Newly Engaged? The First 5 Things to Do at the Start of Wedding Planning

Lucca Studios – Journal Feature

Thoughtful first steps to help you begin wedding planning without rushing the magic.

There’s a particular kind of magic that exists at the very beginning of wedding planning, when the ring is sparkling and new, the congratulations are still flowing, and excitement is everywhere.

Before guest lists and logistics begin to take shape, this is a moment worth holding onto. A chance to take a breath and bask in your engaged bubble, before taking the first step into wedding planning. The choices you make at the start will set the tone for everything that follows.

If you’re newly engaged and wondering where to begin, these first five steps will help you start to plan your wedding, without rushing the experience.

1. Savour this moment

Before planning begins, take a moment to pause and take in this feeling. That engagement glow.

Celebrate your engagement in the way that feels true to you. Whether that’s champagne at home, an intimate dinner with loved ones, a full-on party, or simply sitting in the joy of becoming engaged. This chapter is fleeting, but so special.

Your wedding will be a celebration of love, and this moment is where it all begins.

2. Define how you want your wedding to ‘feel’

Before colours, themes, or styling, consider how you want your wedding to feel. Not just for you as a couple, but for everyone who shares it with you. Intimate and romantic? Elegant and immersive? Calm, joyful, and full of warmth?

This feeling becomes the thread that runs through your entire celebration. It informs every decision, from venue and florals to your stationery and the finer details.

3. Set your budget with intention

Setting a clear budget is crucial and will give you flexibility and freedom throughout your planning. If you are hoping to work with a wedding planner, this would be the perfect time to reach out.

Decide what matters most to you both and your priorities for your budget. Perhaps it’s exceptional photography, an unforgettable guest experience, or wedding stationery that feels considered, tactile, and meaningful. It can also be really helpful to create a ‘flex budget’ of 10–15% of your overall budget, set aside so that when you find a must-have supplier who takes you above your budget, you can dip into this and secure them without a second thought.

When your priorities are clear, every investment becomes intentional, and the planning process feels calmer and more assured.

4. Secure your venue

Your venue does more than host your day, it shapes it.

Its architecture, surroundings, and atmosphere influence everything from your colour palette to typography choices and illustration styles. Once your venue is confirmed, your wedding will start to feel like a reality, and your creative direction naturally follows.

This clarity allows all design elements, including your wedding stationery, to feel cohesive and deeply connected to the setting.

5. Consider your wedding stationery earlier than you think

Wedding stationery is often the first physical expression of your celebration.

Your Save the Dates and invitations don’t simply share details, they set the tone for your wedding. The weight of the paper, the softness of colour, the subtle gleam of foiling, each element invites your guests into the world you’re creating.

Beginning the stationery process early allows time for thoughtful bespoke design, refinement, and continuity, ensuring all elements of your stationery feel like part of one seamless story.

When stationery is approached with care, it becomes an heirloom to be cherished long after the day itself.

A gentle reminder

You don’t need to have everything decided straight away.

Wedding planning is a journey. The most beautiful celebrations are never rushed; they come together slowly, until everything comes together in a moment of magic.

Thinking about your wedding stationery?

If you’re at the beginning of your planning journey and feel drawn to stationery that tells a story, I’d love to hear about your plans.

Whether you’re dreaming up Save the Dates or beginning to imagine your bespoke invitation suite, you’re warmly invited to get in touch and start a conversation.

Sometimes, the most meaningful details are the very first ones you choose.