Words & images by Amanda Karen Photography

I love meeting couples before they book, it’s exciting to hear about their plans, but it can also be a little nerve racking, a bit like going on a first date!  This first meeting is about getting to know each other and finding out if you like each other, after all, your wedding photographer will be with you for a long time on your big day.

Words & images by Liam Smith Photography

Photography is subjective – what I like, you may not. This presents you, my dear reader, with a choice to make: what do I like, and can I afford it?

What is important to remember at all times is the true significance of photography and the photograph. It preserves our lives and our memories in a way that nothing else can.

Words & images by Amanda Karen Photography

As a bride to be I was a Pinterest addict, in fact I think I could have planned several weddings with all the things that inspired me! I was convinced I could be a DIY bride too, but thankfully realised very early on that this was not to be the case.

Essex wedding photographer Amanda Karen on the English Wedding Blog (7)
I think this is why I have such a mixed love-hate relationship with Pinterest, it’s amazing for inspiration and even to find suppliers, I love it for finding recipes for dinner. But when it comes to wedding planning I think there is a fine line between a casual browse for inspiration and losing hours pored over your phone and getting stressed because you can’t recreate the wedding on your board.

It’s true you’re unlikely to have heard of ‘corkage’ until you plan your wedding… but it’s a topic which comes up on wedding forums over and over again – and a shocker! This, and other hidden costs to booking a venue, is discussed on the latest fab wedding planning video by Revelry Events. There’s plenty to think about: VAT, exclusive use and curfews…

Lovely Susannah and Holly talk us through the major considerations when hiring a venue, including having a plan B in case of bad weather and being allowed to bring in the suppliers YOU want rather than the venue’s own. (Top tip: always, always research your DJ and never rely on a venue’s recommendation without having seen them!)

The ‘average wedding budget’ is a myth. Every wedding is different, and allocating your budget should never come down to a standard formula from a magazine or wedding planning book. Today’s advice from Revelry Events is some of the best I’ve heard: for example, have you allocated a 5% contingency for emergencies? Watch the film to find out why you should!