Wedding Season Is Over… Engagement Season is here! 💍

Well, that's another wedding season done!

The last few weddings have been packed away, the chair covers have been folded, the centrepieces carefully boxed up and the last of the summer wedding sparkle has been swept away.

And while some of you might think that means things are getting quieter for a wedding stylist…

Think again!

Because as one wedding season comes to an end, another very exciting season is just beginning.

Engagement season.

And honestly, I LOVE this time of year.

So… have you got a ring on your finger?

If you have, firstly...

CONGRATULATIONS! 🥂

Whether you got engaged over the summer, you've recently said yes, or you're secretly hoping that Christmas might bring a little extra sparkle this year, you're about to enter one of the most exciting parts of the wedding journey.

The bit where you can finally say:

“We're getting married!”

And then comes the fun part.

Pinterest boards.

Instagram saves.

Wedding venue stalking.

Colour palettes.

Dream dresses.

And approximately 7,000 screenshots of wedding décor that you absolutely need.

I know because I see it all the time!

Welcome to engagement season

Engagement season generally runs from late November through to Valentine's Day, and December is particularly popular for proposals. Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and Valentine's Day regularly feature among the most popular proposal dates.

Which means that over the next few months, there are going to be a LOT of newly engaged couples starting to think about their wedding.

And that means my inbox starts to look a little different too.

Instead of:

“Can you style our wedding next Saturday?”

It's more:

“Hi Kirsty! We've just got engaged and we have absolutely no idea where to start!”

And do you know what?

That's completely okay.

You don't need to have it all figured out

One of the things I really want newly engaged couples to know is that you don't have to know exactly what your wedding is going to look like yet.

You don't need to have chosen your colour scheme.

You don't need to know what your centrepieces will look like.

You don't even need to know whether you want a classic, rustic, modern, romantic, colourful or completely bonkers wedding!

Start with what you love.

Save the pictures that make you stop scrolling.

Look at wedding venues.

Think about how you want your wedding to feel, rather than just how you want it to look.

Because ultimately, that's what great wedding styling is about.

Your wedding décor should tell your story

I'm a huge believer that your wedding shouldn't look like everyone else's.

Yes, there will always be wedding trends.

And yes, there will always be something new popping up on Pinterest or Instagram that makes us all think:

“Ooh… I LOVE that!”

But your wedding should still feel like you.

Maybe that's soft romantic wedding décor with lots of candlelight.

Maybe it's bold colours and statement flowers.

Maybe it's elegant wedding table styling with beautiful details.

Maybe it's a gorgeous ceremony backdrop that becomes the wow moment when your guests walk into the room.

Or maybe it's a mixture of everything you've ever loved, somehow pulled together into one beautiful day.

That's where wedding styling comes in.

I take all those ideas swirling around in your head and help turn them into something that actually works in your venue, with your budget and, most importantly, feels like your wedding.

And please don't forget about the venue!

One of my favourite things about wedding styling is seeing what can be done with a space.

A venue might look completely different when it's empty compared with when it's filled with your colours, lighting, flowers, table décor, chair styling and those little personal details that make it yours.

This is why I always encourage couples to think about their wedding décor fairly early in the planning process.

Your venue, colour scheme, flowers, stationery and wedding table styling can all work together rather than being chosen separately.

And it doesn't necessarily mean spending a fortune.

Sometimes it's about knowing where to spend your money and where you don't need to.

A few well-chosen statement pieces can completely transform a room.

So, you've just got engaged… what next?

If you're currently sitting there admiring your ring and wondering what on earth you're supposed to do now, here's my advice:

💍 Step one: Enjoy being engaged

Seriously.

Before you get sucked into spreadsheets, budgets and guest lists, take a moment.

Celebrate.

Tell your favourite people.

Open the fizz.

Take approximately 1,000 photos of your hand.

You've earned it!

📍 Step two: Start looking at venues

Think about the kind of atmosphere you want.

Barn?

Hotel?

Country house?

Tipi?

Something completely different?

And don't just think about how the venue looks empty. Imagine what it could look like filled with your people and your wedding décor.

🎨 Step three: Start collecting inspiration

Create a Pinterest board.

Save Instagram posts.

Take screenshots.

Don't worry about whether they all match yet.

After a while, you'll probably notice that you're repeatedly saving similar colours, textures and styles.

That's your wedding style beginning to reveal itself.

✨ Step four: Think about the atmosphere

Do you want romantic and intimate?

Fun and colourful?

Elegant and sophisticated?

Relaxed and rustic?

Modern and dramatic?

Your wedding décor isn't just about making a room pretty.

It's about creating an atmosphere that your guests remember.

🥂 Step five: Talk to your suppliers early

Good wedding suppliers can become booked up well in advance, particularly for popular dates.

And if you already know you want a particular wedding stylist, florist, photographer or venue, it's worth getting in touch sooner rather than later.

You don't have to have every decision made before you enquire.

That's what we're here for!

And now the fun really begins…

For me, engagement season is the beginning of all the exciting conversations.

It's the:

“We've just booked our venue!”

The:

“I've found THE colour scheme!”

The:

“Kirsty, I've seen this idea on Pinterest… can we do something similar?”

And my personal favourite…

“I have no idea what I want, but I know I want it to look amazing!”

Yep.

I can work with that too. 😂

Because that's exactly why I love what I do.

I don't just want to put some chair covers on and call it a day.

I want to help create a wedding that makes you walk into your venue and think:

“This is exactly how I imagined it.”

So, if you're one of the newly engaged couples heading into this year's engagement season…

Congratulations.

You've got an amazing journey ahead of you.

And if wedding décor, venue styling and creating a beautiful day that feels completely personal to you is somewhere on that ever-growing wedding to-do list, I'd love to be part of it.

I'm Kirsty, the face behind Above & Beyond Event Styling, and I create wedding and event décor for couples who want their day to look beautiful, feel personal and give their guests something to remember.

So go on…

Get the Pinterest board started.

I'll see you there. 🤍

Planning a wedding in South Devon?

If you're looking for wedding décor, wedding venue styling or wedding decoration ideas in South Devon, get in touch.

Let's make your wedding day Above & Beyond.