Where to Start With Wedding Planning?

Image by Kate Hennessey Photography

So… you’re engaged. 🎉You’ve done the screaming, the ring selfies, the group chat announcements, and now suddenly everyone and their dog is asking “Have you set a date yet?”

Deep breath. You are not behind. You are exactly where you’re meant to be.

If you’re wondering where to start with wedding planning without losing your mind, your identity, or your joy, this guide is for you. And if you already feel a bit allergic to traditions that don’t fit you, even better. Welcome. You’re in the right place.

First Things First: There Is No “Right” Way to Plan a Wedding

Let’s get this out of the way early on.

There is no universal wedding rulebook. No timeline you must follow. No checklist that applies to everyone. No requirement for a bride, a groom, a white dress, a sit down meal, or even a wedding cake if you hate cake.

At Quirky Weddings, we believe in:

• Inclusive wedding planning

• Zero judgement

• Celebrating couples of all genders, identities and backgrounds

• Weddings that reflect you, not tradition for tradition’s sake

So before you book anything, the most important step is this 👇

Step 1: Talk About What You Actually Want

Before Pinterest boards, before venues, before spreadsheets… sit down together and talk.

Ask each other:

• What do we want our wedding to feel like?

• Do we want a big party, something intimate, or somewhere in between?

• What parts of weddings do we love?

• What parts make us cringe?

• Are there any non negotiables?

• 
  

This isn’t about details yet. It’s about vibes and values.

Image by Melanie Chitty Photography

Words like:

• Relaxed

• Joyful

• Inclusive

• Festival style

• Cosy

• Colourful

• Low pressure

• Accessible

• Untraditional

Write them down. These words will become your decision making compass later on when opinions come flying in from every direction.

Step 2: Decide Your Priorities (Not a Full Plan)

You do not need to plan the whole wedding right now. Promise.

What does help is deciding on your top three priorities.

For example:

• Food and drink

• Photography

• Live music

• A killer party atmosphere

• Accessibility for guests

• Sustainability

• A meaningful ceremony

Your priorities might be totally different to someone else’s and that is exactly the point.

Once you know what matters most, you can:

• Spend your budget where it counts

• Let go of the stuff that doesn’t

• Avoid planning burnout early on

Image by Harriet Bird Photography

Step 3: Set a Realistic Budget (Without the Shame)

Ah yes. The B word.

Budgets are not about restriction. They’re about clarity.

Start by figuring out:

• What you can comfortably afford

• Whether anyone is contributing financially

• What feels exciting, not stressful

And here’s your reminder: a meaningful wedding does not have to be expensive. Some of the most magical weddings we see are small, creative, DIY or totally untraditional.

Budget tips:

• Allocate more to your priorities

• Less to things you don’t care about

• Remember you don’t have to have everything

You’re not “doing it wrong” if your budget looks different to your mate’s.

Step 4: Think About When and Where (Loosely)

You don’t need a date tomorrow. Or even this year.

Start by thinking about:

• A season you love

• A rough year

• The kind of location that fits your vibe

This might look like:

• A barn, pub, warehouse or tipi

• A city venue or a woodland clearing

• A weekend long celebration

• A weekday wedding that keeps costs down

Once you start browsing venues, everything else becomes easier to visualise. Just remember you’re choosing a setting for your story, not ticking a traditional box.

Step 5: Find Suppliers Who Get You

One of the biggest wedding planning game changers is choosing the right suppliers.

Your wedding suppliers are not just services. They’re collaborators. They help shape your day, your atmosphere and how supported you feel throughout the process.

Look for suppliers who:

• Use inclusive language

• Respect all couples and identities

• Are excited about doing things differently

• Care about accessibility and representation

• Listen, not dictate

If a supplier makes you feel awkward, judged or like you need to explain yourself… they’re not your people.

There are so many incredible alternative and inclusive wedding suppliers out there. You deserve to work with ones who celebrate you fully.

Step 6: Go to a Wedding Fayre That Actually Feels Like You

Once you’ve got a loose idea of your vibe and priorities, attending a wedding fayre can be an amazing next step. And no, not the kind where you’re handed 47 identical brochures and told what your wedding “should” look like.

The right wedding fayre helps you:

• Meet inclusive, independent wedding suppliers face to face

• Get ideas you didn’t even know existed

• Ask questions without pressure

• See what styles, personalities and approaches you click with

• Feel excited rather than overwhelmed

This is especially helpful if you’re newly engaged and thinking “I don’t even know what I don’t know yet.”

Why Quirky Wedding Fayres Are Different

Quirky Wedding Fayres are designed specifically for couples who want to do things their way. They’re relaxed, welcoming and totally judgement free, whether you’re planning something big and bold or small and meaningful.

At a Quirky Wedding Fayre you’ll find:

• Handpicked alternative and inclusive wedding suppliers

• Zero pressure sales vibes (chat, browse, wander, leave)

• A welcoming space for all couples, genders and identities

• Quiet Hour options for more neuro friendly browsing

• Creative ideas you won’t see at traditional wedding shows

• A community feel, not a conveyor belt

You don’t need to have decisions made before you attend. You don’t need to book anything on the day. You can just soak it all in, ask questions, and leave feeling clearer and more confident about what you want.

A Fayre Can Help You Find Your Direction

Even if you don’t book a single supplier, attending a wedding fayre early on can:

• Help you define your style

• Clarify your priorities

• Show you what’s possible beyond tradition

• Remind you that wedding planning can actually be fun

Think of it as inspiration, reassurance and connection all rolled into one colourful, welcoming day out.

Image by Lex Fleming Photo

Step 7: Ignore the Noise (As Much As You Can)

Wedding planning comes with a lot of opinions. Often unsolicited.

Helpful reminder:

• You are allowed to say no

• You don’t owe anyone explanations

• Traditions are optional

• “Because we want to” is a valid reason

Your wedding does not need to please everyone. It needs to feel right for you.

Step 8: Take It One Step at a Time

You don’t need to plan your entire wedding in a month.

Start with:

• Conversations

• Big picture decisions

• One booking at a time

Take breaks. Celebrate small wins. Change your mind if you need to. Your wedding planning journey should feel exciting, not like a second full time job.

A Final Reminder for Newly Engaged Couples

Your wedding can be:

• Untraditional

• Inclusive

• Low pressure

• Colourful

• Calm

• Chaotic

• Quiet

• Loud

• Or anything in between

There is space for all kinds of love stories here.

If you start your wedding planning journey by centring who you are, not what’s expected of you, everything else falls into place a whole lot more easily.

And if you ever feel overwhelmed, confused or like you’re “doing it wrong”… you’re not. You’re just planning a wedding in a world full of noise. We’ve got you 💖