I’M ENGAGED, NOW WHAT?
Congratulations on your engagement! Getting engaged is such a big milestone in any relationship, and wedding planning is such a fun season for couples. You may be wondering where to begin as you start to think about planning your big day. Here are the top three things engaged couples getting married should do first.
STEP 1 - Have an open discussion with your partner about these key wedding planning decisions.
The first step in the wedding planning process is to sit down as a couple and have a conversation about these three key wedding planning topics. Once you have a good feel for these, the rest of the planning will start to fall into line.
Decision Makers
Establish who is involved in the decision-making process. Throughout the wedding planning journey, you will be faced with countless decisions. Where will the wedding take place? How many people will be invited? What is the overall vibe of the day?
Budget
As you begin to think of all the initial considerations, you’ll also want to establish your overall budget. Talk with any key stakeholders to gather the information needed to set your maximum wedding budget. Knowing your budget is crucial to booking your wedding vendors. Not sure where to start? We love this article published by Brides. We can also add budget assistance to any of our planning packages!
Priorities
Lastly, talk with your partner about your top priorities for the wedding day. Perhaps your top priorities are the food… or maybe it’s having a live band. No matter what, it’s important to keep in mind the must-haves as you begin to work through your budget and plan your wedding day. Remember, there’s no right answer to this one! Your wedding is about YOU and what YOU like, so that might be different than what you’ve experienced at other weddings you’ve been to.
STEP 2 - Hire a wedding planner.
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and I believe you should be able to enjoy it! Like your engagement, your wedding day happens once, and it will be over in the blink of an eye! So why not hire someone who will allow the planning process to be stress-free and enjoyable? Here are just a few of the benefits of hiring a great wedding planner:
Your Guide To Wedding Day
A wedding planner guides you in the decision-making process based on your priorities and budget. If step one was difficult or more stressful than you expected, it might be a sign that having a planner will help you manage these big decisions and cut some of that planning stress out of your life.
Cut Out The Noise
Planners also help you mediate between different opinions throughout the process. Remember those key decision makers we identified? They’ll probably have opinions on ALL OF THE THINGS and that might make it tricky to figure out what’s best for you. Having a professional opinion to help you sort through all of the thoughts and feelings can help you rest assured that you are making the best possible decisions.
Enjoy The Party!
On your wedding day, they allow you to be fully present! Planners coordinate all of the logistics for you day of so your friends and family can enjoy the day with you and you don’t feel pressured to run the show on your own. You’ve worked hard to plan the perfect day for you and your partner, you deserve to be able to sit back and have a mimosa with your people!
STEP 3 - Determine your VIPs and ensure they can attend on your ideal wedding date at your preferred location.
The third thing to do after getting engaged is to determine your VIPs - your loved ones you can’t imagine your wedding day without. Check with them to ensure they can attend on your ideal wedding date at your preferred location! Being transparent with your inner circle is a great step towards ensuring they’re all able to make it to your wedding day. Here are some examples of who might be on this list:
Parents & Siblings
Best Friends you want in your wedding party
Any vendors you HAVE to have for your wedding (ex. that photographer you LOVE)
