“Will You Marry Me?”  Ah! It’s here! The question you’ve dreamed about for so long time! If you’re anything like I was, the moment you said yes was such a blur. Excitement, tears, pop the champagne, tell the world, it’s time to celebrate!!  January and February are such an exciting time around here, because it’s Engagement Season! So many sweet love stories and couples choosing to be together forever.

When I think back to how I planned my wedding (almost 10 years ago!) I remember feeling so lost, especially at the beginning. First off, what happens after the official proposal? What’s next? How do you start planning a wedding anyway? You may have tons of decor ideas and pictures in your mind, but this is one of the most common questions when I receive an inquiry… “I’m engaged, now what?”  So friends, and friends to be, we’re kicking off a new blog series just for couples who are wedding planning! We’ll be posting twice a week throughout February and March, with all kinds of tips, ideas, inspiration and check lists.  To kick off, here are 5 ways to start your planning process:

1: Celebrate

Alright, alright. This one is obvious, but it’s so true! People want to know you’re engaged! From your closest family members to your friends who live across the country, share the good news! Call the important people first, such as your parents,  siblings, besties as I promise they want to hear from you personally. Don’t let them find out through Facebook, or assume they’ll see a post.

2: Pick a Date

This is absolutely the first planning step. Before you can do ANYTHING, you have to decide on a date.  Make sure to avoid any special dates that the rest of your family or friends have things planned on. It’s okay to choose a holiday like Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend, or New Year’s Eve but just remember some vendors may already be booked or not available. Side note: June dates go even faster than holidays. If you are dreaming for a June wedding you might want to think two years out or plan a day that’s not Saturday.  It’s even better if you can decide on a month and choose several dates that work for you during that month. When you start searching for venues, and your ideal date is booked, it’s easy to look and their calendar and choose between your 2nd and 3rd date choices.

3: Pinterest Management 

In some ways, I’m glad Pinterest didn’t even exist when we were planning our wedding! While there’s great ideas out there and tons of inspiration, it can also take over your time if you’re not careful. If you’re pinning for a wedding, make VERY specific boards for your wedding ideas when you’re first starting. For example: Bridesmaid Dresses, Color Inspiration, Centerpieces, Reception Tables, Bridal Hair, Florals, Fun photo ideas, etc.  When you have a MASSIVE “Wedding” board that you pin everything to, it becomes very confusing and hard to find those favorites down the road!

4: Get Your Ring Insured!

It doesn’t sound like a ton of fun but it’s totally necessary! If a stone gets loose or you accidentally lose your ring down the sink (it does happen!), you want to make sure it can be protected or even replaced. Your fiancé may have already purchased insurance, but if not you definitely want to take the next steps into finding a policy. Often a personal article policy through your current agent is sufficient.

5: Choose A Trusted Planning Helper

It may be your mom, mother-in-law, a best friend… but you need someone who knows you well and can help carry the load. When you’ve hit a wall and can’t decide between two choices, they can step in and give a trusted answer. Someone who is excited, organized, and will be honest with you it the perfect choice!

I’ll be back on Thursday with details about budgeting and venue choices! Is there anything specific you want to know about? 

If you’re a bride who is just beginning this planning season, and would like detailed information about what we offer, as well as an awesome planning guide magazine, go ahead and connect with us on the contact page.

Happy planning!