A wedding journal can help you plan and record every chapter of your special day – from moodboarding your theme to remembering the best moments once it’s over. Between the excitement of the big day and the flurry of activity in the months and weeks leading up to it, a wedding journal is a great way of staying on top of your to-do list and safeguarding precious memories forever.
For all the brides and grooms to be, we’ve rounded up our top tips on creating a wedding journal that’s both a helpful tool and sentimental keepsake.
There are no rules for journaling
From jotting down notes to keeping tabs on the guestlist or simply recording how you’re feeling on any given day, having everything wedding-related in one place can really help to take the pressure off. So, whether you’re the type who plans with precision or you prefer to go with the flow, it’s all about making your wedding journal work for you. Start by picking a design that suits your personal style and personalising it, with you and your partner’s names or the date of your nuptials. Remember, there is no right or wrong – you just want the journal to feel truly your own.
Start with the big picture
You may already have a specific theme in mind or perhaps you’re still undecided. Either way, writing key words such as ‘country wedding’ or ‘black tie’ down can help you visualise the look and feel of your actual wedding day, which in turn will help you streamline your concept and narrow things down. Inspiration can strike at any moment, so always keep your journal close to hand. It’s also a good idea to take it with you to appointments like fittings, florist consultations or venue visits so that you can take notes and refer to them later.
Establish a budget
While this is perhaps less fun than other parts of planning, setting a budget down on paper will ease your spending stress and help with decision making.t. After all, it’s easy to get carried away with add-ons instead of prioritising what really matters. Drawing up a realistic budget will help to bring your dream wedding scenario to life, while avoiding any last-minute surprises and unforeseen expenses. Use your wedding journal to track your spending and ensure you’re sticking to the plan.
Focus on the finer details
When it comes to making your wedding day unique, it’s all in the details. Try and plan touches that reflect who you are as a couple – add photos to your place settings,forage for your own wedding flowers or handing out personalised party bags to your guests. There are plenty of creative ways you can bring personal touches to your celebration to make it unforgettable and truly your own. Plus, seeing your plans on paper later will remind you of all those little details from your special day.
Start thinking of your guests
Wedding invitations and save the dates are a great way of letting you and your partner’s personalities shine through. Give your guests a first glimpse of what you have planned for the big day by matching your paper details to your wedding’s colour scheme or the vibe of the venue that you’ve noted in your journal. Alternatively, you can’t go wrong with the timeless look of elegant calligraphy, colour block designs or monogrammed stationery.
Planning makes perfect
If you’ve ever organised a wedding or helped to organise one, you’ll know they’re a fine balancing act of head counts, spreadsheets, email threads. And while it might all seem overwhelming, the key is to break everything down into bite-sized pieces. Start by writing a list of actionable items and setting a deadline for each one to make sure it gets done in time. Having a list of daily tasks, important dates and checklists to tick off will also help you keep on top of things, bringing you peace of mind.
Put your wedding vows down on paper
If you’re having a non-denominational wedding, writing your own wedding vows is a wonderful way of celebrating the love you and your partner have for one another. And even if it’s coming straight from the heart, getting up in front of your guests on the big day and improvising might not be the best idea. Instead, write your vows down in your wedding journal to help you fine tune exactly what you want to say before you commit it to memory. It can also make a lovely gift for your partner once the ceremony is over, or become something you decide to keep and pass on to your children or grandchildren.
Keep your memories safe
You can use your wedding planning notebook as a scrapbook, pasting in things like business cards from your favourite cake maker, fabric samples or polaroid pictures from any key events around the wedding such as your rehearsal dinner, your hen or your stag do. Getting married is a big milestone and you’ll thank yourself for having created something tangible to look back on or share with others once the wedding is over.
Take a moment to check in
So much goes into wedding preparations that the whole process can seem like a bit of a whirlwind. Carving out five minutes a day to reflect on how you’re feeling and writing it down in your journal can help you savour the process a little more and give you something to remember long after the big day is over. Turn it into a ritual by switching off your phone, lighting your favourite scented candles and making yourself a soothing cup of tea.
Ready to say “I do” to your new wedding journal? Discover our collection of leather-bound journals and start planning every chapter of your special day.
