stonewaller · run 01

Most couples book their venue first and their photographer second, and photographers in a popular area go about twelve months ahead. That’s based on real UK data from Bridebook’s 10th annual UK Wedding Report, covering 7,000 couples.

Congratulations on beginning your wedding planning. I can help with budget decisions, supplier research, venue comparisons and practical planning as you go.

I can also create a month-by-month plan with your real dates once you give me even a rough wedding year. What year are you considering?

That’s completely fine — you don’t need a date to begin. The best first step is to sketch three flexible anchors: rough guest count, comfortable overall budget, and the area you might celebrate in. Those will show you what sort of venue and wedding style are realistic before you commit to a year.

I can find venues and suppliers that fit your plans in your area; I’d just need to know roughly where you’re thinking of celebrating.

That’s fine — there’s no need to choose a date, place or budget before you know what you want. For now, treat this as inspiration rather than planning: notice the weddings, settings and moments you’re drawn to, while ignoring anything that feels like a decision.

I can turn even a vague instinct — such as “small and relaxed”, “big party”, “beautiful countryside” or “we mainly care about food” — into a short wedding direction with realistic next steps.

Then your first step is simply to make space for ideas, not make decisions. Most couples begin with a conversation rather than a venue search:

• Each of you privately note three things you’d enjoy at a wedding.
• Note one thing you’d rather avoid.
• Compare the lists without trying to solve anything.

That will usually reveal whether you’re leaning towards something intimate, traditional, informal, lively, outdoorsy—or still completely open. No date, guest list or budget is needed yet; you’re just finding the shape of the celebration.

Then there’s nothing you need to decide today. You’re allowed to leave the wedding as a blank page for now—no date, place, guest list or style is required to begin.

Even a comfortable total budget would be enough whenever you’re ready; it would let me show you what a wedding like yours could realistically cost, category by category. For now, we can simply pick this up when an idea—or a practical question—comes to you.

Understood — I’ll stop prompting you for decisions. You don’t need to do anything here until you have a question or an idea you want to explore.