I'm Engaged!!!...Now What?!
Getting engaged is one of the most exciting times in your life but once the reality sets in, couples are always conflicted as to what comes next! What is the first step you need to take and what needs to be done first to start off the wedding planning process? There are a number of things that need to happen first, which I will break down for you.
DEFINE YOUR WEDDING STYLE
Decide what type of event it is that you and your fiancée want. Is there a specific location or style of location that means something to you? How many people do you want to have at the event? Do you see it as a small intimate gathering or a larger, grander affair? Once you answer these questions you will define what your wedding style is.
GUEST LIST
Come up with a rough draft of a guest list. Put down the names of all of the people that you want to have at the event or (people that you are obligated to invite). Once you put these names down on paper and get a head count, this can help you see if it fits within your wedding style and will also dictate the type or size of venue you are looking for.
THE DOLLARS AND CENTS
One of the biggest and most difficult parts of the process is putting together a budget. Sit down and outline all of the different costs that are involved with your special day. Your wedding budget will likely have over 20 line items in it. The budget meeting is always one of the hardest meetings to have with my clients and is usually a bit of a shock for many couples. My suggestion is to put everything on paper and if you are over budget to work on marking the items that are needed versus the ones that you want.
VENUE SELECTION
One of the main parts of the planning process and wedding style is the venue. It is important to check the capacity that your venue can host to ensure that your event will fit in the space. Be sure to also check availability first. Some people choose their date before their venue which can really narrow down your options. The venue is the base of the whole event so you want to ensure that you are getting what you want.
TAKE A BREATHER
Booking a venue is a big portion of the planning, so once this is done take a break. Every aspect of the wedding doesn't need to be decided right away. Styles will change and new trends will come out so don’t rush into making design and décor decisions right away. One thing that I find helps me learn a couple’s style, while also helps brides figure out what they want, is using an app called Pintrest. Throughout the planning process, couples will pin things that they like and as it becomes time to make decisions, they have seen options and know what they like and what they do not like.
STICK TO THE PLAN
If you can have a wedding planner or a day of coordinator to help with your wedding, my suggestion is to always go with that option. Having a planner or at least a coordinator can help to ensure that all aspects are taken care of, details aren’t forgotten and will let you truly enjoy your special day. If hiring a planner or coordinator is not something you can fit into the budget then just do your best to lay everything out and keep it all in order and organized. Spreadsheets and checklists are honestly a planner’s best friend. For each client I create an event binder with all of the pertinent information. The event binder has all of the aspects of the event laid out with all the vendor details and information. I create the binder with the sole thought that if someone had to pick up that binder and take my place that they would be able to see exactly what has been done and what needs to be done, if anything. Essentially a blueprint for the event can really work wonders.
So have no fear, just follow these steps and everything will come together. Yes, weddings are a lot of work but this is the special day when you commit to spend your life with the one you love so it is definitely a big deal!
Keep Calm and just Plan and if all else fails … call me!