YOUR ENGAGED, WHERE TO BEGIN.

Congratulations, not just on the engagement itself, but on arriving at a moment that deserves to be approached with care. The earliest stage of wedding planning is often the loudest. Advice accumulates quickly, decisions feel urgent, inspiration becomes noise. What should be a considered process can feel overwhelming before it truly begins.

The most elevated weddings don’t start with booking, they start with intention. If you’re newly engaged and unsure where to begin, this is a grounded, step-by-step way to approach the first phase with clarity and ease.

1. Establish the Core Vision

Before discussing venues or guest lists, define what matters most.

Not in terms of trends or expectations, but in feeling: Intimate or expansive, editorial or understated, Immersive or minimal. This foundation will guide every decision that follows and prevent unnecessary distraction.

2. Discuss the Experience You Want to Create

A wedding is an experience before it is an event. Consider: How you want the day to unfold, the pace, flow, and atmosphere, the moments you want to protect. This perspective naturally informs scale, structure, and styling.

3. Consider Location as a Creative Framework

Location is not just a backdrop, it defines tone. Whether you’re drawn to Perth, the South West, or a destination further afield, your setting influences everything from design language to guest experience. Keep possibilities open at this stage; refinement comes later.

4. Clarify Time and Format

Rather than fixing a date immediately, consider: Season rather than day, single-day or multi-day celebration. Morning, afternoon, or evening focus, this flexibility allows for more considered planning and design.

5. Outline the Scale

At this stage, estimates are enough. Discuss: Approximate guest count, budget range, overall level of formality These parameters create structure without pressure.

6. Reference Inspiration with Restraint

Inspiration should inform, not overwhelm. Look for recurring elements, colour palettes, silhouettes, textures, moods, rather than individual details. Cohesion is more powerful than excess.

7. Pause Before Proceeding

This is where many couples rush ahead. Take a moment to sit with the direction you’ve outlined. When the early decisions are aligned, the rest of the planning process becomes significantly more fluid.

Where Professional Guidance Becomes Essential

This early stage is precisely where a planner and stylist adds the most value.

Not simply to manage logistics, but to shape direction, refine ideas, and protect the integrity of the vision from the outset. From vendor recommendations and budgeting to comprehensive timelines, run sheets, floorplans, seating plans, design development, styling, setup, and pack-down. Professional planning ensures every element is considered, cohesive, and seamlessly executed. Most importantly, it allows you to remain present. Your role is not to manage your wedding. It is to experience it.

Intentional beginnings create effortless outcomes. This is where planning should start, with clarity, restraint, and confidence.

When you’re ready to move forward, guidance doesn’t complicate the process. It elevates it. Send me a enquiry, no obligations just a space to feel heard and know what can be created for you.