Let’s be honest - wedding planning can be equal parts fun and overwhelming! From booking vendors to working out your timeline and tracking your budget, there’s a lot of work involved in the lead-up to your nuptials.

We totally get it, and we’re here to help. We’ve been shooting weddings for over 10 years now, so we have a fair idea of how to plan an epic party without the stress. Read on for our top 5 wedding planning tips to help you and your loved ones have the best day ever!

1. Choose wedding vendors you trust

Your wedding vendors (aka: your dream team) will play a massive role on your day. From planning to photography and entertainment, it’s crucial to surround yourself with a team of vendors that you a) get along with, and b) trust wholeheartedly to bring your wedding vision to life.

One of the best ways to find trustworthy vendors is through referrals and word-of-mouth. Make sure you read testimonials and reviews, jump on the phone to see if you’re a good fit for one another, and ask your venue and vendors for their recommendations, too. This way, you can rest assured you have an epic team of vendors who work well together for a seamless, stress-free wedding.

2. Get your timeline right

Timing is everything! A well-thought-out wedding timeline can mean the difference between a relaxed or chaotic event. From hair and makeup to your ceremony, portraits and speeches, a detailed timeline will make your day run smoothly and ensure all of your vendors are on the same page.

Some of our top tips for your wedding timeline would be:

Work backwards from sunset when choosing your ceremony start time
Make sure you allow some time to capture wedding portraits during “golden hour”
Ask your loved ones to cap their speeches at 3-5 minutes each (to avoid eating into your dance floor time!)

Not sure where to start? Find our Figtree Guide to planning the perfect wedding day timeline here!

3. Try not to cram too much in

Speaking of timelines, be realistic about how much you can actually fit into one day. Please don’t overstretch yourself!

We often have couples that want to go to multiple locations for their portraits, or try to include so many extras in an already busy day. Relax! Your wedding day is going to fly by in an absolute whirlwind - keep it simple, so you can spend as much time as possible enjoying the experience with your loved ones.

4. Stay organised

Wedding planning is so much easier when you stay organised along the way. Book your key vendors early to avoid missing out, create an Excel spreadsheet to track your spending, and make a checklist of tasks and deadlines. We also recommend cloud-based apps like Dropbox or Google Drive to keep all of your contracts and documents together in one place.

Aim to have everything complete 2 weeks prior to your wedding, so you can spend those last few days relaxing, booking beauty appointments and catching up with family and friends.

5. Focus on your priorities

Finally, don’t feel pressured by traditions, outside opinions or endless Pinterest boards. Bring it back to basics and focus on your genuine priorities for the day. What’s really important to you both?

We suggest picking 3-5 things you want to splurge on - this could be an amazing menu, an epic live band, high-quality photos, luxury accommodation or signature cocktails - and let the other details fall into place. Don’t be afraid to buck tradition if that suits you better (for example: organise a First Look before your ceremony, or plan the ultimate elopement).

This is your day, nobody else's, so stay true to yourself and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Currently wedding planning? We would love to be involved in your event. Based on the Gold Coast, we capture weddings across the Tweed Coast, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and beyond. Check out our latest love stories here, or get in touch to learn more about wedding photography packages.

Did you find this advice helpful? Check out more wedding photography tips and advice on The Figtree Guide.