6 Things to Do After Getting Engaged | Tips for Brides-to-Be

1. Enjoy Your Engagement

I’ve known many brides who get engaged and within a few hours to a few days, they have a date and venue and immediately start planning. That’s great and it works well for some couples! I’ll never forget when I heard Sofia Vergara on a late night talk show saying that she had been engaged for a few years with no wedding date set. She explained that especially in her culture, engagements are meant to be enjoyed for a long time before wedding planning. Being engaged is a new step in a relationship, so take some time to soak it in with your fiancé if there’s no rush!

2. Set a Budget

Discuss and set a budget with all of the people who will be financially involved in your wedding. This is so incredibly important! Wedding vendors and decorations can add up quickly. Without setting a total wedding budget, it’s easy to wind up spending much more than you had intended in the beginning and have little to no funds left for various vendor categories.

3. Create a Guest List

Yes, make a guest list for your wedding before you search for and book your venue! You don’t want to alter your guest list after you’ve booked a venue because it can’t fit everyone or because it’s too big and won’t create an intimate atmosphere. Start your list with family first, then close friends. Then move on to the other people you want to be present for your big day. Account for guests’ children and significant others, too.

4. Set a Date + Book a Venue

Set a date and book your venue. You can do these in either order, but be aware that your favorite venue might be booked already on your dream date and vice versa. Some venues are booked two or more years out.

5. Invest in a Wedding Planner

Even if you happen to be really organized and love planning, I recommend hiring a “month-of” planner at a minimum. Better yet, book a full service planning package. You’ll gain some free time to spend with your fiancé and you’ll lose a lot of the stress you’d have with planning and coordinating the whole wedding by yourself.

6. Wedding Websites + Save the Dates

Wedding websites are awesome, as long as you take the time to fill out all of the relevant information. You can create your own through Zola, The Knot, or any other online wedding provider.

I do adore a good save the date, especially when it contains your wedding website URL! You can ask a stationery and paper goods vendor to create you a whole invitation suite that includes save the dates.