Well it certainly has been a Merry Flipping Christmas!

If you didn’t quite make it on to the nice list this year, (we salute you) if the turkey was cold and someone (as usual) got too drunk, too rowdy, too handsy or too emotional at the family party then quite frankly it’s probably been a success! But it’s fair to say that your Christmas has absolutely peaked if you’re one of the lucky ones this year that’s striding on into the New Year with a fresh dazzler of a diamond on your ring finger.

Huge congratulations on your engagement to all our beautiful future brides!

Whether this was a huge shocker of a surprise announced in front of everyone, or it was a cute and cosy romantic proposal by the fireplace, we LOVE a Christmas engagement. What better time to get everyone together and celebrate around the festive period? So let’s firstly raise a glass to you and say a big cheers to the future Mrs you are about to become.

We do however understand that once you come down from the bubble of excitement (and the champagne hangover) wedding planning can start to look a little overwhelming. But don’t worry, because here at The Aisle we’ve got your back. So instead of watching Love Actually for the 300th time this holiday, settle down under your best blanket, stare at your perfect flawless diamond a little while and then check out our top tips below for early wedding planning. There’s plenty to think about but bite sized chunks make it all the more digestible and a lot less like a mountain to climb. Get your highlighters out and try to enjoy the process because you’re calling the shots on your big day.

1. Pinterest Board.

First things first, research is key. Even just starting with a simple vision board on pinterest (or any kind that works for you) can be so helpful. As stylists, we always find that the smoothest and most stress free appointments are with the brides that have done their research. Obviously everyone has varying levels of this and it’s fine to just get ideas, but this will really help you narrow down your search for pretty much everything.

For example, if you’re saving pictures of beautiful rustic barn weddings, then you’re probably wasting time going to look around the stately home that your grandma suggested and always envisioned for you. The vision board will never hold you back but it will help you filter through the elements you are really drawn to, that way things don’t get confusing or overwhelming. You can save venues, dresses, colour schemes, table arrangements, flowers… The list is endless. You might start envisioning one thing, and then as the process goes on, your vision changes slightly. This is fine, of course, so don’t rush things and keep building on it.

2.UK or Destination.

That’s a big question which a lot of couples need to ask themselves right off the bat. If you’re planning a home grown wedding then this will dictate lots of elements of the day from the venue, to the dress and naturally the guest list. Great aunt Bessy and her slightly creepy boyfriend are likely to be hankering for an invite if you stay local, but if Ibiza is calling then you know a few nights in Pacha is likely to put them off (his hip won’t be able to take it!) But seriously, if you do have friends or family members that might be put off by going abroad, or even out of the county, then naturally you will need to take that into consideration. That said, we are all still big believers in doing what YOU want for your big day. So if going abroad is what feels most special for you and your fiance, then perhaps sacrificing a few of those friends and family members you haven’t seen in years won’t seem that bad. Those ride or die girls who are desperate to see you glide down the aisle will follow you to the ends of the earth and back.

Photograph by Charlotte Nelson Photography

3. Venues

Ok, so you’ve decided on whether it’s the UK or abroad, now it’s time to look at venues. Revert back to your pinterest board for this. If you’re staying at home, perhaps you know somewhere local that is perfect for you and all your guests. Easy to get to, local accommodation and just the right vibes for your big day all tick the boxes. If you’re wanting to go further afield then you will have to look at options that are suitable for you. Do you want or need onsite accommodation so that everyone is staying in one place? Or perhaps you’re happy to let people find their own accommodation. Swanky city hotels, barn conversions, traditional chapels, country manor houses, modern restaurants and even outdoor festival havens with glamping pods are all options for hosting your big day. Try to think about what suits your personality best. What represents you and what kind of bride and groom do you want to be?

There are a few great websites out there now to help you find and pin point venues in certain locations. Social media is a great one for this as well, particularly if you are looking at going abroad. You can get a real feel for what a place is like without necessarily going to view it in person. The next step from here would be to visit or at least hold a meeting with the venue and/or wedding planner.

From personal experience, we went aboard for our wedding and although we knew the country and destination we wanted to host the wedding in, the reason we actually ended up at our venue was because we just completely clicked with our wedding planner. This is so important! Our planner just got us entirely. She got our theme, or vision and the laid back vibes we wanted. She then gave us options of venues that were suited to us. As long as you’ve got a good, trust worthy, communicative wedding planner then don’t be put off. This can make your whole wedding journey so much more fluid and relaxing, which is highly advisable! Tik tok and instagram are both swarming with great wedding planners with cool ideas so start checking those out.

4. The Size of The Tribe

Now you’ve got the venue, it’s time to start thinking about the guest list. This part can be a little tricky and stressful for a lot of couples and if anything is going to rock the boat, sadly, it’s usually this. Whether it’s your parents trying to invite some of their friends that you haven’t seen for years, your cousins who you haven’t seen since Granny’s 70th or your sister in laws new boyfriend that nobody knows yet, there is always someone hankering for an invite that you aren’t always willing to extend. Our best advice on this is to stay united as a team and set some boundaries that you can use for both sides of the guest list. If you’re trying to tone the list down then here are a couple of general rules that you might find really helpful, but obviously every family is different so tailor this to your own needs.

Consider having a cut off, maybe include aunties and uncles but not godparents. Cousins but not partners and as a general rule, if you haven't physically spoken to them in 12 months, are they really someone you can’t live without at your wedding? Take it from someone who had an intimate wedding abroad - being able to talk to, dance, eat, drink and party with absolutely everyone in equal measures at your own wedding is golden! It’s hard work going round every single table to thank each individual person and then barely getting to have a boogie with your bridesmaids. At the end of the day weddings, just like family and friends relationships, are completely personal. If you ruffle some feathers somewhere along the line it’s completely normal. Just please make sure you do it for you and the final decision is yours and the grooms.

Photograph by Scott and Lees Photography

5. The Dress

Last but never ever least, our personal favourite (and most important part)… the dress of dreams! By this point you’ll already know your venue. This is key! If you’re thinking of looking at dresses before you have your venue booked, please seriously rethink this. The venue will set the whole theme and tone of the day and it usually hugely dictates what kind of dress you’ll go for. Obviously everyone has a style, but it’s likely (not definite) that a wedding dress for a beach bride will look completely different to a wedding dress for a stately home bride. Please make sure your venue is set before you come to try on, it really will be hugely helpful to both you and us in finding your perfect dress.

At this point you can refer back to your pinterest board at what kind of styles and even designers you are drawn to. Don’t just start booking appointments willy nilly! Make sure you research the bridal studio first by having a look at their socials and website. Are they the right vibe and right fit for your kind of style? Do they house some of the designers that you like? Do they look like somewhere super special that you’d love to buy a dress from and get the full bridal experience? Once you’ve answered those questions, pick your favourite studios and get booking!

Now it might not sound ideal to some brides, but trust us on this one! If you’ve followed all the above guidelines so far, book no more than three appointments! Trying on lots of dresses, in lots of different places, with lots of different people can get overwhelming, confusing and stressful, none of which we want for you. The most difficult appointments are when brides have gone dress blind!

There is never any pressure to walk away with a dress that day, but be fully prepared to find and commit to your dress if you fall head over heels . If you love something so much and it’s your first appointment, cancel the others. If you get that feeling that nothing else can beat it then don’t waste your precious time when your wedding energy could be better focused. On the other hand, if you do get the feeling you need to keep trying on, then maybe there’s a reason for that too. If you have prepared accordingly as above, you certainly won’t need more than three visits to any shops.

Finally, and one of the most important points. Bring with you your best cheerleaders only! There is a reason that we (and most bridal shops) have a three guest maximum policy. “Too many cooks spoil the broth!” Is that old school saying, and it’s very apparent when it comes to choosing your wedding dress. Don’t bring a friend or family member that you know is going to be really outspoken. We’ve seen and heard it all, I promise, and as stylists we have some amazing, hilarious and joyous appointments with our brides. On the flip side, it can be so disappointing when a bride loves a dress and their guests, for whatever reason don’t - and they make it well known. At the end of the day, the decision is entirely yours and it’s about how the dress makes you feel! Take the people whose opinions you really value and keep it as simple as possible.

We hope that’s been helpful and you heed our expert advice. All that’s left to say now is bring on 2025! Happy wedding planning and a very Happy New Year from all of us here. We hope it brings you everything you desire and more.

See you at The Aisle,

Georg x

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