Huge congratulations! You’re engaged, your left hand feels a little heavier, and you’ve likely spent the last few days celebrating with family and friends. Once the initial bubble of excitement settles, a familiar feeling often creeps in: Where on earth do we start?

The internet is full of overwhelming multi-year checklists, but the secret to starting your stress-free wedding planning is to focus strictly on the first 30 days. This initial window isn’t about picking out table linens or table plans. It’s about setting a calm, solid foundation for your celebration. If you’re dreaming of a relaxed, beautiful wedding in the West Country, here is your step-by-step guide to navigating your first month of engagement.

Your 30-Day Engagement Checklist

Week 1: The Celebration

Revel in the “Just Engaged” Bubble: Before you open a single spreadsheet or download a planning app, take at least a week to just be engaged. Tell your closest family and friends, pop some bubbly, and celebrate your story. Don’t rush into logistics immediately – just let yourselves enjoy the magic of this milestone.

Week 2: The Vision Before the Details

Sit down together and discuss how you want your wedding to feel. Do you picture a formal day at a grand country house? Or do you lean toward a relaxed wedding where your guests can kick off their shoes and mingle outdoors? Nailing down the atmosphere early prevents you from exploring suppliers and touring venues that don’t match your true style.

• Define the vibe: Agree on 3 words that describe your ideal day (e.g., relaxed, rustic, fun).
• Pick a season: Decide on a preferred time of year (e.g., a vibrant Summer festival vibe or a cosy Autumn gathering).
• Weigh up space: Think about layout options: do you want a venue with multiple rooms and spaces where guests can drift around, or a single, cohesive space where everyone stays together? Decide if you want the total privacy of an exclusive-use venue (gives you the entire property entirely to yourselves) or if you’re happy to share public spaces with others.
• Compare DIY vs all-inclusive: Evaluate how much work you want to do and how much hand-holding you want. Venues range from dry-hire fields with the complete freedom (or stress!) of sourcing everything from toilets to generators to all-inclusive where everything (like tables, chairs, a bar, and coordination) is already there. Do you want a ‘dry hire’ canvas where you source everything yourselves, or the support of a wedding planner?

Week 3: Draft Guest List & Build a Realistic Budget

Budget and guest numbers are tethered together. You cannot accurately plan one without the other! A venue that accommodates 250 people requires a different financial framework than an intimate venue designed for 30 guests.

• Draft the guest list: Create a rough draft of your guest list divided into three categories: your A-list (definitely daytime), B-list (probably daytime) and C-list (evening guests). This number will be your golden key when checking venue capacities.
• Research Somerset venues and suppliers: Look for spaces and wedding suppliers in Somerset that fit your venue style decision.
• Set the budget: Use your initial research to set a realistic budget for your must-haves and your nice-to-haves.

Week 4: Booking Tours & Taking Action

• Shortlist and enquire: Reach out to your top three venues to check their seasonal availability and request pricing brochures.
• Book venue viewings: Schedule private tours to feel the atmosphere in person and ask questions (make sure you ask your wedding venue these 5 essential questions before you book).
• Take a breath: Remind yourselves that planning a wedding should be a fun reflection of your relationship. You’ve got this!