{"id":1242,"date":"2026-01-01T13:50:46","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T13:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1242"},"modified":"2025-12-07T16:59:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T16:59:02","slug":"youre-engaged-now-what-fun-laid-back-next-steps-for-your-wedding-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/2026\/01\/youre-engaged-now-what-fun-laid-back-next-steps-for-your-wedding-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"You’re Engaged! Now What? Fun & Laid-Back Next Steps for Your Wedding Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

Congratulations! You’ve just said “yes,” and now you’re floating on cloud nine, basking in that engagement glow. While the temptation to dive headfirst into wedding planning is strong, take a moment to soak it all in. Planning your wedding should feel exciting and fun, not like a never-ending checklist. If you’re a couple who values personality over tradition and uniqueness over formality, this post is for you.<\/p>\n

Here are the first steps to crafting a wedding that feels truly you.<\/em><\/p>\n

1. Celebrate First, Plan Later<\/strong>
\nBefore you rush into venue tours and dress fittings, celebrate your engagement! Host a casual get-together with close friends, plan a weekend away, or just take some time as a couple to enjoy this new chapter. Your wedding is important, but so is savouring the moment. The added bonus is you can get loads of great loved up snaps ready for you wedding website \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

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2. Envision Your Day (Without Limits)<\/strong>
\nNow that you’ve celebrated, start dreaming. Close your eyes and imagine your perfect day. Is it barefoot on a beach? A cozy backyard BBQ? A vibrant festival vibe in the woods? Don\u2019t be afraid to colour outside the lines. There are no rules, and you don\u2019t have to stick to traditional venues or timelines. Or if visioning what you do want is tricky, think of the things you don’t – for instance my husband really did not want a golf club so that was half of our choices gone! But we did know we would need accommodation so that shortened our list of potentials even more.<\/p>\n

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3. Seek Out a Celebrant Who Gets You<\/strong>
\nYour celebrant plays a huge role in setting the tone for your ceremony. Unlike a registrar, a celebrant offers flexibility and a personal touch, crafting a ceremony that reflects your love story. From humorous anecdotes to tear-jerking moments, they\u2019ll tailor the experience to suit your vibe. Start your search early and choose someone who aligns with your vision – like ME!!!!<\/p>\n

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4. Think Beyond Licensed Venues<\/strong>
\nHere\u2019s the secret many couples don\u2019t realise \u2013 your venue doesn\u2019t have to be licensed for weddings. A celebrant-led ceremony can happen anywhere! Whether it\u2019s a forest clearing, your favourite pub, or even your own backyard, you can exchange vows in a place that resonates with you. Later, you can handle the legalities at a registry office, freeing you to have your dream ceremony wherever your heart desires.<\/p>\n

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5. Prioritise What Matters Most<\/strong>
\nNot everything deserves equal attention (or budget). Make a list of what truly excites you \u2013 is it the music, the food, the d\u00e9cor, or the experience for guests? Focus your energy and spending on those elements. If you\u2019re passionate about quirky d\u00e9cor and wildflowers but couldn\u2019t care less about fancy table settings, prioritise accordingly.<\/p>\n

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6. Embrace the Quirks<\/strong>
\nLet your personalities shine! From custom vows and non-traditional attire to interactive guest activities and DIY elements, your wedding should feel like an extension of who you are. The more you lean into what makes you you<\/em>, the more memorable the day will be.<\/p>\n

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7. Remember \u2013 It\u2019s About You Two<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s easy to get caught up in family opinions and Pinterest trends, but always come back to this: your wedding is a celebration of your love. If something doesn\u2019t feel right or adds unnecessary stress, scrap it.<\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re the couple who laughs in the face of tradition, dances barefoot at parties, and craves a wedding as unique as your love story \u2013 congratulations! Your wedding is going to be unforgettable, because it will be unapologetically yours.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Written with the help of C hatGPT, Images by Unsplash.com.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Congratulations! You’ve just said “yes,” and now you’re floating on cloud nine, basking in that engagement glow. While the temptation to dive headfirst into wedding planning is strong, take a moment to soak it all in. Planning your wedding should feel exciting and fun, not like a never-ending checklist. If you’re a couple who values […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1255,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,13,86,15,11,12],"tags":[16,17,19,20,21,27,28,33,35,37,39,43,46,49,51,57,62,70,71,72,73],"class_list":["post-1242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrant-skills","category-couple-visit","category-proposals","category-venue-visit","category-wedding","category-ceremony","tag-bespoke","tag-boho","tag-celebrant","tag-celebrant-led","tag-ceremony","tag-eco-friendly","tag-elements","tag-getting-married-at-home","tag-handfasting","tag-humour","tag-individual","tag-magical","tag-multicultural","tag-outdoor-wedding","tag-personality","tag-same-sex","tag-sustainable","tag-vows","tag-wedding","tag-your-day-your-way","tag-zing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1242"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1256,"href":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1242\/revisions\/1256"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shelleybell.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}