You're Engaged! Now what?!?

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Holy Happiness!  You're engaged!!! 
Your engagement may be long-awaited or you may be in total shock but one thing is for sure - you've got some serious planning to do!
Here are a few tips to help you get started...

1. Soak it in: 
Take a few days, maybe even weeks, just to let it soak in and enjoy the excitement of the engagement! Enjoy getting together and sharing the news with your family and friends. This will be one of the most exciting times of your life so bask in it, enjoy it and let yourself relax before you go into full-on planning mode!

2. Determine Your Guest Count, Set a Budget and Create a ToDo List:
Many experts will tell you to set your date first. However, if your budget is tight or you are paying for the wedding yourselves with minimal help from family, your budget can help determine what your wedding date should be (see number 3). Whether you are paying for it all yourselves or with the help of the fam, it is important to determine what your guest count will be, set a budget you're comfortable with for the wedding and to do your best to stick with it! Find a wedding ToDo list online or confer with a wedding planner early in the planning process so that you are covering all of your bases. This is a big day with lots of time and money spent so make sure you are organized and on track! 

3. Set a Date: 
This is where the fun begins! Take some time to think about the feel you would like to have for your wedding - what is the weather like, what type of dress are you wearing, what colors do you see for your flowers and bridesmaid dresses? These things will help you determine what time of year your wedding should be! If you see bright colors, you should consider a spring/summer wedding. If you see yourself in a sleeved gown with a dark bouquet of flowers, you may consider a fall/winter wedding. Generally, it tends to be cheaper to plan a wedding during the "off season" of winter months. Many outdoor venues will offer discounts for winter dates as they are less popular than those in the summer and fall. If you are on a tight budget, a winter wedding may be most practical for you. 

A wedding date can also be set based on special times in your life. Maybe you want to get married on the same day you went on your first date or some other significant date in your lives. Whatever it is, your date must be {pretty well} set before you can begin booking your venue and wedding professionals so it must be done before the real planning begins!

4. Book Your Venue:
Once you have that budget and date set, you can move on to your venue selection! Are you planning to marry outdoors, in a swanky hotel or have you always dreamed of being married in the church you grew up in? Whatever you decide, booking your venue will be one of the first things to be done. Your guest count and budget will play a role in venue selection and a wedding planner can help you find venues that will work for your guest count and fit within your budget. If your date is booked for the venue you have your heart set on, don't be discouraged! Consider a Friday or Sunday wedding or perhaps moving the date up or back a weekend or two to make it work. 

5. Book Your Vendors:
Wedding planners/coordinators, photographers/videotographers, caterers, cake bakers, bands/DJs, ceremony musicians, florists, stationers, dress makers, rental suppliers - you will have to meet with and book all or most of these professionals for your big day. This can be an overwhelming and daunting task for a planning couple.... Begin by talking to your family and friends {especially those recently married in your area} and see what wedding professionals they suggest and recommend. A wedding planner can help save time and money with vendor selection by narrowing down the choices based on your budget and style. Meeting with vendors who are out of your price range or don't have a style that fits what you are looking for is a waste of your time and of the vendor. The key here is to find professionals that mesh well with your personalities and style as you will be working closely with them for the next few months. Take your time, do your research, and find the best fit for you!

Congratulations on your engagement! 

{photo from Sarah+Darion's wedding via Jared Tseng Photography}