First of all, congratulations!!!
Congrats!!! You just got engaged!!!! You’ve been dreaming about this for what only feels like f o r e v e r— but now what?! Amidst the excitement and celebration, it can be a little overwhelming thinking about what to tackle first in terms of wedding planning. Keep reading for my 10 tips regarding the most important things to do following your engagement!
1. take time to CELEBRATE!
This is such an exciting time that truly flies by. Soak in those first few days with your new fiancé and really enjoy this season. It may sound silly, but it’s so important to take time to be together and surround yourself with family and friends who are eager to celebrate with you! Cheers to the future Mr. and Mrs.! Now let’s get to planning!
2. What vendors are your priority?
Especially heading in 2021 and 2022, when many 2020 weddings are being rescheduled, vendors are booking faster than ever! When you first get engaged determine your top priority vendor, and plan your wedding around that. Is it crucial for you to have that dream wedding venue you’ve loved since you were little? Or have you been obsessing over a photographer’s work? Is there a wedding planner that you couldn’t imagine planning your wedding without? Determine which is the most important and start there. Many venues and photographers book weddings more than 12 months in advance, sometimes even sooner, depending on demand.
3. Determine your budget and who will contribute what
Sit down with the people who will be contributing to paying for the wedding, whether that be you and your fiancé or parents and extended family, and determine how much it is you want to spend. This also goes back to deciding which vendors are the most important. When you define your budget you can decide which vendors you want to “splurge” on a bit, and where you can get creative and save some money. Weddings add up quickly if you’re not careful, so setting a budget from the get-go is crucial. It’s important to have an idea of this number before you get to planning lots of details.
4. Begin brainstorming your guest list
Do you want to have a smaller, intimate wedding or a huge celebration with all of your favorite people? Start to get an idea of who all you want to celebrate alongside as this will influence your venue choice as well as much of your planning! Websites such as ZOLA and the Knot allow you to create guest lists, or you could even opt for something as simple as an excel spreadsheet. Just get to brainstorming and keep it organized!
5. Determine when + where you want to get married
Summer, fall, winter, spring? Do you want to have a shorter or longer engagement? A destination wedding or stay closer to home? Each of these things are important to consider when beginning to think through the big day!
6. Make sure your ring is insured
This is a VERY important detail that can sometimes be overlooked in the excitement of everything that is happening. Check with your fiancé to see if it’s already insured, but if not, definitely make that one of the first things you do!
7. Get inspired on pinterest
Pinterest is such an incredible tool for planning weddings and there is so much useful information out there! PRO TIP: In planning my own wedding, I created a board and within that board included different boards for various things such as the dress, hair and makeup, ceremony, reception, florals, cake, etc. This helps keep you organized while still keeping your ideas all in one place. Here’s a sneak peak of some of my wedding boards underneath my overall “wedding inspo” board!
8. Start to think about who you want in your wedding party!
What friends have been supportive of your relationship and always been someone you can count on? Do you want to keep it intimate, or include all your best friends? Who will your maid of honor be? Do you want the same amount of bridesmaids and groomsmen? You definitely don’t have to finalize this right away, but begin to get an idea of who you want standing beside you on your big day!
9. Send thank you cards
This might not be one of the things you initially think of doing, but it’s super important to thank all of the people who played a party in making your engagement so special! Was there a photographer there to capture the moment? Did your friends travel and come surprise you? Did your parents take you out to a celebratory dinner? Regardless of who it might be, take time to thank the people who took the time to celebrate this exciting time in your life. It seriously means SO much to them!
10. Prepare for not only the wedding but the marriage <3
In the craziness of wedding planning, it can be easy to forget the real reason you’re stressing over all these little details. You’re about to join your life with another person, forever!!! We spend so much time preparing for one singular day, and not enough time preparing for the relationship that will last the rest of our lives. Take time to do some research regarding premarital counseling and if that’s something you guys want to pursue. There are lots of great books out there that are incredible to read while engaged (blog post on this to come— stay tuned!) and so many resources out there to help you on this journey! Seek wisdom and advice from couples who have gone before you, and never be afraid to ask for help along the way.
