You’re Engaged!!! Now What?
"Saying "yes" to the love of your life is just the beginning. Now comes the exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) task of planning your wedding.
Maybe you've meticulously planned your dream wedding since childhood, complete with every detail envisioned. Or perhaps, you're embarking on this exciting journey with a blank canvas, eager to discover the wedding of your dreams.
wedding planning is about to become a big part of your life, so where do you start?
Here’s my top 5 tips when starting your wedding planning journey
1-CELEBRATE!!! Revel in the moment and enjoy the start of this new chapter!
Just because you now have a ring doesn’t mean you have to figure it all out today. Take some time to enjoy just being engaged to each other. There’s no rush to tie the knot.
Bonus tip: Your family and friends will be super excited for you, which is great, but often time comes with a million questions. “Have you set a date?” “Where are you getting married?” “Can I be in your wedding?” - If you’re not ready to answer these questions, or feeling a little overwhelmed, you can always tell just say “WE are really loving just being engaged now and haven’t started planning yet so we can fully enjoy this time together.”
2-Figure out the why behind the wedding. what do you really want to experience, as a couple, on your big day?
sit down together and really figure out what it is you want to experience on your wedding. What do you care about the most? Is it a huge party with all your family and friends or are you looking for something more intimate? Is creating once-in-a-lifetime memories by having an amazing dinner and hosting a great live band part of your dream or are you looking to have a little more quality time with your loved ones? whatever you Decide upon will give you a road map for wedding planning. Knowing what you want to get out of your day will help direct your budget and choices as well when actually choosing vendors and help from getting lost in what Instagram says you need!
Bonus Tip: On the topic of Instagram and Pinterest: be wary! Those gorgeous floral towers you see, can cost thousands of dollars apiece. That really cool outdoor tablescape with multiple chandeliers hanging over the table - keep in mind all the working parts that go into making that a reality (the hangers heavy enough to hold the light fixtures, the chandelier’s {Which you may have to actually buy}, electricity…) All of these things are totally doable but keeping a realistic idea of how to make this happen (and if it’s even possible at your venue) and the cost of each is super important. Just because that a-list celebrity couple had a custom hat bar at their wedding, does not mean your wedding has to have something quite so extravagant to still be amazing.
3-BUDGET!!!
Before you do anything else, make a budget. Determine the exact dollar amount you are willing to spend before you book anything. Be sure to include any contributions from family or friends. Once you have that top dollar worked out, from that point you can start breaking down how much will go to each vendor/service.
Bonus Tip: Hiring a planner can help you break that budget down per vendor so you can get the most bang for you buck!
4-Choose a date, venue & planner.
This sounds simple, but this is going to be one of the most important steps! a lot of couples know exactly where they want to get married, and it’s just a matter of finding the date!
Bonus Tip: Depending on your budget and needs will determine when & What type of planning service to book. If you are planning to use full wedding planning service, start by booking your planner first. The earlier you book, the more we can help each piece come together in order & so nothing gets missed. We frequent times know vendor personally and can help in the booking process with direct communication. If you are booking a day-of coordinator, I would personally suggest booking your venue and securing a date first, then finding a coordinator, as they will be less involved on the front end of planning. By Getting these 3 pieces together, it will create the strong foundation the rest of your wedding will be built upon.
5-book the vendors that are the most important to your vision
After you've defined your wedding vision (think: relaxed garden party vs. glamorous ballroom), it's time to prioritize & book your top 3 vendors – what truly matters most to you? by Choosing those top vendors and booking them first ensures you budget it put to use where it truly matters. Popular dates and in-demand vendors book up fast, so securing your favorites early on gives you the best selection and avoids disappointment. This prevents compromising on your dream band or Caterer due to unforeseen budget constraints.
With this being said however, really no matter what is the most important thing to you, choosing a photographer should always be in the top 3 vendors that are bookws first. Photos are the one thing you take with you - besides a new spouse (Wink wink)- after the wedding day so it’s crucial to choose a photographer who will capture these memories the way you want them to!"