I'm Engaged... Now what?

With summer really heating up , and the 4th of July this past weekend there's a high chance that your sweetie pie decided to "pop the question", and we couldn't be more excited!
So Congratulations you are engaged!! The rush of excitement is surging and quite possibly the anticipation is over! Gosh this is such an exciting time!! Did your significant other ask you during the fireworks? Was it at your favorite restaurant? In front of all your family and friends? Was it just the two of you?  Seriously though I LOVE engagements as much as I LOVE the wedding! So share the details! :)

This blog post is going to come to you in parts.
Things TO DO after getting engaged
                        &
Things NOT TO DO after getting engaged

Since I know you are dying to know what you should do after getting engaged I'll start there.

Photo Credit Endless Exposures Photography

Top 10 things TO DO after getting engaged

1. SHARE!!! Let your close friends and family know! :)
If you like blast it on Facebook or InstaGram (tag us too!! we want to see!)
It's DEFINITELY ok to share you and your fiance's big news! Plus use the word fiance a few times, trust me it's weird at first, you might even giggle but its super fun!

2. Start thinking about what season or date you want to have your wedding.
Consider the time of year you want your big day to happen. It's okay not to have an exact date picked out. Deciding on what time of year you want can be one of the biggest hurdles. Consider the length of your engagement when deciding your season or date ;) .

3. Decide your BUDGET!!
I can't stress this enough! Whether you are your fiance are footing the whole bill, or one or more families are contributing decide what your overall budget is BEFORE spending a dime. If family will be contributing money, sit down and discuss how it will be handled. Maybe your parent's want to contribute to dress, or your aunt wants to contribute X amount of dollars towards floral. Whatever the amount of money is make sure you know!

4. Hire a wedding planner!
A wedding planner can help manage your budget, keep you on track/focused and help you save money! Remember #3 your budget? Trust me you need to have it, and a wedding planner will keep you to it! Do you like to save money? Who are we kidding, everyone loves to save money, even if it means you can use that saved money on something more exciting that you want, like a longer honeymoon, or that second pair or shoes for your reception you are already checking out at Nordstorms. Wedding Planner's come in all forms, from wedding concierge services,  full planning , partial planning, to even wedding coordination. No matter what capacity you choose to have your wedding planner involved in, they are worth their weight in gold, and you won't be disappointed.

5. Decide your 3 most important parts to your wedding ceremony and reception.
Aside from the most important reason for this celebration (you and your fiance) what elements of your wedding are the most important? Decide the 3 most important elements of your big day whether it be the photography (my favorite) , the decor, or the food decide the top three things. Think about what is the most reflective of you and your fiance, maybe you are really into music, or have a love for sushi decide what it is and stick to it. Not sure what to put on your list of top 3 ? Make photography one of them, trust me, you won't regret it.

6. Decide the "theme" or look you want your wedding to convey.
Deciding this will help you stay on track, and keep your wedding nothing short of amazing.
Your "theme" does not need to be one you have seen before, think about what you and your fiance like, what decor you gravitate towards, what is reflective of you both as a couple to steer you towards your overall wedding look.
Whether you see bling, bows or feathers, cascading floral arrangements, lace, boots, or travel, decide what kind of feel you want your day to convey and stick to it ;).

7. Start compiling a guest list / count.
This won't be the only time you have to create your list, but it's crucial to your budget and venue to know approximately how many people you plan on including in your celebration.

8. Pick your venue!
Now I know you were hoping I was going to say pick your dress, but I did NOT :) . Far to often brides pick their dress before their venue, only to find themselves realizing it doesn't match the feel they desire from their venue. Do you dream of a ceremony in your family chapel, a reception in a  beautiful ballroom, a fabulous vineyard, a Tuscan courtyard, a rustic barn, or the city's swankiest hotel? Whatever your venue dream is don't lose site of your budget.  Remember #2 and #6? Yes the season and your "theme" can definitely play into what style of venue you pick. Do you want an outside ceremony? Does the venue have a Plan B in case of weather ? If you did #4 and hired your wedding planner, she can go with you on venue visits and help keep the season, theme, and your budget in mind while deciding the perfect venue.

9. Have fun!
Yes, you are supposed to ENJOY your engagement! Have a date night just you and your new fiance. Spend time enjoying this new stage of your relationship. This time is so special and so unique in your relationship, it should be spent enjoying each other and not stressing :) Marriage is a big deal, and your wedding is an exciting celebration of the next chapter of your lives together, but don't forget to spend this time loving one another while wedding planning :)

10. Check back to read our next blog on the top things NOT to do after getting engaged.
Yep you read that right :) follow these first 10 steps and you are well on your way to a wedding day nothing short of SPECTACULAR!!


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Have a Marvelous Monday!

Happy Planning!
Kelly