Congratulations! You are about to embark on an incredible journey that words cannot describe. Now that the man of your dreams has asked you to be the Mrs. in his life, there is a lot to think about. Here are a few simple things to keep in mind that should help get you started..
1. Enjoy the moment with each other. It’s easy to get caught up in all the bells and whistles, but remember the meaning behind the madness. Of course the brilliantly shiny ring on your finger and the elaborate wedding you are already planning in your mind are exciting, but the true significance is in the fact that you get to spend the rest of your life with your soul mate.
2. Announce your engagement to those that matter most. Social media is definitely everywhere and although you are excited to announce this to the world, think about who you want to tell before it goes viral on Facebook. Inform your parents, siblings or best friend. Chances are, they have been waiting to celebrate this milestone with the two of you and will appreciate the fact that you thought of them at such a special moment.
3. Now that your family and friends have all congratulated you. It’s time to start planning. Get started with setting a preliminary budget. Figure out what you and your fiance are ready to spend and whether family will be helping. Visiting venues and meeting with vendors are important, but setting a preliminary budget can really help you stay on track. Your budget will most likely fluctuate, but it will give you a great starting point.
Tip: general rule of thumb: 50% of your total wedding budget is typically spent on the food and beverage and venue. The best way to keep cost down is by trimming the guest list.
4. consider a coordinator. No, we’re not just saying this because it is what we do. planning a wedding isn’t an everyday task, so guidance from a professional is a logical step. Hiring a coordinator can be beneficial in many ways including saving you money and unnecessary stress. Researching on your own can be entertaining, but can also leave you feeling inundated with TMI.
Tip: don’t completely eliminate the idea of hiring a coordinator because you want to plan on your own. Planning can be fun, but the final details can really take a toll on your sanity. consider a month of coordinator if you plan on doing most of the leg work on your own.
5. Set the date and look into venues. Selecting a date can be a huge task with so much daily hustle and bustle. Be sure to look ahead. Take holidays and personal schedules into consideration. Being flexible with a general frame of dates can help you in finding the perfect location. Although dates like 9.10.11 and 11.11.11 are fun, it does limit options because of their popularity. Unless you are taking this into consideration and are looking ahead, setting your heart of such a date can leave you disappointed.
Tip: be sure to take the proper precautions before signing the contract and placing the deposit with your venue. Check out our previous post on finding the perfect venue for more tips.
6. Start thinking about who your attendants will be if you haven’t already done this. You probably have an idea of who the best man and maid of honor will be and possibly even the entire bridal party. Be sure to take a few moments to think. How many attendants will you have? Although being a part of the wedding party is a huge honor, it is also a huge responsibility. Think about who you are selecting because your bridal party will be a an extremely important support system during this time.
7. Consider having an engagement party. Whether you want to go grand or simple, an engagement party is a great way to celebrate the excitement. What better way to get started with the celebration than to kick off the festivities with your loved ones.
There are definitely numerous other elements that go into planning a wedding, but hopefully this helps get you started. Congratulations once again!!
