You’re engaged! Congratulations! What an amazing adventure you’re about to embark on.

When you’re newly engaged your mind can start flooding with excitement. What will you wear? Who will you invite? Where will you go on honeymoon?!!

But, what are you supposed to do first?

Founder of The Un-Wedding, Melissa Woods has been involved with the celebration side of many marriages, including her own. And, she has learned a lot along the way.

If you’ve found yourself on our site, you’ll probably be someone looking for modern wedding inspiration. We’re here for that!

A modern wedding is one that allows you to make new traditions and focus on you both as a couple. Because there are no other couples out there that are the same as you two.

Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming in itself, but trying to incorporate new traditions can make it even scarier. The good news; it doesn’t have to be.

With some preparation and advice from real brides, you’ll be loving every step of the journey. This guide for modern couples is going to give you all of that!

Okay, so we can’t share all of our secrets - but here are a few of the things we’ll cover in the guide:

Getting together a wedding checklist can be a major game-changer: Start thinking 12 months out (or one week out - it’s your wedding!). What are some things you can be doing every X amount of days up to the big day? We’ll talk you through all of this so you have an easy roadmap to follow!
Traditions! Which ones do you want to keep, which to ditch & how to make new ones: Maybe you LOVE the idea of a white dress, but a church wedding is just not your style. If you’re feeling out the outdoorsy festival vibes or fairy woodland energy - we’re with you.

On the other hand, there may be some traditions you want to keep or rebrand to make your own. We know the idea of a father giving away his daughter can feel odd to some of our modern brides and, there are others who wouldn’t dream of doing anything else. But, maybe there’s a way you can turn this tradition into something new, something that resonates with you.

The truth is, whatever you decide to do - you should do it for yourself! Not for tradition.
Setting your budget: Finding the right budget should be one of the very first things you do. It will help everything else fall perfectly into place. If you’re not sure where to start with this, we have some great tips in our guide, along with a printable wedding budget to keep everything in order.
Finding The Right Vendors: Once you have the budget sorted, it’s time to find the right vendors. Our Book of Love is filled with incredible UK-based wedding vendors (and some who travel worldwide). From venues to veils, we have got you covered but what sort of questions should you be asking?
Where To Add Your Personal Touch?: Some areas to really express yourself and let your un-wedding flag fly are:

Crazy cool invites, menus and save the dates

A personalized cake or dessert table that is very you (or maybe you’re a no dessert kind of couple who would prefer a cocktail hour instead)

Food! You can tell your story with your meal. Maybe it’s food from the first restaurant you went to, a BBQ or a world tour through a tasting menu.

Focusing your ceremony on things that matter to you - like readings or personalised vows!

6. Having A Wedding That Is True To You: The Un-Wedding is all about sharing one message, be true to you, whoever that may be as a couple.

Your wedding is a day (and night) that is entirely all about you. You shouldn’t feel pressured to tick off boxes to please family members. Instead, you should find ways to be your authentic selves and create an occasion that you will want to go back to in your memories for the rest of your life.

‘A Guide For Modern Couples’ ventures far beyond “something borrowed and something blue”. We know the truth that lies behind planning a wedding, the stress that can occur and why it is so important to take care of yourself during this time.

We’re going to share all of that knowledge, stories, and more with you!

‘A Guide For Modern Couples’ cover by Joanna Bongard

Planning Your Un-Wedding: A Guide For Modern Couples