the person taking them.

You want someone who makes you feel comfortable. Someone who understands when to step back and let a moment happen and when to gently guide you because you’re standing there thinking:

“WHAT ON EARTH DO WE DO WITH OUR HANDS?”

That relationship matters.

Black and white photo of a historic stone mansion with modern glass extension, featuring classical architecture and manicured grounds.
Modern barn-style building with weathered wood cladding and large black-framed glass windows set in a rural landscape.
Bride and groom standing together at a rustic tipi wedding venue with wooden barrels and floral decorations.
A grand Georgian red brick manor house with symmetrical windows, decorative pediment, and curved stone steps leading to the entrance.

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER CAN HELP WITH THE TIMELINE TOO


You don’t need to have your entire wedding schedule worked out before booking your photographer.
In fact, it can be really helpful to have them involved early.

Things like:

• How much time you’ll realistically need for family photographs
• When you’ll get those gorgeous couple portraits
• Where the best light might be at your venue
• Whether you want a first look
• How much time to allow for getting ready photographs
• When to sneak outside for those dreamy golden hour images

All of those little decisions can make a huge difference to how your day feels.
The aim isn’t to fill your wedding day with photographs.
It’s to make sure you have space for the photographs without feeling like your wedding day has become one giant photoshoot.

That’s a very important difference.

Charming oak-framed barn venue entrance with gravel driveway, manicured hedges, and slate roof under blue sky.
Wooden gazebo with dark roof beside a serene lake, surrounded by lush gardens under a blue sky.
Exterior of Stitch House building with white brick walls and modern signage in an urban setting.
Rustic wooden wedding venue with exposed beam ceiling, cross-back chairs, and floral arch altar.

AND IF YOU WANT AN ENGAGEMENT SHOOT…


Don’t forget that this can need a little planning too.
Especially if you have your heart set on something seasonal.

Dreaming of golden autumn leaves?
Want those soft spring blossoms?
Fancy a wintery shoot?
Or perhaps you have a particular location in mind that looks incredible at sunset?

Those dates can disappear surprisingly quickly.

An engagement session is also a brilliant chance to get comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day.

You get to find out how I work, what prompts I use, what makes you laugh and what definitely makes you cringe. And then, when your wedding day arrives, it already feels familiar.
Couple holding hands outdoors in a forest setting, woman wearing a paisley skirt and ring.
Bride and groom walking hand in hand toward elegant tipi wedding venue on lush green lawn.

ONCE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER IS BOOKED, BREATHE.


Honestly...... You don’t need to book every single supplier in the next 48 hours.
Start working your way through the rest of your list at a pace that feels manageable.

Depending on what you’ve already sorted, your next jobs might be:

Your media team
Start thinking about how you want to look back on your day in years to come when some family members might not be around.  Whether that's solely still images or a small video of snippets of you day like a content creator can provide, or maybe its a full 10-15 minutes of a film about your day shot by a videographer?

Maybe your like me and want all three. Loosing my Mum has made me realise we didn't get enough silly videos together. I wish I had done more tiktok trends with my mum like my daughter has so then I can still see and hear my mum's voice...... that's sometimes what I miss the most so I know I want videography and content creation for our day to capture everyones voices in a little time capsule for us.

Your guest list
Start getting those names down, even if the final list changes approximately 700 times.

Your entertainment
Especially if you have your heart set on a particular band or DJ.

Your florist
Think about the overall feel before getting lost in Pinterest for six hours.

Your hair and makeup team
Particularly if you’re getting married during peak wedding season.

Your stationery and wedding website
Useful for keeping everyone informed without answering the same question 93 times.

Your outfits
And yes, this includes allowing enough time for alterations.

Your décor and styling
This is where you can start bringing all those little ideas together and making the venue feel like yours.

Manicured hedges and topiary trees frame a rustic barn venue with a wooden welcome sign in a scenic garden setting.

AND REMEMBER… YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALL ALONE


Wedding planning can feel like a lot. Even when you’re excited. Even when you’ve dreamt about your wedding for years. Even when you know exactly what you want.

There are still budgets, suppliers, timelines, family opinions, decisions and approximately 4,000 Pinterest boards to navigate.
So please don’t feel like you should already know everything.

I certainly don’t, and I’m planning my own wedding too!

That’s why I want to be someone you can lean on throughout the process.

If you’re wondering how long you need for photographs, what might work better with your venue, when we should sneak out for sunset or whether something you’ve planned will affect your photography, ask me.

I’d much rather you ask than sit there stressing about it. Because ultimately, I don’t just want to photograph your wedding.

I want you to enjoy the bloody thing too.

A charming stone-built country inn with mullioned windows and a covered entrance, set along a quiet village road under a cloudy sky.
Bride and groom standing outside a historic red brick manor house on their wedding day.

ONE LAST THING…


Your wedding isn’t a performance that needs to be perfectly executed.
It’s about your people, your relationship and all the little moments in between.

And when the confetti has been swept away, the cake has been eaten and you’re back home in your pyjamas wondering where the last six months went…

Your photographs will be one of the few things that let you step back into it all again.

The hugs. The laughter. The ridiculous moments. The happy tears. The people you love.
And all those little bits you completely missed because you were too busy actually living your wedding day.

So if you’ve just booked your dream venue, congratulations.

You’ve got the date.

Now you can start building the rest of the day around everything that makes it yours.
And if it all starts feeling a little overwhelming along the way?

That’s what I’m here for.

If you’ve got the venue booked and you’re ready to find the person who’s going to capture everything that happens next

I’d love to hear about your plans.

Elegant wedding ceremony room with white Chiavari chairs, blue sashes, floral arch, and large windows in a classic venue.
Elegant wedding reception hall with long white-clothed tables, chiavari chairs, and draped ceiling decor.
Elegant wedding head table with white floral arch backdrop and draped tablecloth in a rustic venue.
Tudor-style manor house with manicured gardens, rope fencing, and pink cherry blossom trees under a cloudy spring sky.
Elegant wedding ceremony setup with blue satin chair sashes, white floral trees, and a floral arch altar.
Elegant wedding reception hall with round tables, white linens, gold centerpieces, and lush floral ceiling installations.
BSD truck parked near Gretna Green sign in Scotland, surrounded by trees on a cloudy day.
Elegant wedding sweetheart table with white draping, greenery garland, gold candle holders, and fairy light columns in a ballroom.
A charming red brick English country manor house with white-framed windows, surrounded by lush green lawns and picnic benches.
Ivy-covered castle venue with cobblestone courtyard, white chairs arranged for outdoor wedding ceremony, red autumn foliage.
Rustic wooden chapel wedding venue with open doors, arched windows, and a gabled roof set in lush green countryside.
Elegant wedding ceremony venue with white chair covers, sage green sashes, and a white aisle runner in a modern ballroom.
Elegant wedding ceremony arch adorned with white flowers and greenery, with candles and a welcome sign on a wooden floor.
Wet stone courtyard leads to a rustic chapel with wooden arched doors, flanked by red buildings on a rainy day.
Rustic wooden sweetheart table with white chiffon runner, candles, and floral centerpiece before a green hedge wall.
Neoclassical building facade with tall Corinthian columns, stone steps, and ornate cornice against a clear blue sky.
Historic stone town hall building with arched entrance, ornate facade, and clock tower in a cobblestone square.
Grand Georgian red brick manor house with symmetrical facade, white sash windows, and formal grounds under cloudy skies.
Elegant wedding aisle with white runner, pink and white floral arrangements, gold chairs, and draped blush curtains.
Elegant outdoor wedding ceremony setup with white chairs and floral arrangements under a wooden arch pavilion.
Historic castle covered in vibrant red and green ivy vines in autumn, with stone lion statues flanking a staircase entrance.
Rustic tipi tents set up on green meadow surrounded by trees for an outdoor festival or wedding event.
Elegant stretch tent marquee set up in a garden venue with rope fencing and wooden decking for outdoor events.
Bride and groom share a romantic moment outside a rustic brick wedding venue with large glass doors.
Elegant outdoor wedding ceremony with white chairs, pink draping, and floral arrangements under a wooden arch.
Couple sharing a romantic dip kiss under arched colonnade, woman in white dress, man in black suit.
Vintage white and black wedding car decorated with ribbons parked outside a brick building with clock tower.
Elegant wedding venue with floral chandelier, oak beams, skylight, and beige carpet in a bright, airy room.
Elegant wedding sweetheart table with white floral arrangements, greenery wall backdrop, and glowing Forever & Always neon sign.
Historic Tudor-style building with black and white timber framing and stone bay windows surrounded by manicured gardens.
Elegant wedding ceremony venue with floral arch, white roses, wooden floor, and ocean view backdrop.

Venues

Sandhole Oak Barn
Hanbury barns
the ashes
Manor hill house
quorn hotel
shottle hall
tipi fields
Sherwood glade
hidden hive
walton castle
St george's hall - liverpool
The wedding chapel - blackpool
etruria hall - Doubletree stoke
Stockport town hall
grains bar
mill forge gretna green
highley manor
plough inn
crewe municipal town hall
solihull registry office
taunton registry office
joshua bradley
village hotel ashton
village hotel st davids
village hotel blackpool
roman lakes marple
worsley old hall
buile hill mansion
sale town hall
salford town hall
bolton town hall
red lion - weston
stock farm
glasshouse staining
bashall barns
moat house - acton trusell
tatton park old hall
smokies, oldham
All Saints church - carshalton
the Bridge - Prestbury
Lazaat
colwick hall
wychwood park

 

 

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