Where to Start Wedding Planning: The Stress-Free Guide for Engaged Couples

You’ve said yes, you’ve popped the champagne, your ring selfies are perfection… and now you’re staring into the beautiful, slightly overwhelming abyss of wedding planning.

If you’re wondering “Where do we even start?” you’re not alone. It’s one of the most Googled wedding questions for a reason!

The truth is, wedding planning isn’t hard because you’re “not organised.” It’s hard because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event with hundreds of moving parts, emotional expectations, money on the line, and decision fatigue hitting from every angle.

So let’s take a deep breath, put a bit of structure around the chaos, and walk through exactly where to start — and how to feel supported from day one.

1. Start With Your Vision (Before You Even Spend a Dollar)

This step is the most skipped… and the one that causes the most stress later.
Before you book a venue, before you choose a date, before you even think about flowers - take time to dream.

Ask yourselves:

• How do we want our wedding to feel?

• What words would we use to describe it? (e.g. garden luxe, modern romantic, intimate, bold and colourful, classic black-tie)

• What are our non-negotiables?

• What matters most: epic food, a killer band, location, styling, guest experience, photography?

Having clarity on the vibe sets the tone for every decision that follows. It becomes your compass — and it’s how you avoid falling down Pinterest rabbit holes that pull you in 28 different aesthetic directions. I have a free Priorities Worksheet available for couples to use that will guide you through the process of working out your vision!

2. Discuss Your Budget (Early and Honestly)

I know - not the sexiest step. But it’s one of the most important.

Your budget guides:

• Which venues to shortlist

• Which vendors to prioritise

• Guest numbers

• Styling decisions

• What’s realistically achievable

The biggest mistake couples make is starting the planning journey without having this conversation… and then being blindsided by costs later.

A simple starting point:

• Work out the total amount you feel comfortable spending

• Decide if anyone else is contributing

• Allocate rough percentages, guided by your priorities

Once you have a baseline, everything becomes easier — and far less overwhelming.

3. Build Your Guest List (Before Choosing a Venue)

It doesn’t need to be perfect right away, but having a realistic guest count makes a huge difference when venue hunting.

For example:

• A venue designed for 300 will feel empty with 30 guests

• A cosy boutique venue may not legally fit 150

• Catering and beverage packages can change by guest tiers

Your guest list is the bridge between your vision and your venue options.

4. Choose Your Ideal Date (Or Your Ideal Season)

Some couples have a meaningful date. Others care more about the season, weather, or availability of their dream venue.

You don’t need to lock in a “final date” right away. A flexible range like “late April to early June” or “somewhere in October” helps enormously when venues respond with availability.

And if you’re open to mid-week or Sundays? You’ll often get better availability - and sometimes better pricing.

5. Secure Your Venue (This unlocks everything else)

Once your vision, budget, guest count, and date range are sorted, you can confidently start touring venues.

When choosing your venue, consider:

• Does it align with your aesthetic and values?

• Is it within budget once food + beverage is added?

• Is the layout guest-friendly and practical?

• Does it include furniture, staffing, set-up, pack-down, coordination?

• Does it have weather contingency options? (My favourite topic!)

When you lock in your venue and date, the planning process starts to feel real - and far less intimidating.

6. Book Your Key Vendors Next

These vendors can book out 12–24 months in advance, so prioritise:

• Planner/Coordinator

• Photographer

• Videographer

• Celebrant

• Florist

• Musician/DJ

• Caterer (if not included)

A wedding planner at this stage saves you time, budget blowouts, and decision fatigue. They’ll guide you through moodboards, floor plans, timelines, vendor sourcing, and the hundreds of micro-decisions that make your day run smoothly.

Many couples tell me they wish they’d booked a planner right at the beginning — it makes every step easier.

7. Build Your Moodboard (The Fun Part!)

Once your foundational decisions are made, you can safely start the aesthetic process without drowning in Pinterest contradictions.

This is where design direction and cohesion come in - colour palettes, style elements, floral inspirations, linen choices, stationery ideas, tablescapes… all the things you love.

A cohesive moodboard ensures:

• You make decisions faster

• You avoid accidental theme-mixing

• All vendors are aligned visually

• You’re not wasting money on décor that doesn’t fit

Design isn’t just about pretty things - it’s about clarity.

Go back through your Pinterest board and make sure there’s intention behind the pins you’re saving.

8. Create a Planning Timeline (Your Secret Weapon)

Wedding planning takes, on average, 12–18 months - not because it has to, but because vendors book early and decisions happen in stages.

A planner will help you organise:

• What needs to be done each month

• When payments are due

• What decisions come first

• What to do if you’re behind

• When to send invites and follow up RSVPs

• When to finalise your run sheet

This is the part couples find the most stressful. A structured timeline removes that anxiety instantly!

9. Don’t Try to Do Everything at Once

This is where people spiral.

Your wedding isn’t planned in one sitting. It’s a curated process of thoughtful decisions made in the right order.

Take it step by step.
Lean on your vendors.
Give yourself permission not to have all the answers immediately.

If you need a break - that’s okay! I often suggest to my couples that they schedule a night each week that wedding chat is off the table.

10. Ask for Support (You Don’t Have to Do This Alone)

Google can be helpful — but it can also be overwhelming.

Instagram is inspiring — but also unrealistic.

Pinterest is beautiful — but also chaotic.

A professional planner translates your ideas into a cohesive, budget-aligned, stress-free plan. Someone in your corner who understands logistics, design, timelines, vendor communication, and how to hold space for your emotions throughout the journey.

If your goal is to actually enjoy your engagement (not just survive it), support is everything.

Your Wedding Planning Journey Starts Here

If you’re Googling “Where do we start wedding planning?” - you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. Cue sigh of relief!

Start with your vision.
Get clear on your budget.
Choose your venue and key vendors intentionally.
Build a timeline that supports you, rather than stresses you.

And if you’d love a warm, supportive planner to guide you every step of the way - from moodboards to timelines to on-the-day magic - I’d love to chat!

This is the support your love deserves.
Let’s grab a coffee (or a cosmo) and start planning a wedding that feels unmistakably you.