10 THINGS TO DO AFTER YOU GET ENGAGED
First of all, congratulations on your engagement! This is one of the most exciting moments in your life—a time filled with love, celebration, and the promise of a beautiful future together. As you begin this incredible journey toward your wedding day, it’s only natural to feel a mix of emotions such as excitement, joy, and maybe even a little bit of overwhelm.
Wedding planning is an experience like no other, allowing you to dream big, create meaningful moments, and celebrate your unique love story. From finding the perfect venue to picking out the flowers and tasting delicious cakes, there’s so much joy to be found in curating a day that reflects you as a couple.
But let’s be real—planning a wedding can also come with its fair share of challenges. Between balancing budgets, managing guest lists, and making countless decisions, the process can sometimes feel stressful and even a little daunting. And that’s ok! The good news? You’re not alone! With the right approach, tools, and mindset, you can navigate the ups and downs of wedding planning and truly enjoy this special chapter of your life.
At this moment, you might be asking yourself, “where do I begin?”
We’ve put together a list of 10 essential things to do after you get engaged and how having a clear budget, finding your perfect venue, and hiring a wedding planner can save you both time and money.
Let’s dive in and make your wedding planning journey as joyful and seamless as possible!
Photo: Nicole Goddard Photography
1. Celebrate the Moment
Before diving into planning it’s important to take a moment to celebrate your engagement. Whether it’s popping champagne, sharing the news with loved ones, or simply spending quality time together, enjoy this special milestone before the real work begins. Many couples are choosing to have longer engagements these days allowing them much needed time to prepare for the big day.
2. Discuss Your Budget
Your budget will set the tone for all wedding-related decisions, so it’s crucial to start here.
Talk openly with your partner about how much you’re comfortable spending.
Determine whether family members will be contributing and set clear expectations.
Allocate your budget to prioritize what matters most to you, such as the venue, food, or photography.
Pro Tip: Use a wedding budget tracker or spreadsheet to keep tabs on expenses and ensure you stay within your limits.
3. Envision Your Dream Wedding
Take time to discuss what you and your partner envision for your big day. Consider rhings like:
Size - big or small?
Vibe: Formal, casual, or somewhere in between?
Indoor or outdoor?
Time of year?
Local or destination?
Having a clear vision will make it easier to prioritize your budget. narrow down venue options, and select a date.
4. Draft a Guest List
Your guest list impacts both your budget and venue options. Start with a rough draft, categorizing guests into “must-invite” and “nice-to-invite” groups. This will give you an approximate headcount to guide your planning.
5. Research and Prioritize Venues
Your venue will likely be one of the largest expenses in your budget, so choose wisely.
Think about venues that align with your vision, guest count, and budget.
Visit potential venues in person to get a feel for the space.
Ask about what’s included in the rental fee (e.g., catering, tables, chairs) to avoid surprise costs.
Pro Tip: Booking your venue early is crucial, as popular locations often fill up quickly.
6. Hire a Wedding Planner
Investing in a wedding planner can save you time, money, and stress. Here’s how:
Planners have industry connections and a reliable network they can tap into to help you find and secure services you need.
They help you stay on budget by identifying cost-saving opportunities and negotiating contracts.
Their expertise ensures that you avoid common planning pitfalls, freeing you to focus on enjoying the process.
They know the local area. If you are planning a destination wedding, hiring a local wedding planner to do things on your behalf is crucial to the success of your event.
7. Set a Tentative Date
Before you book anything, decide on a tentative wedding date or range of dates. Keep in mind that certain times of the year such as summer, weekends, or holidays are more expensive and in-demand in certain locations. Flexibility with your date can open up more affordable options for venues and vendors. Consider having your wedding on a weekday or a Friday or Sunday as Saturdays are typically filled up first.
8. Research Vendors and Prioritize Needs
Once your venue is secured, focus on booking key vendors like photographers, caterers, and florists. To save money:
Compare quotes from multiple vendors.
Ask about all-inclusive packages or bundling services.
Prioritize what’s most important—spend on elements that matter most and scale back on others.
9. Get Organized with a Planning Tool
Whether it’s a wedding planning app, Google Doc, or pen and paper, having a system to organize your thoughts, contracts, and timelines is essential. This will help you track your budget, appointments, and tasks, keeping everything manageable. A few of our favorite online wedding planning tools are:
10. Consider Guests’ Experience
Finally, think about your guests when planning your wedding. Choose a location that’s accessible for most attendees and prioritize comfort and hospitality. Sending out save-the-dates early will give your guests plenty of time to plan ahead. Be sure to consider your guests preferences when it comes to food, music and other forms of entertainment, accessibility and parking restrictions, timing of the event and any pre or post wedding events or activities such as welcome parties and rehearsal dinners. If you plan to have children at the wedding, consider their ages make an effort to have age appropriate activities as well as meals.
Bonus Tip: Stay Flexible and Enjoy the Process
Wedding planning can be overwhelming, but staying flexible and focusing on what truly matters—your love and partnership—will make the experience much more enjoyable.
If you’re ready to start planning your dream wedding, we would love to help make it a reality! Schedule a free consultation today to discuss how we can bring your wedding dreams to life!
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