What to bring to your first wedding planner meeting

1. A one-page wedding vision

This is the most useful thing you can bring, and the one most couples skip. Your planner doesn't need your whole Pinterest board. They need to know how the day should feel.

Write three words for the feeling ("relaxed, warm, a bit fashion"), choose four to six colors and pick five to ten images that show the mood. If an image came from a film, a hotel or a trip rather than another wedding, even better. It tells your planner who you are, not just what's trending.

2. Your budget and where you want it to go

A number on its own isn't enough. Tell your planner where you want to spend and where you'd happily save. "Food and photography matter most, flowers can be simple" lets them shape every recommendation around what you care about.

3. Guest count and timing

A rough range is fine. Bring a guest count within about 20 people, the seasons or dates you're considering, and any locations you've ruled in or out. These three facts decide most of the venue shortlist.

4. Your non-negotiables

Two or three things that must happen, and two or three things you don't care about. A long dinner with speeches. No first look. A dance floor that fills early. A planner who hears this on day one won't waste your time on options you'd never choose.

5. Questions for the planner

• •How many weddings do you take on in a season?
• •Who will be our main contact, and who runs the day itself?
• •How do you handle design, and do you work with a designer?
• •How do you share timelines and budgets with us?
• •What do you need from us to do your best work?

Why this matters

The first meeting sets the tone for the whole planning process. Couples who arrive with a clear vision get better ideas faster, because their planner isn't guessing. You don't need every answer, just a clear starting point.