Just Engaged? Here's How to Start Planning Your Wedding

Congratulations on your engagement! You're entering one of the most exciting seasons of your life. But with that excitement can come a big question, where do we even start? Whether you're planning a local celebration in Stockholm or a destination wedding in islands of Mallorca, these first steps will help you lay the foundation for a meaningful and stress-free wedding planning journey.

© Ingrid Tjernström

1. Define Your Vision, Budget & Guest List

Start by dreaming a little: how do you imagine your wedding day? Will it be an intimate gathering with close family, or a big celebration with guests flying in from all over the world? Will you get married close to home, or abroad? Are you thinking of summer, winter, or somewhere in between?

Next, set a budget range that feels realistic. Consider if any family members are contributing, and think about how flexible you can be. Your guest list and budget will influence almost every decision going forward.

Pro tip: Create a wedding folder in your inbox and in Google Drive or Dropbox to keep everything organized from the very beginning.

2. Discover What Matters Most

Before diving into details, figure out your top wedding priorities. What are the non-negotiables for your day?

Here’s how: Make a list of everything that comes to mind when you think about the wedding, from food and flowers to music and mood. Then, rank each item on a scale from 1 to 10 based on how important it is to you. Ask your partner to do the same. Then compare notes, discuss, and decide together on your shared top 3 priorities.

This will help guide all your decisions going forward and ensure your wedding reflects what matters most to you as a couple.

3. Book Your VIP Vendors

Once you have a vision and guest list in place, it’s time to book your most important vendors, starting with your venue, ceremony location, and planner. After that, your photographer, videographer, entertainment, and any artist or performer you’ve been dreaming of.

These vendors tend to book up quickly, especially in popular wedding destinations like Stockholm and other capital cities around the world. So if you’ve found someone you love, don’t wait too long to reach out.

© Birgit Walsh

Need a Little Help Getting Started?

We offer Kickstart Planning or Budget sessions for couples planning weddings in Sweden or beyond.

Perfect for international or local couples, our digital offerings includes a personal video consultation where we help you lay the foundation for your wedding planning. You'll also get access to our proven planning system, complete with all the checklists and tools you need to stay organized and in control from day one.

Planning a wedding in Stockholm? If we’re available for your date, you can choose to upgrade to full-service planning at any time. We also offer full wedding planning in selected locations across Europe and have strong connections with top planners worldwide if you need a recommendation closer to home.

Want more info? Visit our booking page and fill in the form, we’d love to hear about your plans and help you take the first steps toward your dream wedding.

With all my heart,

Louise