Welcome newly engaged friend!

No matter how your fiance proposed, if you have been together for months or years, your life just changed big time. Let me guess, you can’t stop smiling and you are dreaming up how amazing your wedding day will be? Soak it up and take a deep breath, there is so much to enjoy over the next few months! I hope this post will give you some direction after you get engaged. There is a lot to be done to make your wedding vision come to life, but here is a good place to start.

1. Celebrate & Share The News!

Celebrate with your fiance over a glass of champagne, or a meal at your favorite restaurant. If you proposal wasn’t a public event, take some time to enjoy to moment before sharing with your family and friends. And when I say share, I do not just mean on social media. Call your parents, best friends, grandparents, relatives, and your future in-laws with the news of your engagement!

2. Insure Your Ring

If this hasn’t been done already, STOP. This is most likely your most expensive possession and it’s small, something that can easily be lost or stolen. Contact your local agent and see if they offer a “Personal Articles Policy” that covers engagement rings. This policy will cover your ring no matter where you go (hello honeymoon!) and will cover the cost of replacing your ring if necessary without deduction for depreciation. It is a small monthly fee to pay for the safety and security of your engagement ring.

3. Create A Budget 

The number one question I get from brides is about this all important topic: BUDGET. This might be a topic that makes you uneasy, and you really don’t want to have this conversation with you parents and future spouse, I get it. However, starting the planning process by creating realistic expectations and making sure everyone is on the same page will help tremendously down the road. Avoid the tension, arguments, and fights down the road by having this discussion BEFORE you spend a single cent on other wedding details.

4. Draft A Guest List

Knowing your budget, now you can begin thinking about your ideal guest list! Every guest you invite will increase the overall cost of your wedding. Start with immediate family, extended family, closest friends and those who have played a major role in your life. My rule of thumb: will they support me and my spouse in marriage, stand by our side and fight for us, encouraging us for the long haul? Those are the people you want to share this moment with! Maybe one other question….will they break it down on the dance floor? Add those too 😉

5. Hire A Wedding Planner!

Do you know the difference between a venue coordinator, month of coordinator, and a wedding planner? If not, you are not alone! A venue coordinator works for the venue alone and will be the point of contact for all things involved at the location only. A month of coordinator works with you the last month before the wedding to bring all the pieces together, create your timeline, work with all vendors/venues you have selected, and make sure your day goes smoothly without issues! A wedding planner will be with you from beginning to end, helping you select your vendors, style, vision, colors, decor, etc. Anything you can think of, wedding planners cover it. 

There is, of course, so much more to it, so reach out if you have any questions about the type of vendor you need when it comes to planning! Everyone is different and will need something a little different.

 

Take a deep breath, enjoy this season, and get ready for a wild ride!