Just got engaged?

There are so many ways to get married. From traditional wedding venues to back gardens, make sure you think about your relationship and your personality. How you get married matters. You’ll have the memories forever.

Wow, that was emotional! Now what?

Firstly, what are you doing reading this? Go out, celebrate, shout about it, show off your rock and enjoy the glow. Come back soon.

Back already? OK let’s talk about what to do next. We’ve prepared a list!

What?

Big gig in a barn? Boutique wedding? There are so many ways to get married. From traditional wedding venues to back gardens, make sure you think about your relationship and your personality. How you get married matters. You’ll have the memories forever.

Don’t rush this bit. People will be asking you for details the minute they see that sparkler on your finger. They’ll share their opinions and experiences. Don’t be pressurised. Take time to look at all the options and consider what you want – it’s your day.

A mood board can help. Whether you do this online or on paper, this can stimulate conversations and creative juices. Do this together – it’s really important to be on the same page.

A micro-wedding means you can focus on taking your vows in front of the most important people in your life

When?

Summer, winter? Booking around birthdays, babies, or work? Pick what works for you first. Now think about who you want there. Check their diaries. When you’ve done that you can move on to the fun stuff.

Where?

Today the main decision is if you are staying in the UK or want a destination wedding abroad. The consideration here is the wallets of your guests. Closely tied with location comes the thorny issue of money. Weddings are expensive – the average wedding today costs £30,000 and many are significantly more. Your guests will need to be able to bear some travelling expense so give this lots of thought.

Who?

This can get tricky. Traditional weddings with long guest lists are expensive. Think about who you want to be there and how much time you’ll get to spend with them. We’ve spoken to couples who spent time with a fraction of their guests on their big day. The invitations have a habit of growing, especially when you are reliant on other family members to pick up the wedding tab.

Consider getting professional help

It’s a full-time job organising a wedding. Some great websites and software platforms can help with budgets, checklists, and timelines. We like the planning tools on hitched.co.uk which is why we are listed there. You might prefer to choose to employ a wedding organiser or find a venue that offers a coordinator. Whatever you choose, be realistic about how much you can – and want – to do.

How much?

One way you can control costs is to downsize. Choose a smaller wedding with 50 guests, or a micro-wedding with up to 22. You’ll spend more time with the people who really matter to you and have money at the end for your honeymoon, a new house or just be pleased you aren’t incurring any debts.

There were 20% more small weddings in 2024 than the year before – and this figure is predicted to rise.  There are lots of reasons couples choose smaller weddings: they are more intimate, less stressful to organise, easier to personalise and yes, they are usually cheaper than the all-singing all-dancing traditional wedding.

Tiny Weddings in Exmoor

At Exmoor Character Weddings, our small wedding celebrations can cater for up to 22 people. Everyone stays on site so you can relax in our three character cottages with gorgeous gardens, cosy fires, and hot tubs. And your fur friends are welcome too! We offer a Complete Coordination service so every detail is managed by our professional team. Our experienced celebrant Pamela will walk you through the process. With wedding stays of three nights or more, you can fill your hearts with your loved ones in Exmoor and leave with wonderful memories of your marriage celebration here.

Want to find out more? Get in touch with Lucy for a chat.