Just Got Engaged? The Ten Things You Need to Do First
Newly Engaged? BIG CONGRATULATIONS Well…now what?
I know you've now got a million and one things to do rushing through your head, so here are 10 things you should do after you get engaged- from spreading the news to finding your perfect wedding suppliers. 1. Enjoy the moment
Just enjoy being engaged for a moment. Take a week or two to let it sink in and enjoy it together, go out for a meal get a bottle of bubbly and really enjoy this time before putting all over social media. After all, once the announcement comes, it's full speed ahead.
2. Announce Your Engagement
Before posting on social media, you'll want to call your family and friends to let them know about the exciting news! They'll be so happy you took the time to personally let them know rather than let them find out via social media announcement. Celebrate being engaged and get together with your family and friends. It’s the perfect way to kick off your wedding planning.
3. Time to talk about Your Dream Wedding day
When you are ready to start the wedding planning process, the first thing that you need to do is talk to your partner, yeah the person you are going to marry.
Ask each other questions! When should we have the wedding? What are you thinking? Where will it be? Where do you envision the wedding? Do you want to keep it small? Do you want a big celebration? Do you want to get married abroad? What do you both want? Get it all out in the open and pick your perfect day together.
5. Create a Budget
Talking about money is always awkward. However, before you can really move forward with any of your wedding plans, this is a discussion that has to be had. The answer to the budget question may determine so many factors you will have to consider for your wedding day: venue, guest list, length of engagement, bridal party size, wedding dress, etc. For example, going for a budget photographer can result in images you don't like or getting a 5 tier cake for a small wedding is going to get wasted. Plan accordingly.
6. Choosing a wedding venue and date.
Now this is the big one! Do you want an indoor wedding or an outdoor or maybe both? How many people does it hold and where is the location? Is there somewhere for your guest to stay?
You know, you don't always have to have a date set before you begin looking for a venue. Sometimes the ideal venue will only be available on certain remaining days, and you don't want to turn down your dream venue based on the date itself.
When choosing a venue, you need to imagine yourself getting married there so make sure you visit when possible, either by open days or in-person visits. I highly recommend visiting the place twice and going at different times of the day, you will get a feel of what it will be like being there all day then.
7. Gather Wedding Inspiration
It can be so easy to go down a planning route and then realise that you are planning someone else's dream wedding rather than your own. Maybe begin creating a wedding mood board.
Pintrest is my go-to app for making mood boards. Envision the type of wedding you both want.
What time of year do you love the most? What colours do you gravitate toward? Are you obsessed with a particular flower? Once you have a rough draft, get on Pinterest and start specific boards for your inspiration: wedding dresses, bouquets, aisle inspiration, and much more. You can put as much or as little in as you want!
8. Hire your dream wedding photographer
I can now finally talk about myself!
Hi I am Ari, I am a professional wedding photographer in Dereham, Norfolk but I have travelled the world capturing wedding moments for loved-up couples.
I am a moments kinda girl and I love getting to know my couples before their wedding day. It is so much easier if we can call each other friends that way you relax more around me whilst I snap away capturing the good stuff.
Photographers get booked up super quickly because we can only do 1 wedding a day so it is best to get your enquires in as soon as possible. This will give you time to browse portfolios and schedule a meeting to help find the best photographer for you.
Having an engagement session can help.
This is the only time you are going to be engaged with each other, why not capture it? Help you get used to being in front of the camera and it's also amazing practice for your big day, and I highly recommend considering a session for peace of mind, posing techniques and fun ahead of your wedding day.
9. If you have someone in mind, book them!
Some of the best professionals get booked, a year or two in advance, so if you have your heart set on a certain supplier, make sure you secure them straight away. There's nothing worse than enquiring and finding out they are not free and you have to settle for the next best thing.
10. Have FUN!
It can be easy to get lost and stressed in planning a wedding day. It's a big thing to plan and get it how you want it. Remember, do what you want not what you think everyone else wants. Write a to-do list and do it together. All the things that come next in planning your big day are fun and exciting, trying dresses on, cake tasting, and creating a unique cocktail for your big day. Picking the decor and colours you love to who you want to celebrate with.
ENJOY every moment of it!
With any enquires I get I send them a checklist of things you do at different times to help along the way.
