First off, if you are reading this and recently engaged, congratulations! We’re so glad you’re here.
Where should you begin?
So now that he popped the question, and you said “yes” you’re probably wondering “where do I even begin?” First things first: We hope you pop some bubbly and celebrate! Engagement is such a sweet time of preparing for a very exciting new chapter in your life. Yes, you are preparing for an exciting and beautiful day, but you are also preparing for a lifelong marriage. There will be lots to do over the next several months, but make sure to take a moment to soak it all in first.
After you have enjoyed those first sweet moments of engagement, let’s take a look at what you should do next.
Start here
You will want to determine a few important things before you get too far down in the weeds of dreaming and planning. We recommend starting by sitting down with your fiancé and any other important decision makers to discuss a wedding date, overall budget, and top priorities.
Picking a Date: How long do you want your engagement to be? Is there a specific date you have in mind that is meaningful to you as a couple? If you don’t have a specific date in mind, is there a general month, season or year you’d like to aim for?
Sketching out a Budget: This can be a difficult task to tackle, but you will want to be on the same page about your target budget with everyone who is involved in contributing to your wedding financially. This budget may fluctuate as you plan your wedding, but it’s a good idea to at least have a starting point. A good place to start is to put together a draft list of guests you’d like to invite, then figure a per person cost.
Establishing Priorities: What aspects of your wedding are most important to you as a couple? Determining this can help you find a starting place for finding a venue and vendors. Do you have a passion for music and want to prioritize a live band? Have you always dreamt of a five tiered wedding cake? Or do you want to focus on hospitality for your guests by prioritizing food and beverages they would enjoy? Everyone has different priorities and your wedding planner will certainly be happy to help!
Beginning the vendor selection process
Planning a wedding takes a village. There are many vendors who will play a role in your day. How do you know which vendors to select first? We recommend first deciding what role a wedding planner will play in your day. At Boizelle Affaires we offer full service planning, which means we come on early in your planning process to help you find the perfect setting for your wedding celebration as well as all of the perfect vendors. We will walk you through the wedding planning process each step of the way. However, if you are not starting with full service planning we recommend that you nail down a venue first to secure your date. Then you can move on to finding vendors based on your priorities and budget.
Getting into the details
There are many other little items to check off your list throughout your engagement season, so that’s why we’ve created a free download for newly engaged couples! Scroll to the bottom of the page, enter your email, and receive a free checklist straight to your mailbox.
Planning together and not getting overwhelmed
Divide and conquer: Outline wedding planning responsibilities between you and your fiancé. For example, one person can research songs and compile a playlist for your ceremony and reception while the other looks at florals and decor.
Set time aside: It can become overwhelming if you feel like you are always wedding planning. Instead of constantly having your desktop be filled with wedding planning tabs, set aside specific times of the week for discussing and planning your wedding.
Keep a checklist: There may be a never ending list of items running through your head. Make sure to keep these written down, so you don’t lose track of anything. Write down any wedding ideas, items to discuss, and projects so that you make the most of your dedicated planning time.
Make fun memories! Many wedding appointments can be fun memories and date nights for you and your fiancé! Try to not get too stressed about the details and just enjoy the moment. For example, make a date of your engagement photo session or catering tasting and they will become fond memories when you look back on your engagement season together!
Set time aside to plan for other things
Like we said at the beginning, you and your fiancé are not only preparing for the big day, but for a lifelong marriage. There are many other important things to discuss during this season, so don’t let wedding planning come in the way of those things. Planning your dream honeymoon, finding a place to live, discussing priorities and dreams for marriage are all items that you and your fiancé may want to reserve time to plan and dream about during this time.
Let others pamper you!
We cannot stress this enough: let other people help you, whether that be your wedding planner, mom, aunt, or best friend! While you’re busy thinking through wedding details, hand over the party planning responsibilities to that trusted friend or family member. Most importantly, let them pamper and shower you with love. Let someone else tend to the details of your engagement celebration, bridal shower, or the bachelorette party!
Enjoy engagement season
Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy this season of engagement! Before you know it, it will be over and your wedding day will be here. Set time aside to continue going on dates with your fiancé. Preserve time to enjoy doing what you enjoyed doing before, without discussing all of the many wedding planning details.
Cheers to your engagement! Let the planning begin.
photography: @kylajeanette, @ducastelphotography, @alexkrallphotography, @margaretstradaphotography
