Just engaged and don’t know where to start!

Written by Aliya Pinnock

The Question

Just engaged but have no clue where to start with the wedding plans! Any ideas and links to things will be appreciated! Looking to do most of it ourselves but just currently in our engagement bubble!

Hi I’m Aliya - Architect, former DIY bride and Founder of Day42. I planned my own wedding from start to finish like a project and now I help other couples cut through the noise, make decisions and plan wedding that feels like their own.

In this space I answer real wedding planning questions with practical advice and no unnecessary wedding rules. Got a question? Click here

Aliya’s Answer

If you’ve only just got engaged and you currently have absolutely no idea where to start with the wedding planning, that is completely fine. You don’t need to come out of your engagement bubble with a spreadsheet and a list of 47 things to book.

If you’re wanting to do most of it yourselves (like I did), I’d actually start by working out what you want from the day before getting too far into the Pinterest rabbit hole.

Think about the kind of wedding you actually want to have. Do you want a big party? Something small and relaxed? A full day with lots of people? A great meal? Lots of dancing? Or perhaps there are certain things you already know you really don’t care about.

There’s no need to have every detail worked out at this point. You’re just trying to get an idea of what matters to you both, because that will make the decisions further down the line much easier.

Then I’d look at your guest numbers, budget and venue. Those three things are going to shape so many of the decisions you make afterwards.

Your guest list affects how much food and drink you need, what sort of venue works, how much stationery you’ll need and, obviously, how much everything is going to cost. Your budget gives you some boundaries to work within, and your venue will start to determine what is and isn’t possible for your day.

Once you’ve got those basics in place, you can start getting into all the details: suppliers, food, music, décor, outfits, stationery and anything else that will make the day feel like yours.

But you don't need to do all of that today.

I’ve put together a free Real Wedding Starter Kit for exactly this stage, with some of the things I’d recommend thinking about first. It’s designed to help you work out where to start without giving you a massive list of wedding tasks that you now feel you need to complete.

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Day42 Venue Design
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£395.00 £495.00

Making the most of your wedding venue

You’ve booked your venue, you have an idea of how you want your wedding to look, but have you thought about how everything is actually going to fit together?

Using my years of experience as an Architect, I'll help you work out how to make the most of your venue and turn your ideas into a plan you can actually work from.

Whether you're trying to work out where to put your tables, how to arrange your ceremony, what furniture you'll need or how to make a fairly ordinary room feel a bit more special, I'll look at the space as a whole and help you bring everything together.

What's included?

Your personalised Day42 Venue Design Book will include:

  • Venue floor plan: I'll work from a floor plan provided by your venue, source one if it's available online, or work with the information you provide to put one together.

  • Proposed layout: A floor plan showing where everything should go, including tables, chairs, ceremony seating, dance floor, bar and any other key areas.

  • Architectural sketches: Drawings to help you visualise how your chosen setup could look.

  • Design recommendations: Ideas for bringing the space together, from furniture and lighting to decorations, colours and finishing touches.

  • Buy or hire recommendations: Suggestions for items you'll need, including links to products and suppliers where possible.

  • Practical considerations: Things to think about when planning your layout, including guest movement, circulation, access and making sure everything works on the day.

Everything will be brought together in a digital booklet that you can refer back to throughout your planning, whether you're sourcing items, speaking to suppliers or getting everything set up.

The aim is to give you a clearer idea of what your venue could look like, what you'll need to make it happen and, most importantly, a plan to work from.

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Finding the right people for your wedding.

Finding wedding suppliers can be just as time-consuming as finding the venue.

There are endless photographers, florists, caterers, musicians, stylists and makers to choose from — and a beautiful Instagram feed doesn't necessarily tell you whether someone is right for your wedding.

Tell me which suppliers you're looking for, your budget, your style, your date, your venue and what matters to you, and I'll do the research for you.

You can choose up to 5 supplier categories — for example, photographer, florist, caterer, DJ and stationery.

I'll research the market, identify suppliers who genuinely fit your brief and make contact where useful to gather the information you need to compare them.

WHAT I RESEARCH

For each supplier category, I'll look at the things that matter to your particular wedding, including:

  • style and approach

  • availability

  • pricing and packages

  • what's included

  • relevant experience

  • location and travel

  • lead times

  • venue experience

  • reviews and previous-couple feedback

  • any specific requirements from your brief

Where appropriate, I'll contact suppliers directly on your behalf, asking the questions that matter to you and gathering their responses.

I'll look beyond the obvious names and search for suppliers who genuinely fit your wedding, your budget and your priorities.

YOUR SUPPLIER SEARCH REPORT

You'll receive a detailed DAY42 Supplier Search Report covering up to 5 supplier categories.

For each category, you'll receive a considered selection of relevant suppliers, with:

THE SUPPLIER
Who they are, what they offer and why they've been considered.

THE COST
Published pricing, packages and relevant additional costs where available.

THE FIT
How their style, approach and experience relate to your brief.

THE PRACTICALS
Availability, location, travel, lead times and other relevant information.

THE REVIEWS
Relevant feedback and recurring themes from previous couples.

THE QUESTIONS
Answers gathered directly from suppliers where further information is needed.

THE DAY42 VIEW
My assessment of how well each supplier appears to fit what you're looking for.

The aim isn't to give you another directory to work through.

It's to do the searching, comparing and initial legwork for you.

So instead of spending hours scrolling through Instagram, Google and wedding directories, you can start with a considered selection of suppliers who are actually relevant to your wedding.

You tell me who you're looking for.
I find the people worth talking to.

A NOTE BEFORE YOU BOOK

DAY42 provides independent research and information based on your brief and the information available at the time of research.

Supplier pricing, availability, packages, services and policies can change, and information provided by suppliers or third-party sources may not always be complete or accurate.

DAY42 does not guarantee the availability, suitability, quality, pricing or performance of any supplier identified in the report.

The DAY42 assessment is a professional opinion based on the information gathered and your stated brief. It is intended to help you make a more informed decision and is not a recommendation or guarantee of the supplier's future service.

You remain responsible for making the final decision, confirming all information directly with the supplier, checking their terms and conditions, and entering into any booking or supplier agreement directly with them.

DAY42 is not responsible for any loss, cost, cancellation, change, omission or issue arising from a supplier you subsequently choose to book.

Always confirm final pricing, availability, inclusions and contractual terms directly with the supplier before booking.

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I don't believe there is one right way to plan a wedding.

Every couple has different priorities, different personalities, different families, different budgets and different ideas about what makes a great day. So rather than giving you another checklist and asking you to work it all out yourselves, I create your plan around you.

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I'll analyse what you've told me, look at the options available to you, consider your budget and priorities, and work out how the different parts of your wedding can work together.

Your Blueprint might explore your ceremony, reception, venue, food and drink, photography, music, entertainment, flowers, stationery, styling, budget and wedding-day timeline, but what goes into it is determined by you.

If stationery isn't important to you, we won't spend pages talking about it. If food is one of the most important parts of your day, we'll go much deeper.

I'll help you understand where to spend, where to save, what to prioritise, what you could do yourselves and where bringing in a professional will make the biggest difference.

The result is a beautifully designed, personal book that brings your decisions together and gives you a clear plan for creating your wedding.

You tell me about you.
I work out what that means for your wedding.

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Aliya Pinnock
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