This post officially kicks off my wedding series and I could not be more excited! The plan is to have a wedding post every week on the blog on Wednesdays (hence Wedding Wednesdays!) and then do a wedding planning video over on my YouTube channel once every three to four weeks. I don’t want to inundate people on my channel with wedding stuff as I am aware it won’t be for everyone.
I hope to cover every kind of topic on here from decor to dresses to budgeting for the big day! I already have a ton of ideas from the best nail polish shades to show off your engagement ring to ideas on how to save money without sacrificing style. If you have anything you’d like to see in particular though, let me know! I always love to hear suggestions 🙂
To kick off, I thought I would detail what I’ve done so far to kick off the planning process:
- Got my ring insured (quick tip – shop around. I saved £200 off my first quote so it’s definitely worthwhile!)
- Discussed budget and budget allocation – not so fun but very necessary.
- Bought a wedding planner. I went for this adorable Kate Spade one but I think I’m going to try out an agenda based one too that’s a bit more portable than my current LV one.
- Booked venue show-arounds. Our first one is in May!
- Started pinning away on Pinterest! (I’ve been going a little nuts.)
- Started scouting for photographers and asking for pricing. I quickly found out that my dream photographer is way out of budget. Sad, but good to know sooner rather than later.
- Got inspired! Apart from Pinterest, I’ve bought a wedding magazine, two wedding books and so many episodes of Say Yes to The Dress!
- Booked my first bridal appointment. It’s at Nordstrom (where else!?) and I could not be more excited!
- Bought Dan an engagement gift. Not so traditional I know but I wanted to do something and I knew there was a particular item he really wanted so I decided to go for it. I’m all about making your own rules and traditions and I can’t wait to give it to him!
Phew! I’ve tried to cram in as much as possible as I leave for the US in a day and I wanted to be able to relax on holiday knowing that I already have had a jump start on the planning. I know some couples take two full years to plan a wedding but we really want to try and do it for summer 2018 so I knew I needed to get a move on!
If any of you are also getting married or are already married, please let me know if you have any planning tips! I plan events for my job but I feel like this is something else altogether!
Thank you so much for stopping by for this first Wedding Wednesday!
P.S. For those of you waiting for my next video, I hope to get it up soon! I have three (!!) waiting to be edited but it’s been the craziest week between work and trying to get ready for my holiday 🙂
I think giving Dan an engagement gift is a great idea. Equal partners and all. I'm excited to read about your wedding in France!
Thank you Tracy! i'm so excited to plan it!
That is so sweet that you bought Dan an engagment gift! Men get so shafted when it comes to engagements and weddings. My husband and I planned our wedding from across the country in under a year. I think the key is to be flexible and organized! You can totally do it! Congratulations!!
Such great advice, thank you! I'm trying to be open minded with the vast majority of things – hopefully this will lead to some cost savings because my goodness, weddings are expensive!!
Hi Amie! Congratulations and thanks for sharing your list with us. Can tell how excited and over the moon you are! Please keep us posted and happy planning!
Thank you Diana! I'm still so excited – just even the idea I can buy wedding magazines now is so thrilling to me (simple pleasures right?! haha!)
Congrats! I enjoyed reading this post. 🙂 Can't wait to read more on your wedding series.
Thank you Jennifer! 😀
Love this! I'm super excited for this series. My biggest tip is to delegate 🙂 and to remember that no matter how hard you plan something will go wrong and that is okay! The best thing is to remember that you will be surrounded by the most important people in your life and celebrating your love- it is a truly special day!
Great advice – and definitely necessary for a control freak like me haha!
I love ring so when I got engaged, I tried to find the perfect wedding band first! Congratulations!
Oh I totally get that! Apparently mine is already sorted – Dan had it made along with the engagement ring!
Congratulations, Amie! I enjoy your work/money/planning posts very much. I look forward to reading more. Thanks!
Aw thank you Ying!
Congratulations, check out my jewelry shop on etsy : http://www.dodosisters.com
Oh girl I can’t wait for those wedding pictures!
xx Lisa | lisaautumn.com
Aw thank you Lisa! I’m just starting to look at photographers now!
Oh my god I am literally SO excited for you !!! It’s going to be incredible, can’t wait for more wedding wednesdays! xxx
http://www.diaryofanexpatgirl.com
Thank you so much Lexi!
Oh Amie I am so excited for you and Dan, you are definitely one of my fave youtubers at the moment. My only advice is don’t skimp on your photographer! I loved our photographers portfolio and personality, he gave us a discount on the package we wanted and it was all great. All great until he disappeared on us after the engagement shoot. I shouldve cancelled and gotten someone else for the wedding but we could’t afford it and he promised to make it work. It’s been almost 2 years since the wedding and I have not seen 1 wedding picture yet, and have not heard a peep from him since July 2016. So my advice, splurge on photo and video, it’s the only visible memory you will have and I still cry when I see other people’s wedding pictures. Wish you the best on this journey, it’s amazing!
Oh my goodness, that is terrible! I’m so sorry that that happened to you! What a terrible person – who does that with someone’s wedding photos!? I really hope they turn up for you one day and yes, definitely great advice – thank you 🙂 xx
+1
I had 2 companies doing our wedding photography, as I heard stories like this. Both were great, I am so happy with my wedding photos and videos
Hi Amie
Congratulations! You seem so excited, which is lovely 🙂
I watched your engagement video and was like awwww I hope my boyfriend proposes soon….and he did just days later! He had been planning it a while. Please tell us a bit more about the ring, it’s stunning x
Ahh congratulations!! That’s so exciting! So happy for you – it’s such an exciting time! 😀
Is there any chance you could do a post/video on your engagement ring at all? I’m currently shopping around as it’s on the cards- very soon – and I’m overwhelmed with choices as well as key things to look for! The ideal ring is completely unattainable and I’d love it if you were able to provide any advice/ key things to look for. I’m not sure if there is a ‘ideal’ compromise with the 4c’s. Huge congratulations by the way!
Your tips on weddings are so on target. Month’s before the wedding we went to a wedding shop and had my daughter try on a variety of wedding gowns until we found the most flattering style for her and one that she loved. I then began looking, I scoured thrift shops, yard sales, the local sale papers, and on line sources and low and behold in a local Salvation Army store I found an almost identical gown for $14.95.