If you are reading this, you are probably organising your wedding right now. Having had the pleasure of photographing brides and grooms for more than 15 years now, many brides and grooms have shared with me their suggestions to make the wedding planning process a pleasure. Some of their tips are from the benefit of hindsight… Here are their top 5 tips:

Top Tip Number One – Discuss and agree on what you want your wedding to be.

Together, chat about your dreams and vision for your wedding day. Share your ideas, expectations and expectations, listen to each other. Discuss what elements of your wedding are really important for you and what is perhaps not so important. List in priority order what is most important and make your decisions based on this list.

Top Tip Number Two – Take a little time out to organise your wedding.

Planning a wedding is a perhaps the biggest event most couples will organise, dedicating time to do it, makes it easier. Couples report what can be achieved in one “weekday” of planning can be so much more than what can be done in many evenings after work or on a weekend. Social media and the internet has brought dramatic change to wedding research. So much information is available on blogs, websites, Facebook and Twitter for couples to get ideas and shortlist. When it comes time for appointments, make a great head start by taking a day off here and there to use for appointments with your preferred wedding suppliers and work on your to-do list. Crossing things off your list early on gives you momentum and makes you feel like things are well underway.

Top Tip Number Three – Source and book experienced service providers for your wedding.

Some wedding things can be done yourself. Some things can’t. Surrounding yourself by experienced and professional people who you can trust with great expertise in their field is what past brides and grooms have told me is critical. This allows you to enjoy and fully experience your day and be in the moment safe in the knowledge the people you have engaged will deliver for you. Be it bridal makeup and hair, choice of bridal designer, florist or your wedding photographer, marriage celebrant or location for your wedding reception; your wedding is not the day or the time for the inexperienced to practice on.

Top Tip Number Four – Set Realistic Budgets

Is budget something we need to talk about? Most view a wedding day as a major event in one’s life, a very special and meaningful day for a couple as they exchange wedding vows. In the grand scheme of life, is your wedding day THE day in your life when quality is important and budget could take a back seat? Perhaps…

When making a wedding budget, consider matching expenditure with what is most important to you about your wedding in priority order. If your honeymoon is most important, allocate more resources and time to that. If a beautiful meal at your reception is priority, source a quality reception venue with a reputation for great food, wine and service. The day after your wedding is the first day of your married life together and your wedding is now part of your history. If remembering and sharing moments from your wedding day with others is most important, investing in quality professional wedding photography is a wise decision.

When preparing a budget,educate yourself by doing “ballpark” research on what items cost; hi, low and middle of the road before setting absolute values for your budget. Past brides and grooms have said that one big mistake was to “dream up” a budget for various parts of the day without doing the research first. The quality of services and products offered at each price point is usually apparent. Compare prices and the quality level offered to the quality level you are happy with for your wedding. Use this data as a guide to set realistic amounts you are prepared to invest in each part of your day.

Top Tip Number Five – Remember the reason why you are getting married in the first place.

Organising a wedding while busy with work and life in general can be a little stressful. If the going gets tough, remember the reason why you are getting married in the first place. Communicate with each other and work as a team when making decisions about your wedding day. Take time out throughout the process to relax and refocus. Make time to talk about other things in your life, not just the wedding. Past brides always say that their wedding day went all too quickly and that they want to relive it all again. As you plan your wedding, be true to yourself and enjoy every moment, your wedding day will soon be here for you to celebrate.