Any tips for the newly engaged to enjoy engagement while also getting started with wedding planning?

Question

So excited to share that I got engaged over the weekend! My  fiancé (gotta get used to calling him that) have talked about getting married in spring 2021, so it seems that time is on our side. However, I feel like time will pass by fast—so I'd love to hear any tips for early wedding planning in this phase! Or if it's still a bit early, when should we start taking a more active role in planning?

Gillian Hanson · Answer

Budget is the first step! I created three separate budgets before we settled on one. I used the app Zola for all my checklists and even our website and registry. Have fun and remember to delegate and ask for help when you need it. Best wishes!

Robyn Wick · Answer

If you get the big things out of the way early, you can sit back and bit and do things little by little. Have fun and remember that this wedding is about the two of you. Everyone (and I mean everyone) will have a lot of opinions and advice.

Lady Pele · Answer

Congratulations!!

Start talking to your fiance about the size and budget for the wedding.  That will lead to discussions about the venue, and then try booking as soon as possible.  Google something like 'Wedding Checklist' for the things you might want to consider.

And although it's way too soon, make up an 'emergency' kit for the actual wedding with needle and thread, tape, clear nail polish, ibuprofen, band-aids, water, snacks and anything else you can think might be of use.

Tabitha Manners · Answer

Congratulations.  My advice is to plan it the way you would any major event.  Start with understanding how much different parts of the wedding should cost and what your budget may be for those.  Identify the date and venue (have an idea of essential guests and extravagant size when you begin looking at venues...the one you settle on will dictate how many you actually invite).  Knowing who is paying for what and handling which details is my next step in planning.  After that is settled I can start filling in the fun part of color schemes, decorating, planning with my team, etc.  Last year I finished planning a large anniversary event for a thousand people which spanned four days.  I am approaching wedding planning the same way and it has eased a lot of stress.  I am only expecting 100 at this celebration.

Anonymous · Answer

Congrats!!!

Tresha Render · Answer

Congratulations! You found your life partner.   1.Make a budget and stick with it. Otherwise  emotions, decisions, and credit card balances get out of hand. 2. Create a celebration that shows who you and your significant other are as a couple. Include only components that reflect your style/wishes.

Anonymous · Answer

Congratulations! Remember to enjoy being engaged first over planning. And then once you start planning, try not to sweat the small stuff. :)

Aubrea Ashe · Answer

Congratulations!  I got engaged in December 2016, planned my own wedding with 103 guests and got married in September 2017. It's never too early to start planning!

Sign up on The Knot website and start looking into the very helpful timeline that they have, it will keep you on track.  Start browsing Pinterest to get inspiration for your general decor.  And last but not least, start to set a budget and plan ways to stick to it!

So happy for you, feel free to reach out at any point if you need advice with any of the above.

Anonymous · Answer

Congratulations on your engagement!

Advice:
1. Allow others to celebrate you and your fiancé! This is the time to enjoy the attention of others.
2. Wedding:  stick to your budget and don’t get caught up in trying to attain perfection.  Know that the imperfect is perfect as long as you and your fiancé are excited to be getting married.
3. Everyone may get tense in the days and hours immediately before the wedding.  Encourage everyone to take a deep breath and relax, and give everyone leeway.
4. Remember that the wedding is a single event and that the important thing is the strength of your partnership with your fiance.  Take this time for you and your fiancé to establish your priorities for your life together, if you have not already done so.

Victoria Crispo · Answer

Start to take note of the day-to-day things that are important to you and your future spouse, and see how you might be able to incorporate those into your wedding. For ex, if you start your mornings by grinding coffee beans and brewing your coffee together and taking out 15 minutes to sit on your terrace to drink it and talk about your goals for the day, how might you make that a part of your wedding day? Maybe it's a 'coffee ceremony' within your ceremony (in place of a 'unity candle' or something like that), perhaps you have a unique coffee bar at your reception.

Take the things that are uniquely YOU as a couple and use those elements in crafting your special day. Keeping track of these is a way to enjoy your time being engaged and being in the moment while also having an eye ahead on the wedding planning.

As far as the other aspects of planning, yes it's important to have a budget, an idea of your total number of invitees (as well as how many guests you actually want), but you also need a realistic view of how much everything is going to cost. So I think a fair amount of browsing online at venues, entertainment, etc is important in setting up your budget. Of course if you already know you have X amount of dollars to spend with no wiggle room whatsoever, start there and then figure out which areas of the wedding you will focus on when it comes to spending those budget dollars.

Any tips for the newly engaged to enjoy engagement while also getting started with wedding planning?

Share your insight

Browse recent posts