Last Updated on September 13, 2022 by Corynn
Congratulations! Pop the champagne! You’re an engaged woman (or man). You celebrated your engagement now what? Time to get down to business and start wedding planning.
Here are the top 10 important things you need to after getting engaged
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1) Choose a Season
Choosing a season can make it easier to narrow down your date. Do you want a fall wedding? With the leave changing colors, using pumpkins as your decor.
Or you can have a winter wedding. Snow everywhere, a long sleeve dress. So many decision to make
2) Choose a Date
You can choose how long you want to be engaged. According to The Knot, the average timeline for a U.S couple stays engaged is 15 months.
You don’t have to follow that timeline. You can get married whenever you want. Your wedding can be between 6 months or even 3 years. It’s your wedding. Take the time that you need.
Take the time to choose between 2-3 different dates when you want to get married, especially if it is within the wedding season (June-October). Dates get booked really quickly between vendors.
Venues can be booked between 12-18 months in advance.
3) Choose a Style
Before you start rushing to call different venues. You need to have an idea of what kind of style wedding you want.
Think of the colors, themes, the size of a wedding or do you just want to elope?
Do you want to DIY your entire wedding? Do you want a Cinderella ball? Or a rustic wedding in a barn. Figure out what kind of style both you and your fiancé want BEFORE reaching out to anybody!
Photo by Wedding Photography on Unsplash
4) Make a List of Wants
What do you want on your wedding day? Do you want to get amazing photos? Or do you really want to have beautiful Centrepieces? Sit together with your fiancé and create a list of wants/needs for your wedding day.
This will help you to create a list of things that are a priority at your wedding.
5) Create a Budget
Not only do you have to find your style but you also have to create a budget for your wedding. Look into how much money you and your fiancé have.
Are you paying for the wedding yourself? Has your parents mention they are helping with the wedding.
Traditionally the family of the bride pays for the majority of the wedding. Since we are in modern times you don’t need to follow that stigma.
If both parents are unable to help then that’s okay. Have a wedding that is within your means. Try to make sure you add wiggle room to your budget.
Let’s go back to the list of wants/needs. When creating your budget, remember to prioritize your wants/needs first. What would you be okay
taking out of your budget to fit in your wants?
6) Hire a Wedding Planner
Now you can book someone; your wedding planner! They are so many different types of wedding planners out there. You have:
Full-Time Planner – who takes control of the planning, beginning to the end. This is great for people who are not the type of planning parties or have a hectic work schedule.
Part-time Planner – this type of planner plans alongside you and your fiancé. So you know what is happening every part of the way.
The Month of Coordinator – if you want to plan your own wedding and reach out to vendors yourself then this is the choice for you! A month of coordinator helps you within 30 days away from the wedding.
You’ll be doing most of the planning although your coordinator will be there by your side. On the day of the wedding, the coordinator would be the first person of contact. So you can relax on your special day.
Wedding planners can be quite expensive. Take a moment to look over your budget and see if you can afford a planner or just a month of coordinator. Having a wedding planner is optional! It’s all up to you and your fiancé’s needs.
7) Find a Venue
Now you have a planner and know what kind of style you like, The second thing you should book is your venue. a venue is the most important part of the wedding. This is where you will have your reception and possibly your ceremony.
Reach out to all kinds of venues that are close to home or even a couple of hours away. Ask for a copy of their packages to compare their prices that fit within your budget.
Do you want an outdoor venue? Or an all-inclusive? Or are you just looking for a small banquet hall?
8) Begin booking your Priority Vendors
Have your wants/need list on hand? Now it’s time to book those vendors. Research, research research! I can’t say it again!
Take the time to look over the vendors you want and also the reviews. For example, on my priority list, I wanted amazing wedding day photos. I took a couple of hours to reach out to photographers, look at their portfolios, their reviews to see if that is the style I wanted.
Remember you don’t have to take the first person you see. If you have questions remember to write them down and do not be afraid to ask them!
Need help finding vendors? check out Wedding Wire! This is where I found most of my vendors, participated in community chats where brides who are getting married in the same year are getting married.
9) Choose Your Bridal Party
Once you get engaged, the talk about whos going to be your bridesmaids begins to occur. Create a list of friends, siblings, or cousins you want to be by your side on the most important day of your life! You can have just your maid of honor or 10 bridesmaids. You decide what you want to do.
Sit down with your fiancé and share the people below you have on your list. Then create a plan on how you’re going to tell them!
Is it taking them all out for dinner? A gift? Or even a card that says “Will you be my bridesmaid?” Or “Will you be my groomsmen?”
Have some fun with this and choose wisely!
10) Order your Miss to Mrs. Box!
With all the stress of planning a wedding, you still need to treat yourself! Get yourself a Miss to Mrs. subscription box. It contains everything you need from the moment you get engaged to the honeymoon for you and your future hubby.
Photo credits to Theknot.com Marketplace
You will receive a box each month right up until the month of your wedding. Some of the items are for you or to use towards the wedding.
Click here to receive your Miss. to Mrs. Box today!
Final Thoughts
Wedding planning can be stressful but also have fun with it. Remember to take breaks and create a timeline of all the things you have to do. Also, remember to ask for help! You have a whole entourage that is willing to be there by your side.
Happy planning!
