He asked and you said YES. You celebrated with friends and family, posted the news to social media and now…. you have to plan a wedding. If you’re newly engaged and not sure where to start, this post is for you! These are the 10 things that you should do FIRST once you have that new sparkly ring on your finger.
1.) Dream together.
Sit down with your fiance and talk about the wedding you both want (not the wedding your parents want — what do YOU both want?). After getting your ideas in order, have a talk with both sets of parents and express your wants for the day. Ask your parents how they feel about your vision and see how they feel/what they envision.
2.) Figure out who’s invited.
The guest list is the first thing that should be decided, because this dictates where you can have your wedding take place. You need to know how many people you’re thinking of inviting (or at least a close range) so that you know what size space you need.
3.) Pick a handful of venues to tour.
A reception facility will be the largest part of your budget — around 40%. You should view a few different facilities before locking down a budget. Seeing what different venues have to offer may help you lock down what you want to spend on your wedding day.
4.) Consider outside costs.
Your venue may include tables, chairs and linens, or they might upcharge you for those items. You should also consider what type and how much decor would be needed to make the space look how you want it to. Looking at these costs after touring venues will help paint a more accurate picture of the cost.
5.) Nail down your budget.
Now that you have a better picture of the cost for your dream venue and the decor needed, you should start creating a budget for the remainder of your wedding.
6.) Ask for referrals.
Once you secure a venue, it’s time to start thinking about a photographer, videographer, planner, florist, DJ, caterer (if needed) and other vendors to bring your day to life. Ask your venue and friends who have been recently married for their suggestions!
7.) Meet with your vendors.
Before you book with any vendors, we recommend meeting with them, either in person or over the phone. They are a wealth of knowledge and it’s good to make sure you like what they have to offer.
8.) Take your time selecting the bridal party.
Don’t feel rushed to select your bridal party members. People tend to ask in excitement, but sit down and talk with your fiance first to make sure you agree on numbers.
9.) Schedule your engagement shoot.
Once you find your photographer, schedule your engagement photos and get used to being in front of the camera! These photos can also be used to announce your engagement on save the dates!
10.) Enjoy the process.
Remember, planning your wedding is a process that should be enjoyed and is all a part of being engaged. It will only happen once in your life, so try not to get too stressed out. Enjoy planning your dream day, and reach out to us if you need help!
