Before the dress, the flowers, the vows—there is a season, quietly unfolding, where the two of you write the earliest pages of your marriage story. This is the “before”—the moments of choice, growth, faith, and love—not always seen but deeply felt.
We believe this season deserves as much care, intention, and beauty as the wedding day itself. Below are a few quick ideas for your special journey to the wedding day
So ask yourself:
How could a first dance rehearsal become more than choreography—what if it was a weekly reminder to laugh, hold each other close, and find your rhythm together?
Could cake tastings be more than picking flavors—what if they sparked stories of the meals and moments that already define your love?
Instead of writing vows in a rush, what if you spent these months sharing small notes, slowly weaving together the promises that will hold you for a lifetime?
When you shift perspective, every part of planning becomes more than a task. It becomes a memory. A ritual. A stepping stone into a life together.
This is why this season matters more than you think.
See more ideas, insights and text below the engagement videos
So ask yourselves:
How will you use this time to grow your story—learning more about one another in the process?
How will you turn planning into play, decisions into connection, and even challenges into blessings?
How will you step into marriage not just with a celebration, but with a love that has already been nurtured, strengthened, and set apart during this time?
SOME IDEAS FROM OUR SIDE
📸 Engagement Shoot (A Memory in the Middle)
Instead of posing stiffly, turn your engagement photos into a memory: bring props that tell your story, visit a meaningful place, or bring family heirlooms. Laugh, run, dance. Let it be a living chapter, not just a checklist.
Connection: A joyful pause between planning steps; a reminder of why you’re doing this.
The First Dance Practice
Could this be more than learning steps? What if it became your weekly ritual—holding one another close, finding your rhythm, laughing when you trip, and realizing marriage is about exactly that: moving together even when it’s not perfect.
Date Night / “Sabbath”
In the middle of timelines, budgets, and endless checklists, carve out one evening each week that is completely off-limits for wedding talk. Let it become your rhythm of rest—a pause where it’s just the two of you, remembering why you fell in love in the first place.
It doesn’t have to be extravagant: cook a dish from your honeymoon destination, take a painting class, try a new restaurant, watch a theatre show, or dance barefoot in your living room. What matters isn’t the activity—it’s the choice to be fully present with one another.
Why it matters: This weekly pause keeps your romance alive during planning. It gives you space to laugh, to dream, and to simply be together, grounding your wedding in what truly lasts—your love.
Cake Tastings
Instead of rushing through flavors, imagine turning them into a playful date night. Could you share stories about meals that shaped your love, or dream aloud about the dinners and celebrations you’ll host as a married couple?
Writing Vows
Why wait until the last moment? What if you began a journal now, leaving little notes for each other that slowly weave into your promises—creating vows that feel lived-in, not rushed?
🪞 Rehearsal & Walkthroughs (Sacred Pauses)
Rehearsals don’t have to feel like a checklist. They can become part of your wedding story. Before the aisle is filled with music and guests, take a moment to pause—hold hands, look around, and picture the vows you’re about to speak.
Invite those closest to you—your family, bridal party, even friends who’ve walked alongside your love story—to share a memory, a word of encouragement, or a blessing. These stories and voices become part of the foundation you’re standing on.
Instead of rushing, let this gathering feel like the prologue to your wedding day—a sacred pause, filled with laughter, prayer, and connection.
🌟 Vision, Values, and the Life You’re Building Together
Wedding planning isn’t just about flowers and timelines—it’s a chance to dream together about the life you want beyond the aisle. Take time to create a shared vision for your marriage. This could be a moodboard of dreams, a list of values, or a journal of hopes for your future.
Ask questions like:
What kind of home do we want to build, and what daily rhythms will make us feel grounded?
How do we want to celebrate holidays, milestones, and traditions as a couple?
What values—faith, adventure, family, generosity, creativity—do we want to center in our life together?
Make it fun and creative: sketch, collage, or even make a playlist that reflects your shared vision. These conversations can be lighthearted and playful, but also deeply meaningful—they lay the foundation for a strong, intentional marriage.
If it feels overwhelming or you want extra guidance, consider bringing in a mentor, couple (or grandparents) who have been married for many years, pastor, or counselor for a session or two. Ask them their story, insights and even ideas. Having an outside voice can help you uncover blind spots, clarify shared goals, and celebrate your love story as it grows.
Why it matters: These discussions transform the pre-wedding season into a launchpad for a life together, making the wedding day not just a celebration, but a reflection of a shared vision and values.
The truth is, these moments—whether small or grand—are the foundation you are building together. A foundation of patience, joy, forgiveness, and delight. These are the qualities that echo into marriage and make the vows even deeper.
This is the story before the story. The season where you are already practicing what it means to love well, to honor one another, and to cherish the journey.
And it’s one worth living—and remembering—beautifully.
Watch a special documentary we filmed, couples sharing their story
“Still” is an intimate documentary that shares the story of couples facing a worldwide pandemic while planning their wedding day. Fine Art Wedding Film selected a few couples whose weddings occurred during this time.
The documentary is now available on AMAZON PRIME
https://www.amazon.com/Still-Desmond-Denton/dp/B0DJMR8WWB