A couple dancing in wildflowers during sunset at their luxury wedding venue

Kent Wedding Planning Tips: Insights from Your Luxury Photographer

December 17, 2024

Helpful Tips, Weddings

I remember planning our wedding pretty quickly (4 months between getting engaged to getting married!) and others take over 2 years. Regardless of the length of time, planning your wedding is one of the most exciting journeys you’ll embark on. However, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed when faced with to-do lists and decisions you’ve never had to make before. Having worked with couples across Kent and Cambridge since 2012, I’ve seen first-hand what makes the wedding planning process smoother and more enjoyable. Whether you’re working with a wedding planner or tackling the details yourself, here are some Kent Wedding Planning Tips: Insights from Your Luxury Photographer. Let’s get after it.

A couple dancing in wildflowers during sunset at their luxury wedding venue

1. Hire a Wedding Planner (Trust Me, It’s Worth It)

If you’re wondering whether you really need a wedding planner, let me tell you: they are worth their weight in gold. A professional wedding planner is there to take the stress off your shoulders, leaving you free to enjoy the build-up to your wedding without the constant juggling of suppliers, timelines, and logistics. Some take a complete hands on approach where they source vendors and details, or if you’re wanting more say you can ask to be communicated with more or make suggestions over vendors you’ve taken to.

Planners not only have invaluable industry connections, but they know how to bring your vision to life seamlessly. They’ve done it before. From managing your budget to coordinating on-the-day details, they ensure everything runs smoothly. It’s like having your very own behind-the-scenes fairy godmother, just not the one from Shrek 2…

If you can invest in a wedding planner, it’s one of the best decisions you’ll make. Your day will feel calm, relaxed, and beautifully organised – which, as your photographer, makes my job of capturing those authentic, joyful moments so much easier!

People enjoying drinks at a wedding at Albion House in Ramsgate

2. No Planner? Let Me Help with Your Timeline

Our priorities were less luxury and more DIY – my wife and I had shot multiple weddings when we got married in 2018 and had developed great relationships with vendors. So, we planned our wedding ourselves. If like us hiring a wedding planner isn’t in your plans, don’t worry – you’ve still got me! I’m always happy to help couples create a wedding day timeline that allows plenty of breathing room and ensures you get the photos you want without feeling rushed.

One of the key things I emphasize when helping couples is giving them timeline planning assistance. You want time for those beautiful, editorial-style portraits as well as candid moments with your family and friends. A well-structured timeline means you’ll feel present in every part of your day rather than constantly chasing the clock or your bridal party guessing what’s happening next.

Here are a few quick timeline tips to consider:

  • Get Ready Early: Allow extra time for getting ready so you can enjoy a relaxed morning. You’ll feel more at ease, and it gives me time to capture the lovely details and anticipation. Just make sure that wherever you get ready has plenty of natural light, doesn’t have sainsbury’s bags everywhere, and somebody is chief tidy-upper!
  • Chunks of Time: If possible, schedule 30 minutes for portraits, it doesn’t even have to be around sunset (this is what we photographers call the ‘golden hour’) as a skilled photographer can get great images whenever. Also, make sure that you schedule spaces in the day where NOTHING is happening: you need wiggle room during a busy day.
  • Trust My Experience: I’ve photographed so many weddings that I know what works. I’ll guide you through the best flow for your day, ensuring nothing feels forced or rushed.
A wedding venue in Kent with the help of wedding planning tips

3. Book Your Key Suppliers in the Right Order

When looking for Kent Wedding Planning Tips: Insights from Your Luxury Photographer and it comes to securing your dream wedding team, timing is everything. Here’s the order I recommend booking your suppliers:

  1. Venue – Your venue sets the tone for your entire day and dictates your wedding date. It’s always the first thing to secure.
  2. Photographer – Luxury photographers (like me!) often get booked up a year or more in advance, especially for peak wedding season. If photography is a priority for you, book this early to avoid disappointment.
  3. Other Key Suppliers – Once you’ve locked in your date and photographer, start looking at florists, caterers, hair and makeup artists, and entertainment.

Leaving photography until the last minute can mean missing out on the photographer who really connects with your vision. Your wedding photos are the lasting memories of your day, so it’s worth making them a priority.

A bride holding her wedding bouquet at the front of her wedding venue, behind the scenes of Editorial Wedding Photography: A Luxury Couple's Shoot in monochrome

4. Invest in Your Photography (and a Wedding Album!)

Your wedding photography is so much more than just editorial portraits. It’s the story of your day, captured forever – the laughter, the tears, and the quiet, meaningful moments you might not even notice at the time.

Consider budget when going through Kent Wedding Planning Tips: Insights from Your Luxury Photographer. See with your wedding budget, I always encourage couples to invest as much as they can into photography. Unlike flowers or cakes (as beautiful and as worth the money as they are), your photos are the one thing you’ll treasure for decades to come, so remember that.

And here’s something I can’t stress enough: get a wedding album. In a digital world, it’s easy to leave your photos sitting on a screen, but a professionally printed album turns those memories into a tangible heirloom. Imagine sitting down with your children or grandchildren one day, flipping through those pages, and reliving the day together. It’s priceless. We even bought two from our wedding so that we could put one in the attic to pass down to future generations and have the other accessible to our son now.

I offer beautiful, high-quality albums that showcase your wedding story in a way that feels luxurious and timeless. Trust me – an album is worth it.

Premium Wedding Photo Album

5. Keep Your Day Personal and Authentic

Weddings are full of traditions, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow every single one. The best weddings I photograph are the ones that feel authentic to the couple – the ones where personal touches shine through.

Here are a few ideas to make your day unique:

  • Write Personal Vows: Sharing your own words adds such an emotional and heartfelt touch.
  • Incorporate Your Story: Think about ways to include your journey as a couple, whether that’s through photos, music, decor or table names.
  • Relax and Be Yourselves: The more relaxed and comfortable you feel, the more natural and beautiful your photos will be. I always aim to create a fun, stress-free environment so you can enjoy every moment.

Remember, it’s your day. Do it your way, and the photos will reflect that.

A bride celebrating on a fairground ride at Marleybrook House in Kent

6. Trust Your Suppliers (We’re Here to Help!)

Once you’ve chosen your suppliers, trust them to do what they do best. From your photographer to your florist, we all want to deliver something incredible for your wedding day. With that trust, do make sure that you have a wedding contract with each of them – this clarifies everything on the table.

As a luxury wedding photographer, my job goes beyond simply taking photos. I’m here to guide you, offer advice, and make the entire experience enjoyable. Whether that’s timeline planning, helping you feel comfortable in front of the camera, or capturing those fleeting, unplanned moments, I’m with you every step of the way.

The best results happen when you trust your team, communicate your vision, and then relax and enjoy the day.

Luxury wedding planned with great tips from Tom Keenan

Final Thoughts

Planning a wedding is no small task, but with the right approach, it can be an exciting and enjoyable process. How are you feeling about it? Relaxed? Stressed? Well, whether you hire a wedding planner or lean on me to help guide your day, the most important thing is to focus on what truly matters: celebrating your love surrounded by the people who mean the most to you. At the end of the day, a wedding is a beautiful day(s), but the marriage is the rest of your days.

So for your wedding, book your venue, prioritise your photography, and take the time to make your day personal and unique. And when it’s all over, you’ll have timeless photos and memories to look back on – hopefully in a stunning wedding album, too!

If you’re planning your Kent wedding and want to chat about how I can help bring your day to life, get in touch. I’d love to hear all about your plans and help you create your ideal wedding – get in touch here.