Recently engaged? Firstly, congratulations! Secondly, buckle up… because you’re about to enter the wonderful, exciting, occasionally overwhelming world of wedding planning!
And while I could sit here and give you a hundred different pieces of advice about planning your big day, there’s one thing I reckon doesn’t get anywhere near enough attention.
The people you surround yourself with.
Yep. Your wedding vendors.
Your photographers, videographers, celebrants, florists, musicians, planners and all the other absolute legends who help bring your wedding day to life.
Because let’s be honest…
You’re about to invest a serious amount of time, energy and hard-earned cash into creating one of the biggest celebrations of your life.
So wouldn’t it make sense to surround yourself with people you actually LIKE?
Sounds pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised.
Find Your People. Your Kind of People.
Here’s something I genuinely believe.
Your wedding vendors shouldn’t just be good at what they do. They should be YOUR kind of people.
People you connect with. People who understand your vision. People who get your sense of humour, your personalities and what you’re hoping to create.
Because ultimately, you’re not just paying someone to turn up and do a job.
You’re trusting them to contribute to one of the most memorable days of your life.
And when you’ve got a team of absolute weapons who genuinely love what they do, understand what you’re trying to achieve and work beautifully together…
‘Cos trust me, it makes a bloody big difference!
Now, obviously, there’s that other little thing called a budget.
And unless you’ve recently won Powerball, chances are you’re going to have to work within one.
Completely understandable.
But here’s my advice.
If there’s a photographer you’ve been stalking on Instagram for the last six months, a celebrant whose personality you love, or a musician your mates have been banging on about since their wedding…
REACH OUT!
Seriously.
Start the conversation. Ask the questions. Find out what their packages are.
Because until you do, you’ll never know.
How Early Should You Book Your Wedding Vendors?
Before I became a celebrant, I probably would’ve thought planning a wedding six to twelve months in advance was more than enough time.
Well… turns out I had a bit to learn.
Because behind the scenes, the wedding industry operates a whole lot further into the future than you might think.
These days, we’re receiving enquiries from couples getting married in three months time, twelve months, eighteen months and sometimes two years and beyond!
TWO YEARS… I hope I’m still alive.
Now, before anyone starts thinking they need to have their entire wedding organised before they’ve even celebrated their engagement…
Relax.
That’s not what I’m saying.
There’s no magical timeline that works for everyone.
Some couples have two years to plan. Others pull together an incredible celebration in a matter of months.
Both are perfectly fine.
But here’s the important bit.
If you’ve got the luxury of time, don’t waste it when it comes to securing the people you really want.
Because the reality is, ya know those vendors who come highly recommended, have built great reputations and consistently deliver awesome experiences?
They’re usually the ones whose calendars fill up first.
And unfortunately, nobody has quite figured out how to clone them just yet (that’s debatable).
Here’s a Little Behind-the-Scenes Reality Check…
Something that often surprises couples is just how many enquiries wedding vendors can receive for the same date.
Particularly during peak wedding season.
Personally, I’ve had dates attract upwards of 12 to 15 enquiries.
And while I’d absolutely love to work with every awesome couple who reaches out, the reality is, I can only be in one place at a time.
Which brings me to something really important.
An enquiry isn’t a booking.
Neither is a great phone conversation, a fantastic meeting or an email saying how excited you are after chatting.
Generally speaking, your date is secured once you’ve formally committed and paid your booking fee.
And while that might sound a little transactional, I promise you it’s not about playing favourites.
It’s simply about committing to the people who are ready to commit to us.
Believe me, there’s nothing worse than connecting with a couple, getting excited about the possibility of working together, only to have to tell them a few weeks later that someone else has secured their date.
It’s disappointing for everyone.
So if you’ve found someone you genuinely love, their pricing works for you and you’re confident they’re the right fit…
Lock. Them. In.
Don’t Forget to Enjoy the Ride!
Now, with all that being said, here’s something else I want you to remember.
You’re getting MARRIED!
It’s going to be bloody awesome!
So please, don’t let the planning process become something that completely consumes you.
Enjoy being engaged. Celebrate with your favourite people. Have a laugh. Get excited about what’s ahead.
But when you’re ready to start putting the pieces together, prioritise the people who are going to help make your day everything you want it to be.
Do your research. Ask questions. Have conversations.
And most importantly…
Find your people.
Because your wedding shouldn’t be a carbon copy of someone else’s Pinterest board.
It shouldn’t feel like you’re ticking boxes or following a rulebook.
It should be a genuine reflection of who you are, what you love and how you want to celebrate.
And when you’ve surrounded yourself with a kick-ass team of people who understand that, then you’re already off to a bloody good start.
Happy planning.
Ryan.
