If you are reading this, perhaps you just said yes or maybe you are the one that popped the question!  Regardless of your role in this beautiful love story…congratulations!  While you may still be floating on cloud nine, you have some work to do and there is no time like the present to dive into this amazing journey we call wedding planning.

Committing the rest of your life to this very special person is scary and incredible and exciting and the journey you are about to embark on can be stressful. So make your phone calls to family and friends, post on your social media and shout it from the rooftops if you must, but not before taking a moment to bask in this unmatched feeling of love and celebrate the beginning of this wild ride together.

Get ready to hop on this roller coaster of bliss, confusion, stress, joy and complete overwhelm. Between Pinterest, bridal magazines and blogs, the wealth of information you will receive can be quite staggering and as a first-timer you will likely have no idea where to begin. Lucky for you we are to help and have put together a list of some of the things you should do after getting engaged.  So let’s take a look at what is in store for you and your beloved as you begin the planning journey.

Take A Moment

We alluded to this earlier, but we have no shame mentioning it again…celebrate with each other. We get it, you want the world to know you are taking the next step together and there is nothing better than posting this type of news on social media…but, this moment is fleeting, and these feelings can not be mimicked.  Live in this, bask in it…celebrate your moment. Whether you go back to your first date spot, hit up your favorite, fancy restaurant or spend some time together at home, make sure you celebrate alone as a couple before you shout it to the world.  We promise you will appreciate this “calm before the storm” when life gets a bit crazy in the days to come.

First Two Stops

There are many vendors that make up your wedding dream team. You will be researching, meeting and interviewing quite a few professionals in each of the categories that make up your squad, however, we cannot stress enough how important it is to make your first two stops your venue and your wedding planner. Your wedding venue will determine many aspects of your wedding; the date, the decor, the theme, the menu and even your ceremony aesthetic. Another important first step is choosing your wedding planner. Your wedding planner is the ringleader of your dream team, so recommendations from them will be as good as gold, plus depending on your services, they will likely do most of the scouting for you.  Knowing that your planner has a relationship with your vendors is a surefire way to feel secure in your planning journey and on your wedding day.

The Wedding Date Chooses You

Unless you have a specific date that you are adamant about for sentimental reasons, going into wedding planning with an open mind on a date is vital.  We like to say that you don’t choose your wedding date, your wedding date chooses you. We recommend knowing what season and perhaps even what month you would like to get married in but be more open on specific dates.  If you fall in love with a venue and they are booked on your date, you will feel better about changing the day rather than changing the venue. If you are set on a specific date, just make sure you are aware that you may be prone to having a longer engagement than originally planned.

Money Matters

Setting a budget may not sound like fun, but it is often detrimental to your wedding planning journey.  Creating your wedding budget, which will be executed with the help and expertise of your wedding planner, should be one of the earliest tasks you check off as a newly engaged couple.  Your budget will determine every aspect of your wedding, so this is important to do before you start shopping for your vendors. And while “money talks”, no one wants to talk about money!  It is still imperative that you discuss (early on) who will be contributing (and how much) to your wedding.  Parents, in-laws, grandparents, whomever should let you know if they plan on helping to determine the big picture before diving in head first.

Get Inspired

Maybe you have been thinking about this for years or perhaps you have no clue where to begin, wedding design and decor can be rather overwhelming.  With a wedding planner by your side, all they need from you is some inspiration.  So take your time to scour the pages of Pinterest or perhaps your prefer the glossy pages of  bridal magazines, whichever you desire, get inspired.  Recognize if you want a romantic, timeless or classic wedding.  Decide if you want a room filled with florals or greenery or both.  Candles or fairylights?   Indoor or outdoor? It all begins with a bit of inspiration and we promise a beautiful dream wedding will unfold before you.  So get inspired and have fun doing it. 

Relax, take a deep breath and embrace this incredible moment in your life.  Being engaged is more than just the step before getting married.  Your engagement is a time of togetherness, planning,decision making, excitement and love.  This journey is unlike any other you have experienced and we urge you to immerse yourself in it and enjoy every stage. Happy Planning!

As you know, one of the least exciting parts of wedding planning is creating the budget.  We get it, no one likes to talk about money and no one wants a limit to their spending!!  If you need some insight on what goes into a budget and some suggestions on what things cost, take a look at our blog, What Goes Into a Wedding Budget for some guidance.