What To Do Once Engaged
Pop the bubbly, you're engaged!
Yes, we sure do meet a lot of happy couples in our role as wedding planners, but there's something about a new engagement that tugs at our heart strings all the time. A couple moving into their next phase of life together, feeling all the romantic things, and feeling so much hope & excitement for the future - we just can't get enough of it.
So, here's your ultimate guide in how to tackle preparing for those scary next steps: wedding planning.
Enjoy your engagement!
This will be the most important piece of wedding planning advice that I can give you. You have probably talked about your wedding before even becoming engaged, and that is fabulous. But just because you're wearing that ring doesn't mean you have to start rushing into it & making decisions all at once. Your engagement will be unlike any other period of your life. You deserve to bask in the goodness, in the romance, in the bursting pops of excitement - before the wedding planning stress kicks in.
So go ahead and be that couple - with as many lovey dovey moments as you can fit. Daydream about the exquisite moments of walking down the aisle or swaying to your first dance. Keep remembering why you're getting married.
Consider the experience you want to have
And we mean, from start to finish. Some people love wedding planning, others just want to pick the colors & do the traditions. Some people want the formal pageantry, others want a lowkey, intimate experience. Ask yourself these questions:
Do you enjoy being the center of attention?
What traditions & cultural elements are important to you?
In your personal life, do you like to plan gatherings or trips? Or do you prefer to experience it without being the decision-maker?
What does a romantic experience look like for you?
Are you hosting this wedding just for you & your future spouse, or for your family?
This will give you a starting point to strategize how you want to tackle wedding planning, and help reel in your ideas by reminding you what's most important to you.
Acknowledge the reality
Wedding planning can be stressful as-is, but it's extra stressful if you're not prepared. Once your engaged, let these questions guide your planning experience:
What else will be happening in your life that could affect the time you have for wedding planning? (post-grad education, family responsibilities, buying a house, etc). If you have a lot going on, it will be helpful to set a wedding date further into the future.
How will you be paying for your wedding experience? Consider your own personal stakeholders and who might be contributing. This is the time to have those conversations, as uncomfortable as they may be. Make sure it’s clear who has decision-making power, and what the expectations are on spending that money. This will also help build your own savings goal, and guide you in how long you will need to save.
Do you want to hire a planning team? If you know you're going to hate wedding planning, it's at least worth consideration. Remember, you want to enjoy your engagement, not dread this entire period of your life.
Start looking at inspiration
It will be helpful to have a broad idea of your wedding style before you pick your venue and start planning. Pinterest is a great place to find inspiration (but not make decisions), as are fashion magazines, event publications (Like PartySlate or Carots & Cake) and wedding publications that focus on the local area of where you'll get married, and even blog posts from local vendors (like ours!). Not only will you find great inspiration in design, but you'll see who the top vendors are, what their work looks like, and start getting an idea of who you want to hire.
Following all these steps will put you at a great starting point when you're engaged and ready to start wedding planning. And remember, we're here for you when that time comes!