I'm Engaged! Now What?

One of the favorite parts of my job is meeting with couples and talking about their wedding day. I want to hear about everything from the dress to the flowers to what color the guys are wearing. By the time I meet with couples, most of the big stuff is planned. Invitations make their way to the middle of the planning list, which is actually perfect. 

But I have met with couples who don’t even know where to start. I mean, how many newly engaged couples have planned a wedding before? I’m sure that moms/sisters/friends/cousins/random people on the street are giving you their opinion on what you should and should not do! Wedding planning is a whirlwind, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. If you’re just getting started, here are a few tips from me on where to begin.

Photo: Idalia Photography

• Take a deep breath!
  Unless you have to get married tomorrow, there is no rush in planning your wedding. Take time to enjoy being engaged! Talk about your wedding dreams and what you both want for your wedding day. Begin researching and contacting vendors based on your dreams.

• Who’s paying for this anyways? 
  Ah… the big budget question. How much money do you want to spend on your wedding? That’s something only you know the answer to. Do you have parents contributing to the wedding fund? Are all parents or just a few? How much can you spend? Start jotting down some numbers but keep an open mind. You’ve never done this before so start researching how much things cost. 

• Location, location, location. 
  The start of your wedding plans should be planning where you want to get married. Do you have a specific venue you want to get married in? Or maybe it’s a destination! Narrow down where you want to get married. Sometimes, that’s more important than when you want to get married. Venues book up well in advance, so if you do have a favorite location, find out what days the have available and go from there.

• Inquire with Vendors
  The only way to know what you like and what you can afford for your wedding day is by reaching out to vendors. Most vendors will be more than happy to meet with you (usually free consultations… like I offer!) to give you an idea of what things cost based on what you want. Where to begin looking? I suggest searching on TheKnot and WeddingWire!

• Pick your non-negotiables.
  What have you been dreaming about for your perfect wedding? Is it a day full of lush florals everywhere? Is it that amazing band you remember from your cousin’s wedding 4 years ago? Or maybe sending out invitations that will wow your guests. Figure out your top categories and reach out to those vendors first. The rest of the details will fill in.

Wedding planning can be overwhelming, but if you slow down and decide what you actually want for the big day, start there! As always, I am available for any stationery or non-stationery related questions!