by Michele Huntington
Congratulations, you just got engaged! This is a wonderful time in your life, and you’re probably feeling excited and overwhelmed with all of the planning that’s ahead of you. Don’t worry, though, because with a little organization and a clear plan, you’ll be able to navigate the next steps with ease. In this blog post, we’ll go over some important next steps after getting engaged.
Celebrate with Your Partner, Family, and Friends
Before you jump into planning your wedding, take some time to celebrate your engagement with your partner and loved ones. Plan a romantic dinner or weekend getaway, share the news with your family and close friends, and take plenty of photos to capture this special time in your lives.
Set A Budget
Before you start planning your wedding, it’s important to set a budget. Sit down with your partner and figure out how much you’re able and willing to spend on your big day. This will help you prioritize what’s most important to you and prevent overspending on non-essential items. The average cost of a 2022 wedding in Texas was $27k, with the majority of that budget going to the venue (30%), photographer (15%), and catering (23%). Want to know the easiest way to shrink your budget? Trim you guest list.
Decide On A Date
Next, you’ll want to decide on a date (or at least a month) for your wedding. Do you want to get married in the next few months or wait a year or two? Consider factors such as your work schedules, seasons, and availability of your preferred venue and vendors.
Choose a Venue + Vendors
Once you have a budget and the date in place, it’s time to start looking for a venue and vendors. Research and visit multiple options before making a decision. This includes venues, photographers, videographers, florists, caterers, and DJs/musicians. Don’t forget about hair and makeup artists and transportation services, too.
Book Your Vendors
After you’ve chosen your preferred vendors, it’s important to book them as soon as possible, especially your venue, photographer, and coordinator. Many vendors, especially popular ones, get booked up quickly, especially during peak wedding season. Be sure to sign contracts and make deposits to secure your date and avoid disappointment.
Start Shopping
One of the most exciting parts of wedding planning is choosing your wedding dress, tux/suit, and what your party will wear! Start researching styles and designers that you love, and book appointments at bridal boutiques. Don’t forget to bring along your trusted family and friends for their opinions and support.
Register For Gifts
As you start planning your wedding, it’s important to also start thinking about your registry. Register for items you and your partner will need for your new life together, such as kitchen appliances, linens, and home decor. Be sure to include items at a variety of price points to accommodate all of your guests’ budgets.
Send Save-The-Dates
Once you have your wedding date and venue confirmed, it’s time to send out save-the-date cards to your guests. This will help them plan their schedules accordingly and ensure that they don’t miss your special day. If you’re getting engagement photographs done, you may want to hold off until you get those in hand to use for your save-the-dates!
Plan The Details
As your wedding day approaches, it’s time to start planning the smaller details, such as your wedding ceremony and reception decor, seating arrangements, and menu. This is also a good time to plan your honeymoon and any pre- or post-wedding events. If you need help, check out my Wedding Planning Guide!
Enjoy The Journey
Most importantly, enjoy the journey of planning your wedding. It can be stressful at times, but it’s also a special time in your life that you’ll want to savor. Take time to enjoy the little moments and cherish the memories you’ll make along the way. Congratulations, and happy planning!
Final Notes:
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the decisions that need to be made planning a wedding. That’s why I personally feel that a great planner is essential for having a stress-free day! At the very least, a day-of coordinator will keep you from having to run interference while dressed to the nines. I’ll leave you with two pieces of advice:
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You only control what you can control. We plan to prepare. All that means is do all your planning, and then the week of the wedding let it go. Things will go awry, people will be late, but it will all turn out great. At the end of the day, you’ll marry your person and start your lives together. If you’d like me to tell you the story about how I locked us out of our honeymoon suite at 1 am, let me know…
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It’s never too late to elope! Ok, I hear you…Michele, what on earth are you talking about, you just gave me all this great advice for planning an epic wedding and now you tell me to elope?! I just mean if you’re low-key and the wedding and all the moving parts are just too much, go to an epic location, take an incredible photographer (ME!), and still end up married. Your day, your way. Period.
Thanks for reading. I hope this was helpful and wish you the best, most meaningful engagement journey. If you’re interested in chatting about your wedding or elopement with 1836 Photographie, please fill out the Contact Form to get started and check availability.
Congrats again! I am so excited for you to start your life together.
With love,
Michele
