Congratulations on your engagement! If you’re wondering how to start planning your 2027 wedding, there are four steps to take first. Set your budget, agree on a rough guest number, choose your season and book your venue. Once your venue and date are confirmed, everything else can be planned around them.
At Blackstock Country Estate, our wedding coordinators help couples plan their day at our barn wedding venue in Hellingly, East Sussex. With catering provided in-house, you also have one fewer supplier to find.
Image above by Sussex Media Design
If you’re hoping to marry in 2027, start checking venue availability now, particularly if you have a specific date in mind. A shorter planning timeline can still work, but it depends on your venue, registrar and chosen suppliers being available.
Arrange viewings at your shortlisted venues and ask about available dates before committing to other bookings. Once your date at Blackstock Country Estate is confirmed, you’ll need to book your registrars separately.
Agree your budget before you book anything. Discuss what you can comfortably spend together and confirm any contributions offered by family. Decide which parts of the day matter most to you both, so you know where to prioritise your spending.
Couples surveyed for Bridebook’s 2026 UK Wedding Report spent an average of £20,604 on their 2025 weddings, but your budget should reflect what you can afford.
When comparing venue quotes, check what is included and allow for anything charged separately, such as catering, drinks, accommodation and registrar fees.
Image above by John Scofield
You don’t need a final guest list yet, but a rough number helps you find venues that fit. Start with the people you both want there, including children and plus ones, and consider how many additional guests you might invite for the evening. Guest numbers will also affect your catering costs.
At Blackstock Country Estate, The Granary seats up to 120 guests for your wedding breakfast. For help deciding who to invite, read our advice on who should be on your wedding guest list.
When deciding how to start planning your 2027 wedding, think about the time of year and how it will affect your day. Summer offers more daylight for outdoor drinks and photographs, although you’ll still need a wet-weather plan. For autumn weddings, shorter days make your ceremony time more important. If you’re choosing between September, October and November, find out which is the best month for an autumn wedding.
Compare prices and availability for different days of the week, too. A weekday may give you more choice, but consider any time off work and travel arrangements your guests would need.
At Blackstock Country Estate, we also offer twilight weddings with ceremonies starting at 4pm or later, followed by an evening reception in the Tudor Barn.
Image above by Parker Shots
Book your venue before confirming other suppliers, so you have a date and location to give them. If you’re holding your ceremony elsewhere, check that both venues are available on the same day.
During viewings, ask about the deposit, payment schedule, cancellation terms and any restrictions on decorations or music. Going through these questions to ask before booking a wedding venue can help you prepare.
At a private viewing of Blackstock Country Estate, one of our wedding coordinators will show you around the Tudor Barn, The Granary and the courtyards. You can discuss how you’d like to use the venue, ask about accommodation and talk through your plans with the team.
Image above by Parker Shots
Once your venue and date are confirmed, contact East Sussex Registration Service to book the registrars for your civil ceremony. You’ll need to arrange this directly with the registration service, as it isn’t included in your venue booking.
We’re licensed to hold wedding and civil partnership ceremonies at Blackstock Country Estate. You can choose an indoor ceremony in the Tudor Barn throughout the year, or an outdoor ceremony in our grounds between May and September. If you’d prefer to marry elsewhere, you can join us afterwards for your reception and evening celebrations.
With your venue, date and ceremony confirmed, check availability with your preferred photographer, florist and entertainment, then discuss their packages and prices before booking.
At Blackstock Country Estate, our in-house caterers, Circa Events, will work with you to plan a wedding menu that suits your tastes, budget and style of celebration. They use locally sourced ingredients where possible, and our team can discuss menu options and dietary requirements with you during planning.
If you and your wedding party would like to stay, speak to our coordinators about wedding accommodation on site and within walking distance. Check availability for any nights you need before or after the wedding.
Images above by Anthony Hazelden Photography
If you’re wondering how to start planning your 2027 wedding, come and see us at Blackstock Country Estate in Hellingly, East Sussex. Meet our wedding coordinators, explore the venue and talk through available 2027 dates.
Book a private viewing, call us on 01323 848 006 or email events@blackstockestate.co.uk. We’d love to hear what you have in mind.