In this blog, I will share some useful tips for planning your wedding as a London wedding photographer who has been to many different and exciting weddings. You have had the rush of excitement and have celebrated with a party, whether it was a low-key meal out with your fiancée or a large gathering with all your family and friends.

London wedding photographer’s thoughts on the first thing you should consider when planning your wedding?

The first thing to book would be your wedding venue. Do your research and think of a location where you want to get married. 

A few things to consider when thinking about your venue are the location, think about whether your guests will have far to travel. If they do, does this venue have accommodation on site?

Once you have done your research, it is a great idea to get in contact with the venue and if possible, go on a “show round”. This is a great chance to see the venue in person and get a feel for the venue. If you are looking for a countryside wedding not far from London with accommodation I would highly recommend Hooton Pagnell Hall.

What is the next essential supplier to consider when booking a wedding?

1. Start with Your Vision: Before diving into the details, take some time to envision your dream wedding. Think about the atmosphere, style, and overall vibe you want to create. Consider browsing through my portfolio as a South London wedding photographer to gather inspiration and ideas that resonate with you.
2. Set a Realistic Budget: Budgeting is crucial for a successful wedding. Determine how much you’re willing to spend overall and allocate funds to different aspects such as venue, catering, photography (hint: consider hiring a South London wedding photographer early on!), and attire. Be sure to leave some wiggle room for unexpected expenses.
3. Find the Perfect Venue: South London offers a plethora of stunning venues, from historic landmarks to trendy urban spaces. Consider your guest list, theme, and desired ambience when choosing a venue. Don’t forget to visit potential locations in person and envision how they’ll look on your big day.
4. Hire Reliable Vendors: Surround yourself with a team of trustworthy vendors who understand your vision and can bring it to life. This includes not only your South London wedding photographer but also caterers, florists, musicians, and planners. Scheduling a phone call to ensure you’re making the right choices.
5. Often photographers can get booked up months in advance and often a few years in advance.If you don’t want to miss out on your photographer it’s best to start the conversation and enquiry in advance.
6.  If you are looking for a relaxed, natural and documentary London wedding photographer, feel free to look at my portfolio and get in touch.  I only take on a certain number of weddings each year, so I can give a luxury wedding photography experience and 110% of my full attention to the engaged couple couples. Even once your album is finished and finalised, I love staying in touch and continuing to engage in your story whether that’s photos of your family or anniversary photos in the future.
7. Personalize Your Ceremony and Reception: Infuse your personality and love story into every aspect of your wedding. From personalized vows to DIY decorations, find ways to make your day uniquely yours. As a South London wedding photographer, I love capturing these personal touches that make each wedding memorable.
8. Stay Organized: Keep track of all your wedding plans, appointments, and deadlines to avoid any last-minute stress. Consider using a wedding planning app or hiring a coordinator to help streamline the process. The more organized you are, the smoother everything will run on the big day.

Prepare for the Unexpected: No matter how meticulously you plan, there may still be surprises on your wedding day. Stay flexible and have backup plans in place for things like inclement weather or vendor mishaps. Remember, it’s all part of the adventure!

9.Take Time to Enjoy the Moment: Amidst the whirlwind of the day, be sure to take moments to pause, breathe, and soak it all in. Your wedding day will fly by in the blink of an eye, so make a conscious effort to be present and savour every precious moment with your partner, family, and friends.

10.Reflect and Relive: After the wedding festivities have come to an end, take some time to reflect on the journey and relive the magic through your photos and memories. Your wedding day may be over, but the love and joy you experienced will last a lifetime.

Where do you start when looking for suppliers?

I would recommend going to a wedding fair, this is a great way to meet the vendors and ask specific questions, pick up broachers and even get to try free samples, like a wedding cake!

Another great way to find suppliers is through the venue that you have booked, they often have a ‘recommended suppliers list’ so do ask them I am sure they would be more than willing to help especially if the suppliers are on the recommended list!

Where can I find these wedding suppliers?

It can seem very overwhelming the number of different things that you need to be book and plann so where do you start when looking for suppliers?

I would recommend going to a wedding fair, this is a great way to meet the vendors and ask specific questions, pick up broachers and even get to try free samples, like a wedding cake!

Another great way to find suppliers is through the venue that you have booked, they often have a ‘recommended suppliers list’ so do ask them I am sure they would be more than willing to help especially if the suppliers are on the recommended list!

A few ideas on relaxing whilst you are planning your wedding

• Plan a fun weekend away in the countryside or in the city, in England or even a short plane ride abroad on a  weekend which marks your halfway mark to your wedding.
• If planning a weekend away seems to much now which is understandable with all the other planning going, perhaps plan a date night with your fiancé, either a meal out at a local restaurant or a fun activity.
• If planning a weekend away or night out is too much there are other fun ways to relax which does not involve spending money or going out, maybe order a takeaway, watch a film in the comfort of your house or have friends around for a board/card game’s night.
• Consider an engagement shoot, these are fun photography sessions to capture some memories before you get married, for inspiration on engagement shoots feel free to check out my portfolio with engaged couples here.

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance and mindset, it can also be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience. By following these top tips inspired by a South London wedding photographer, you’ll be well on your way to creating the wedding of your dreams. If you are looking for your wedding photographer, do get in touch and I look forward to answering any questions you may have.

Tips on choosing your supplier

Start with a conversation with a few suppliers, each supplier is different and connection is so important when choosing a vendor for you day. Consider factors like the response time when emailing, and arrange a phone call to get a feel of what the person is like.

• Check their website and prices aligns with your budget
• Once you know the supplier aligns with your budget, start with a conversation with a few suppliers, each supplier is different and connection is so important when choosing a vendor for you day.

Questions to ask your wedding suppliers

• A good question to ask would be to find out how many weddings they do each year, this will give a good indication on how much attention you will get and how quickly you will get your photographs back for example. If there is someone that photographs seventy weddings and another photographer that photographs twenty weddings, chances are you would get more attention and a faster delivery with the photographs from the photographer who is photographing significantly less weddings.
• Check the suppliers style, do you like what they produce? Do you like the look of the cakes designed? Have you tried the cakes before you have ordered? Yes they might look amazing but do they taste good?! Do you like the style of the photos they are edited to? Does the photographer offer engagement shoots or extras you may like, for example a photo album? Do you like the style of flowers made by the florists? These are just a few key questions to ask when checking out suppliers. These may or may not all seem like obvious questions but when your planning your biggest day of your life it is very easy not to have thought of one of these, which is understandable.

If you have any questions for me as a London wedding photographer, do get in touch and I would love to hear from you about your wedding plans.