"I Just Got Engaged. Now What?"

You just got engaged! Congratulations! You are about to embark on a very exciting, but also can be an overwhelming time in your life. With that being said, take a deep breath my friend I am here to tell you all the next steps on what to do and how to get started on this exciting process.

Talk about Budget

This can be a hard topic to start with but the most important for pointing you in the right direction for what your wedding is going to look like as a whole. Your budget helps you set parameters for the amount of guests you want to have, wedding location, and how you will be able to plan out costs for all the important elements you have dreamt of.

Create a guest list

Sit down with your partner and do a rough draft of your guest list. Of course, this isn't final but it is best to know what size of a wedding you are planning. When searching for a wedding venue this is one of the first questions they will ask. Having a rough number is fine to start planning, just remember it’s always easier to take people off the invite than to add them. With venue’s they usually have a max capacity in their spaces so you want to make sure you are committing to the right amount of space at the start of the venue search process.

Pick a Date

Along with guest size, this is another important detail to have planned out. If you have a specific date you are wanting to get married on, this could make or break the location/ venue you choose. They may not have your date available. If you don't have a specific date in mind and are flexible, this might make it a little easier to pick a venue or at least give you more options. But, have an idea of the season/month you may be looking for and discuss with your partner what days of the week and weekend you are open to so that you can consider all your options.

Choose your Wedding Planner

Picking a wedding planner early on in your planning process is key. They are able to help you with all of the above tasks and so much more. Having a wedding planner by your side through the whole process is like your own personal fairy Godmother. They are very knowledgeable and don’t just bring organization to the table but well reputable recommendations of vendors and venues along with help with all the little details that are often forgotten. Planners handle the communication with vendors and venues and all of the not so fun headache parts that go into planning the big day. It’s always helpful to have someone in your corner helping you through the wedding planning process.

Enjoy the process

I know that this process can be overwhelming at times. This is such an exciting time for you as a couple. Make sure to enjoy it, it's not every day you get to plan your dream wedding with the one you love. There will be bumps along the way but remember why you decided to get married in the first place and remember to take time to just be together without talking about wedding planning. You are creating a celebration of your love for one another and there is nothing more beautiful than that. Enjoy the journey, soak in the moments and celebrate your love often. You both will reminisce about these moments together one day so fill this time with as much love and happiness as you can.

Happy Planning!

Love,

Naticia