Now we’re getting the winter out of the way around the world; the wedding season is gearing up for what is undoubtedly its busiest period. My gorgeous hairdresser and friend is a bridal hairstylist, and she is already fully booked for this, which is fantastic.

Planning your wedding isn’t something you want to do half-heartedly and is why many women end up with the bridezilla moniker. After all, many people dream of this day for years before the event and something billed as one of the happiest days of your life; you want it to be perfect. You want to express your love for someone and share the moment with loved ones in celebration.

But how do you go about planning the perfect Spring/Summer wedding for 2022? Let’s take a look at some wedding tips.

Get Organised

You need to make sure you are using a planning system that allows you to track your bookings, activity and purchases in the run-up to the date, from coordinating dressing and wedding suit fittings to bridal trials for hair and makeup appointments, deposits etc.

In 2022, you have the choice to do this digitally or in a physical diary/planner. For choosing wedding planning apps, you can look at the following offerings to find the right one for you;

• Bridebook
• Top Table Planner
• Appy Couple
• Wedbox
• Honeyfund

Alternatively, head down to your local stationery store and choose yourself a planner designed to make life as simple as possible when planning the perfect wedding.

Research Suppliers

The last thing you want is to be left with unsuitable suppliers who don’t quite get your vision or cannot meet your needs because you didn’t plan ahead. Popular wedding venues can be booked years in advance, as can stylists and makeup artists, along with your bakers etc. As soon as you have the ring on your finger, lock down your ideal venues, suppliers, consultants etc., so you can start looking at dates and see how everyone’s schedules add up. Spring and summer are popular dates for wedding planning, so you might find you are limited to who you can book for your preferred date.

What do you need to consider?

• Cake makers
• Venue(s)
• Caterers
• Wedding planners
• Hair stylist
• Makeup artist
• Florist
• Decor hire
• Photographer or videographer
• Holidays or celebrations that conflict with your dates

A top tip is to ask potential vendors who they regularly work with and who they recommend. Chances are you will get better results from existing positive relationships on the wedding circuit, and referrals of this nature can point you in the direction of professionals you didn’t previously know about.

Planning the Perfect Wedding Venue

With Spring comes warmer weather, you can start looking at both indoor and outdoor venues. This can open up your options regarding the type of wedding you want. You can never tell precisely what the British weather will be doing from one minute to the next! Play it safe, and make sure you have a plan B if the weather isn’t on your side for an outdoor wedding or reception.

Ask venues what their options are regarding changing locations should the weather change and you are hosting an outdoor wedding or reception when you book.

Photography

Arguably one of the most essential parts of the day is the wedding photos. While you are wrapped up in the moment and the ceremony of becoming married, there will be a lot going on you won’t get to see. And, of course, you want every detail captured so you can look back on the day.

Wedding photography and the location of your pictures is greatly improved in the Spring and Summer. The bright natural light and clear skies can afford you some great chances to get stunning images, especially if you have pictures taken outdoors or on the venue grounds.

Ask your photographer about the type of wedding photos they take, their options, and how well they know the venue. Agree with them beforehand the style of the pictures you are looking for and what you expect from them regarding when they need to take images, what you want to be included and how many roughly overall you are looking for. Chances are, if they have been working the wedding circuit for a while now, they will know exactly how and where to get the best shots throughout the day; they will no doubt have some great wedding tips for getting the perfect shot.

Wedding photos taken by professionals can be fantastic to have as memories. Still, wedding photos taken by guests can capture the day in a completely different light and give you another glimpse into how the day went and how your guests experienced the day too. Also, inform your guests that they can share photos with you and other guests via a wedding photo-sharing app.

Don’t forget to include the groom and groomsmen in your pre-wedding ceremony shots. This is naturally a time when the bride’s preparation process is documented, but the groom should also be allowed to record these memories if required.

Bridal Party

Your bridal party will make the occasion as unique as possible for you. But try not to forget that they will still have jobs to go to or families to look after and budgets to keep within. As such, make your plans in advance to give people as much notice as possible to help them prepare for your wedding. What you pay for or require your party to pay for depends entirely on your circumstances and finances. So it might be worth being as flexible as possible to help people who want to be included in your wedding party to do so.

There is no right or wrong way to pick bridesmaids dresses or a particular style you should stick to. Work with them to find the perfect bridesmaid dresses using your wedding planning apps. Shop online for ideas from websites to help you find your prom dress that can double up as a bridesmaid dress or help them pick their hairstyle for the day and accessories. Create a mood board on Pinterest to put together ideas and suggestions and allow collaborators to help you all get on the same page. Allowing your bridesmaids to work with you to find the right colour and style of dress within your theme will open you to find the perfect wedding dresses.

Don’t just rely on that “wedding chat” WhatsApp group for communication; pin down details via your wedding planner apps too.

Commit to Your Theme

Spring and Summer are ideal times to add colour, whimsy and fun to your big day. However, when you decide on a theme, commit to it fully. This means tying into your chosen colours, be them bright flashes throughout the day or softer hues that create almost a blanket of colour across the whole day.

How to tie this into your theme? Think about all the accessories you will need, from placeholders to seat coverings, from flowers and lighting to ornamental features. The colours and style of the day will then need to be reflected in your wedding attire and bridal style, too, as well as your chosen venue.

Don’t Be A Last Minute Bride/Groom.

Plan as much in advance as possible and make sure you have plenty of time for people to save the date and make the necessary arrangements for your wedding. From getting your last dress fitting to your makeup or hair trials, avoid leaving these appointments to the last minute in case of any issues. It might be too late to make any further alterations or find a new supplier should your cake maker be unable to meet your request etc.

After all, you want everything to be perfect. So paying attention to the small details of your wedding day will ensure your wedding runs as smoothly as possible. You aren’t putting any added stress on yourself, allowing you to enjoy the process thoroughly.