Congratulations, lovers—you’re engaged! To help get you started on your journey towards planning your perfect wedding, here’s exactly what to do first...
No. 01
GO ON A DATE
& CELEBRATE
Before you jump into planning mode straightaway, go out and celebrate—because, plain and simple: you deserve it! Allow yourself to savor that post-engagement bliss and enjoy the reality of this new season you're embarking on. So go ahead and pop your favorite champagne and toast to love!
No. 02
START DREAMING
You already know there's no shortage of wedding inspiration out there—and it can be overwhelming to say the least. So before you start gathering ideas, sit together and dream. Spend some time chatting about what you both love and the sort of day you envision.
One great question to consider is: “How do we want people to feel on our wedding day?”
The answer to this question will guide your journey and keep you focused on what you both value most!
No. 03
DETERMINE
A BUDGET
I know, I know... there's that dreaded “budget” word. But having this crucial conversation up-front will lay the foundation for an intentional planning journey where you can both feel comfortable. And although it may be tempting to just say you want to spend as little as possible, it's best to agree on a target overall spend so there are no surprises later!
No. 04
SET YOUR
PRIORITIES
Now that you've established a rough budget, discuss your priorities for the day. Planner? Photographer? Experiential components? What matters to you the most? (Think back to your answers for No. 02!) Knowing your shared priorities will help guide you as allocate your allotted budget, start securing vendors, and making those crucial next decisions.
No. 05
PICK YOUR
IDEAL DATE
Consider an ideal timeframe for your wedding and how it fits into the big-picture of your current season in life. It's best to enter into the planning process with a few options in mind—a month, a timeframe, or a few date ideas. Holding the exact date loosely will allow you to have a bit more flexibility on your venue and planner.
No. 06
BOOK KEY VENDORS
Next, secure your key vendors. First decide whether or not you'd like to hire a planner. I'm a huge advocate for planners, since I've seen them bring immense joy and ease to couples time and time again.
Then focus on securing your venue, as that will seal your exact wedding date. After that, focus on photography and/or videography, as those vendors are limited to one wedding per day (and even one per weekend). After that, you'll have a bit more space to breathe, but securing these key vendors will lay a strong foundation as you continue planning.
No. 07
ESTABLISH A ROUGH PLANNING TIMELINE
The best trick to avoiding the overwhelm of wedding planning is by creating a rough timeline for your specific timeframe and schedule. Create weekly, then monthly goals to help keep you on track and do your best to focus on one task at a time. Then, schedule a date night at the end of each month to take time away from planning and celebrate what you've accomplished so far. You've got this! xo
No. 08
ENJOY THE
JOURNEY
Above all, my dear friends, embrace this rich journey. There will be stress, frustrations, tough conversations, and even exhaustion. But let there be big love, joy, and excitement leading up to the beautiful celebration you're creating. I promise you: It will all be more than worth it!
