Yay! You’re engaged! Congratulations! This is such an exciting time for both you and your partner. I personally will never forget how my fiancé proposed. It happened while we were on vacation in the Dominican Republic watching the sunrise one morning. We were sitting on a lounger with his arms wrapped around me when all of a sudden, he dropped down in the sand on one knee and popped the question. It was such an unexpected and beautiful surprise that I will never forget.
Anyways, back to what I was getting at. Whether you’re deciding to get married quickly or wait awhile, it will be a busy time for not only the two of you but your families as well. A lot of important decisions will need to be made in these next upcoming months. I’ve put together a list of the five most important things you need to do within the first month of your engagement.
6 Things to do when you get engaged
1. ENJOY!
Cherish this time for as long as you can before the craziness with all the wedding planning begins. Announce your engagement and celebrate with your close family and friends by throwing an engagement party.
2. HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER
Planning a wedding is a full time job and with your already busy lives it can become very stressful. By hiring a professional they can help alleviate this stress. There are a lot of decisions that need to be made and a planner will know which ones to prioritize. With their knowledge of vendors in the industry they will also be able to recommend vendors that can work within your budget taking time away from you having to do all this research. You can trust that with a planner your wedding day will run smoothly and that you’ll be able to enjoy your big day.
3. DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET
Figuring out your budget is understandably the least enjoyable but most important part of planning your wedding. To create a budget, you’ll need to tally up your savings, figure out how much you and your fiancé can realistically and comfortably set aside from your current income, as well as determine if you’ll be receiving any contributions from parents and loved ones.
4. WRITE UP AN INITIAL GUEST LIST
You will need to know the approximate number of guests you will be inviting to your wedding when touring venues. Every venue has a certain capacity you cannot exceed. Also, think of aesthetics. You don’t want to select a venue that has a space that can hold 150+ guests when you will only be inviting 50. Just imagine all the empty space and how unflattering it will look.
5. TOUR VENUES
Most venues will need to be reserved up to a year in advance. If your ceremony and reception will be happening in different locations you will need to reserve your ceremony space first. You can decide to tour venues with a planner, for instance the one that planned your engagement party, or by yourselves with family.
6. SELECT A WEDDING DATE
When touring different venues make sure to get at least three possible dates around the time you would like to get married. Be flexible with your date and remember that the date you choose needs to work best for both you and your partner. It is impossible to accommodate your wedding date to your guests’ busy schedules.
I know this may seem like a lot to do all within the first month of being engaged but don’t get too overwhelmed by it all. In my next upcoming posts I’ll talk more about how to write up your guest list and what to consider when touring possible venues. I’ll also give suggestions on how to plan an engagement party.