You’ve been waiting for this moment, and now it’s here: you have a shiny engagement ring on your finger, and the wedding is happening. It may seem surreal, but it’s real. The days after that proposal will be an exhilarating ride, so buckle up and get ready to enjoy the journey.
You may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks you have to do, people you must contact and decisions that need to be made. But don’t worry – there’s plenty of time for all this. Most couples can hardly contain their excitement upon getting engaged and naturally want to share the news with everyone immediately and then get into more concrete wedding planning. So take a deep breath and enjoy your journey together.
So, what is the next step? It doesn’t matter in which order you do things as long as you address the immediate tasks and responsibilities. Committing your life to someone else can be both terrifying and exhilarating at once – it’s a significant milestone that deserves a celebration. Planning your wedding together should be fun and provide an amazing sense of satisfaction for any couple; don’t underestimate its positive impact on this joyous journey.
Declare the News
After getting engaged, the first step is to share your exciting news with those closest to you. You can do this as quickly or slowly as you’d like – some couples let everyone know immediately, while others might keep it a secret before making a big announcement. Before posting on social media, ensure the VIPs in your life (parents and family) are informed of the happy news. Once they’re all looped in, feel free to post about being newly engaged and include a cute caption that fits perfectly with your celebratory Instagram photo.
To show appreciation and love, contact your closest friends and family first. By offering them the chance to celebrate with you, they’ll be filled with the joy that comes from being able to share in your happiness.
Enjoy Your Engagement
Now that the news of your engagement is out, take a moment to savour it with your beloved. Don’t rush into wedding planning just yet. We advise couples to steal some time away before they dive into preparations. Throw an intimate gathering for those closest to you, or even plan an engagement moon to simply bask and relish in each other’s company.
If you are on a tight timeline and your engagement is short, don’t push yourself too hard to stick to set timelines. When planning the wedding, follow what feels right for you and your partner. It’s easy to get caught up in the wedding frenzy – but as long as you focus on what matters, you and your partner will have an amazing time.
Narrow Your Date or Season
Once you have settled into your newly engaged bliss and have enjoyed the moments of celebration, it’s time to start planning. One of the couples’ most important decisions is narrowing down their wedding date or season. This helps with the rest of your wedding planning process. It also makes it easier to book venues, vendors and more – as soon as you give them an exact date range (or season), they will be able to work around that timeline. Once you have a date or season in mind, it’s time to start getting into the nitty-gritty of wedding planning, like picking your venue, booking vendors, etc.
Get Organized
Once you have announced the news and had a chance to savour your engagement, it’s time to start getting organized. As with any major event planning process (especially one as special as a wedding), numerous tasks must be taken care of. Create an action plan – make lists, set deadlines and divide tasks so that nothing slips through the cracks.
Before you jump into the thick of wedding planning, create an organized roadmap to get started. Make a comprehensive checklist that includes every item you need to organize for your wedding – from making guest lists to finding suppliers and vendors, setting up budgets and more. Having everything written down in one place will help keep your head above water throughout the process.
Also, for each task, just take it one step at a time. Prioritize the most important things (like picking out your date or finding a venue) before moving on to smaller details like favours or décor. And don’t forget to factor in all the necessary legal requirements—getting married is legally binding and a social contract. So, ensure you get the necessary paperwork out of the way in plenty of time to avoid unnecessary stress or anxiety.
Research Wedding Venues
Once the organizational tasks are taken care of, you can look for and book your wedding venue. This is one of the most important elements of wedding planning and should be done as soon as possible.
Don’t forget you must first secure your desired location before booking a date. Do some research online, or if you have an idea for where to host your event, then contact the venue and ask about pricing and availability.
Research venues that match your vision and budget. When considering a location, remember what type of ceremony or celebration you’d like, how many people will attend and how you plan on arriving. Be sure to check out photos and reviews online and take virtual tours if possible.
Discuss a Budget
Once you’ve narrowed down some venues and dates, discussing a realistic wedding budget with your partner and families is important. Being on the same page about finances is so important for wedding planning. Consider your expenses, like venue rental costs, catering, photography, and other services you may need. Establishing a clear idea of what funds are available will help keep your planning process organized and ensure that you stay within your means.
Creating a budget can be stressful but just remember – this is supposed to be an exciting time. So don’t put too much pressure on yourselves, and have fun with it. And if things start getting overwhelming, don’t forget to reach out for help from friends and family.
What type of wedding to go for
After you’ve tackled the initial planning checklist, it’s time to decide on the type of wedding that suits you best. Do you want a lavish event with lots of guests or an intimate gathering? Maybe something outdoors like a beach or lawn wedding? Or perhaps something entirely different, such as a destination wedding abroad?
The key is deciding what wedding feels right for both of you. There are so many options to choose from. If you’re in the market for a wedding, there are plenty of options to choose from. For instance, consider the type of Jewish wedding you would like, traditional or liberal, or formal? Or perhaps a BOHO vintage-style ceremony would suit your taste?
If possible, try to combine elements from each other’s vision and create something unique that reflects your personality and relationship. Once you’ve decided on a style, start exploring venues and booking vendors in line with your chosen theme.
Create a checklist of all the suppliers that need to be booked.
Once you have the type of wedding they want, it’s time to create a checklist of all the suppliers you need to book, and it is within your budget. This includes not just photographers, caterers, florists, bands/DJs and cake makers but also other services such as event planners, decorators, transportation for guests, officiants or celebrants and even entertainers like magicians or fire dancers if desired. To make sure you get the best deals possible and don’t forget any essential vendors or services, create a detailed list of all the items you’ll need for the wedding, including estimates of their costs. This will help ensure that you think about all the details, such as floral arrangements, seating charts, transportation needs and even decorations.
When deciding on a budget for each vendor or service provider, you may want to consider things like whether they include equipment in their fee (like chairs and tables) and what kind of payment plan they offer in case money is tight at any given moment. You may also want to consider any extra fees related to their services, like travel expenses if they provide services from out of town. It is important to shop around in search of the best prices while still ensuring that quality is not compromised.
Be sure to ask plenty of questions when interviewing potential vendors so that both parties know expectations before signing a contract. Get references from friends or family who have used similar vendors to guarantee satisfaction with pricing and service quality. Additionally, check with a wedding planner who may know many of the suppliers you are speaking to. Read online reviews for each vendor carefully; this can provide great insight into how reliable a business might be before committing any funds towards them.
