You’re Engaged: Now What?

Congratulations! You said yes!

These next few months will be a whirlwind of emotions, appointments, and fun.

After you’ve called your parents, relatives, friends, and college professors, it’s time to get down to business.

Let us elaborate.

Having a to do list is the best thing that can happen to your wedding planning. Better yet, a whole book dedicated just to your wedding prep can be a lifesaver. Writing everything down, including inspiration, is the perfect place to start. Maybe you’ve had a Pinterest board for your big day being curated over the last five years, or maybe you’re just starting. Start there, and keep adding.

Many brides go directly into the venue booking process, but in reality, that’s a big no-no.

Sure, maybe you’ve always wanted your big day in a remodeled barn, but can that barn hold the 250 people you (but mostly your mom) wanted to invite?

Make your invitation list first, then figure out the perfect venue location. There’s nothing worse than having a venue that doesn’t fit everyone you wanted to invite, while on the flipside, you could’ve saved a lot of money if you had booked a smaller venue for 50 of your closest friends and family.

And although it’s not something anyone really wants to talk about, budget is the most important thing. Knowing your budget from the beginning of the planning process makes a world of difference. That mean deciding if your family or your fiance’s family will be helping or will you be picking up the whole of the tab. But while booking your floral arrangements and buying your bridesmaids dresses, keep in mind most brides end up going 5-10% over budget. Is it a huge deal? Not really, but it’s definitely something to keep in the back of your head.

So, congratulations, you made it to the starting line! Take your time, have fun, and communicate with your partner. After all, it’s all about your love in the end.