The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Wedding Planning Journey

Congratulations on your engagement! As you begin this exciting chapter, it’s natural to feel a mix of joy, excitement—and maybe just a little bit of overwhelm. Starting your wedding planning journey is both thrilling and unfamiliar, but the good news is: you don’t have to navigate it alone.

At Delightful Planning, we’re here to guide you through every step of starting your wedding planning journey. Whether you’re freshly engaged or ready to dive in, this guide will lay the foundation to help you plan with clarity, confidence, and joy.

Celebrate the Moment

Before diving into timelines and to-do lists, take a breath. You’ve just made a life-changing decision. Celebrate this milestone with your partner. Whether it’s a big party with friends and family or a quiet night together with a glass of champagne, this time is about the love you share. Remember, wedding planning starts with your story—so begin it with joy.

Set a Realistic Budget

One of the first (and most important) steps in starting your wedding planning journey is setting a budget. As Sydney Whidden, founder of Delightful Planning, shares in her podcast The Wedding Buzz, your budget influences every decision moving forward. From choosing a venue to hiring vendors, your spending plan should reflect what’s financially comfortable—not just aspirational.

Sydney suggests creating two numbers: your ideal budget and your absolute maximum. Be sure to talk openly with your partner and any family members contributing financially. Assumptions can create stress down the road—clarity from the beginning prevents surprises later.

Pro Tip: Your guest count has a major impact on budget. Consider multiplying your estimated guest number by $250 for a modest wedding, or $600–$800 for something more upscale. This helps you create a realistic financial snapshot early on.

Estimate Your Guest Count

You don’t need a final list just yet, but having an estimated number of guests helps guide key decisions—especially when selecting your venue. Write out names, include plus-ones, and ask your families for input if they’re helping with the planning or contributing financially. This list can be refined later, but it’s an essential starting point.

Define Your Vision

Next, consider the tone and style of your celebration. Formal or casual? Grand or intimate? Local or destination? These choices will help narrow down everything from your venue to your vendors. Sydney encourages couples to use Pinterest boards or inspiration journals, but with realistic expectations—many of the images online are high-budget or even AI-generated. Instead of copying, look for patterns in color, texture, and style that resonate with you.

Secure Your Venue and Planner

You can hire a wedding planner before or after securing your venue—it depends on the level of guidance you want in choosing a location. Many couples start with the venue because it locks in a date. However, hiring a planner first gives you access to professional support as you make one of your most important decisions.

At Delightful Planning, we offer full-service planning and wedding management packages designed to support you from the very beginning—or simply to step in closer to the big day. Our goal is to make your planning experience seamless, enjoyable, and aligned with your vision.

Listen to The Wedding Buzz with Sydney Whidden for more advice on choosing your venue and planner, especially Episode 49.

Start Building Your Vendor Team

Once your budget, guest count, vision, and venue are set, it’s time to build your vendor dream team. Your photographer, florist, caterer, hair and makeup artist, DJ, and officiant will all help bring your day to life. If you’re working with Delightful Planning, we’ll connect you with trusted partners we’ve personally vetted—saving you hours of research and ensuring top-tier service.

We recommend starting with a photographer, especially if you’d like to schedule an engagement session. Not only will you get beautiful images, but you’ll build a relationship with the person capturing one of the most important days of your life.

Why Work with Delightful Planning

At Delightful Planning, we believe in creating weddings that are joyful, meaningful, and authentically you. With years of experience, curated vendor relationships, and a passion for personal details, we make sure your planning journey is stress-free and truly delightful.

Whether you’re just starting your wedding planning journey or already knee-deep in decisions, our team is here to support you with expert guidance every step of the way.

Looking Ahead

This is just the beginning. Be sure to check back soon for in-depth guides on wedding budgeting, timeline creation, and building your vendor team.

Ready to start your wedding planning journey with clarity and confidence? Let’s connect and create a celebration that’s unforgettable from the very first step.