Words of wisdom: 20 tips from newlyweds on English Wedding

1. Each and every part of the day, take 30 seconds to realise what is happening, how much you love it and take in all those smiles! Don’t spend your day trying to speak to everyone, let the conversations flow and just relax. ~ Tim & Leanne // Photographer credit https://martindabek.com

2. Be grateful to everyone who offers support and help and take it! When you’re feeling fraught and overcome by spreadsheets and outgoings, put the kettle on and remind yourself why you like each other (biscuits usually help too). ~ Kate & Jack // Photographer credit https://jessyarwood.co.uk

3. Don’t let anyone try and dictate what you should and shouldn’t do on your wedding day, who you should and shouldn’t invite etc. It’s your day and you should do it the way you both want. Make sure you have some time together on the day itself, away from friends and family to let it all sink in. Take your time and don’t rush on the day – people will wait for you if they have to – it’s your wedding day after all! ~ Rachel & Ben // Photographer credit https://annabeth.photos

4. Don’t bother with confetti or table decorations – nobody notices the little things on the day ~ Stacey & Alex // Photographer credit https://bpwphotography.com

5. Throughout the planning process you will experience disagreements, family requests, stress, various wedding politics getting in the way, money concerns – BUT you must always remember together why you are getting married in the first place and don’t let the little dramas over shadow those reasons. ~ Jenn & Jon // Photographer credit https://howelljonesphotography.co.uk

6. Best words of wisdom I can offer is that you can make yourself really stressed by going to look at 10 different florists, trying a million different DJs, looking at hundreds or bridesmaids’ dresses, etc. Make a short list for each from people who you trust and then just pick. So many places have lovely flowers, just choose one that feels good and go with it. Don’t spend forever looking at every option, you don’t need to! ~ Hannah & Alex // Photographer credit https://www.amandakarenphotography.co.uk

7. Make a wall of post it notes with every task you need to do on it. It means you both see how much there is left to do, and you can always feel progress is happening, even when you may be going through a slow week! This really helped us prepare and help make the wedding week feel so much more relaxed than it could have been. ~ Joanne & Matt // Photographer credit https://www.specialdayweddingphotos.co.uk

8. Write a proper speech and start writing it long before the wedding so you have plenty of time to perfect it. I was so busy running around organising everything that I thought I’d just wing it on the day and it is hands down my biggest regret of the day, I forgot so many things I wanted to say… Do as much prep work as you can before the week of the wedding, you want to enjoy all of your family and friends not be running around stressed out making sure everything looks perfect. ~ Amy & Chris // Photographer credit https://howelljonesphotography.co.uk

9. Do what makes you happy and avoid pressure to do anything else – I showed my husband the dress before the wedding and I don’t regret it for an instant. ~ Sarah & Alex // Photographer credit https://www.photographybygrace.co.uk

10. Your wedding is about you and your partner – make sure that above everything else, you are both happy with the wedding (yes, even during the planning stage it shouldn’t be a nightmare). It’s not supposed to be stressful, it’s supposed to be fun! ~ Greg & Siren // Photographer credit https://www.steviejayphotography.co.uk

11. Pick a day in the week that you talk and action wedding items and make decisions. Otherwise you can get overwhelmed by it all. ~ Rob & Hannah // Photographer credit https://www.amandamanbyphotography.co.uk

12. When people say ‘Don’t stress the small things’, I found that I was so high on cloud 9, nothing phased me at all so don’t feel any type of anxiety leading up to the big day such excitement. You should feel confident about your detailed planning and know that you have thought of everything so relax and enjoy the magical day. It goes so quickly so have a blast with friends and family. ~ Paul & Emma // Photographer credit http://www.oobaloosphotography.co.uk

13. Try and spend as much of your wedding day together. Obviously you’ll be separated at times but try and share the experience so the memories you have, you can remember and laugh about together. ~ Serena & Michael // Photographer credit https://www.njr-photography.co.uk

14. Don’t stress, even when things don’t go as planned no one will notice. I didn’t take my wedding ring to the ceremony and borrowed my sister’s on the day. It added some laughs for those who knew and the day went smoothly for those out of the loop. ~ Laura & Daryl // Photographer credit https://www.jossdenham.co.uk

15. Don’t try to get round all of your guests- just let everyone come to you and enjoy your day. Savour every single moment because you will want to do it all again for weeks to come. I also wasn’t going to get a videographer and Niall wasn’t that bothered but we are so so so glad we got one now as having the highlights to look back on is just so amazing! ~ Amy & Niall // Photographer credit https://martindabek.com

16. Team work makes the dream work! Keep each other informed on everything. Tess & Tom // Photographer credit https://mikistudios.com

17. Be organised but accept it won’t go to plan! We hired a wedding a bus which ended up leaving us behind whilst we had some photos taken; instead of stressing about it, we laughed and had some more photos whilst we waited for it to come back! Enjoy every moment because the day really does pass in a blink! ~ Sophie & Chris // Photographer credit https://terencejosephphotography.co.uk

18. Make sure you take a few moments to yourselves on your wedding day – everyone will say how fast the day goes, and it really does! It feels so special to take a moment together, just the two of you, to take everything in. And don’t worry about the weather – it is out of your control! ~ Carly & Steve // Photographer credit https://martindabek.com

19. Plan for the ‘waiting’ period. Your guests won’t want to just sit around and sometimes things don’t go to plan and so they will be waiting for longer than you may have anticipated. You will probably be busy, but think of ways to keep them entertained or sufficiently relaxed, not clock watching. ~ Lizzie & Faz // Photographer credit https://www.photographybygrace.co.uk

20. Try and enjoy wedding planning – it will come round so quickly, and then you’ll wonder what you did with all of your spare time before! ~ Hannah & Tom // Photographer credit https://terencejosephphotography.co.uk