You’re Engaged! …Now What? 5 First Steps To Consider
You’re engaged! …Now What?
This is truly an exciting time! As a couple, you have taken a huge step on a new adventure together and you have said yes to being partners forever. It’s important to remember this as you move forward through the wedding process, and of course, we’re here to help too. Much more than just a wedding planner, we are here for you. You will never be considered just a number. We take great pride in getting to know our couples and successfully creating and executing their perfect day.
But wait, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here…
You just got ENGAGED! First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! It really is an exciting thing to have in your life! And once you’ve told family and friends, the questions will start pouring in. Questions like, “Where will you get married?” “When?!” “What kind of dress do you want to have walking down the aisle?” “Do you want an outdoor wedding? Indoor? Both?!” These are just a few and by the time the wedding day has arrived, you might be wanting to pull your hair out with all the overwhelming amount of questions.
We completely understand. And to make things as seamless and easy as possible for you, we wanted to break it down for you so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming. Starting with these top 5 steps will put you on the best foot forward and lead to a magical and unforgettable day.
5 Steps To Consider Right After You Get Engaged
1.) DREAM Together:
First thing we like to suggest is to dream! What would the perfect day look like for the both of you? This will help you both see how to make it a day both of you will be truly happy with. And you may be thinking, “Well we can’t do everything we imagine. There’s no way.” But think of it this way, if you shoot for the moon and you fall a little short, you’ll still land among the stars and have a wedding you both feel good about. And the next step is crucial…
2.) PRIORITZE:
Now that you’ve dreamed big, the next step is to decide what is a priority to you. Make it fun by both of you making a list of 5 most important things to you to have at your wedding. Maybe it’s having the wedding outside, or destination. Maybe it’s having lots of guests, or a small wedding. Clarifying what your expectations are and what things are important to you will set you up for success. Compare your priority lists together and talk about what they mean to each other. Perhaps you have a couple things on your list that match up. And then also discuss and compromise. Putting your priorities in order of importance will also help. Then try to make another list together. One that you both feel good about.
3.) BUDGETING:
Fantastic! Now that you both are on the same page, the next step (and often the most dreaded) is discussing your budget. Use the list of priorities and dreams you have from steps 1 & 2. And consider these aspects too:
*How many guests would you like to have? (This number will also determine your venue choice)
*What kind of theme are you wanting?
*Where is the money coming from?
*Based off of the priorities list, what are the costs involved for those aspects?
If your parents are paying for the wedding or at least helping to contribute, it’s vital that you sit down with them and ask them what their own expectations are. What amount will they be giving, and what do they think it would be best used for? If you are paying for the wedding, put together a number that you both feel good about. And definitely discuss with great detail how and where the money will come from. Talking about the budget and both being on the same page is crucial. It is a kind of necessary evil, but one that can only allow you both to feel confident about the process. A marriage is a partnership after all.
4.) TO HIRE OR NOT HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER:
There are many pros in hiring a wedding planner, but it is important to first discuss what having a planner will mean to you as a couple. If it is a priority to have someone take care of the day for you so you can purely enjoy the celebration, then having a planner would be a great choice. If perhaps you enjoy making decisions and planning is totally your thing, but don’t want to have to make decisions on that day, maybe you only need a coordinator for the day of. Or if you have no idea where to start in looking for the right vendors, or venues, etc, hiring a wedding planner to take this on for you can be the best idea. Having a planner for your wedding will affect the wedding as a whole, and it is important to take a look and determine what you as a couple will need.
*If you have any questions as far as hiring a wedding planner and what all the aspects are of a decision like this, please feel free to contact us.
5.) TIMELY DECISIONS:
Based off of your priorities and budget for your wedding, the most timely decisions to next focus on are these:
*Make a guest list.
(This list may be affected by your budget)
*When do you want to get married? What time of year?
(Sometimes this affects or is affected by your venue choice)
*Select your venue.
*Choose your wedding party.
*Finding a bridal gown
(Special order dresses take 4-6 months for production and then you want at least a month for alterations to make sure the dress fits perfectly. All in all, this is one of the first things you’ll want to do in the wedding planning process.)
*Finding your photographer
(Keep in mind the theme you are wanting)
We hope these 5 first steps to consider after you get engaged has helped you. Just taking things step by step will help to ensure the perfect wedding. One that you are truly happy with and can look back on knowing you made the best possible decisions for yourselves. It’s a celebration and one that we truly want to make a wonderful experience from start to finish.
So let’s get started planning the best wedding ever! We have lots to do and plan to have as much fun as possible along the way!