5 Steps To Take After Getting Engaged
You’re engaged! Congratulations!! While your wedding day may seem far away, trust us when we say it will go by in the blink of an eye! We love being here for our clients – we understand that you’ll be feeling all the feels – don’t let the heavier ones overwhelm you, we’re here to alleviate some of that pressure you may feel. Pass the bulk of the planning baton to us and enjoy your engagement with your fiancé! Below are five tips to help you kick off the planning process.
1. Decide on a budget
Each decision you make about your wedding from this point forward depends heavily on your budget. It’s important that you have a conversation with your fiancé and any other people (family) involved in the process to ensure everyone is on the same page and a number (or close range) is decided. It’s also important to discuss if there is flexibility in the budget, if the need arises, can that number be bumped up?
We also recommend appraising your ring and getting it insured during this initial phase so it doesn’t get overlooked down the road.
2. Keep a list of dates on hand
While the availability of a date is dependent on the venue and how far out your wedding is, it is important to have options. Our recommendation? Pick a time of year that you would like to have your wedding take place, and make sure you have a few options in case the venue is not available. Have a list of at least 2 – 4 places that you would love to see, and to consider having your wedding at. Don’t get locked into one place, and risk disappointment. Be open to the possibility of a beautiful wedding day in more than one location!
3. Keep your guest list in mind
When planning, it is important to consider the number of guests you plan on inviting/attending your big day. Keeping in mind that typically, food, beverage and venue are about half (YES, 50%!!) of your overall budget, you can really help yourself by having a ballpark guest count in mind. It is important that the space is the right fit for what you are trying to create, and it fits comfortably into your budget!
4. Gather inspiration
You most likely have been thinking about your wedding for quite some time, and have a long list of ideas in mind. But if not, do not panic! It is ok to have zero idea of what you would like – that is what we are here for! We love to suggest an old-fashioned way of finding inspiration – magazines! Of course, Pinterest and Instagram are amazing resources as well, but magazines are a tried and true way to flip through pages of inspiration and pull from multiple sources. These do NOT need to just be wedding publications! Look at magazines aimed at design, fashion and travel! All of it can come together to create an amazing idea board from which you can design something so special. This is one of the things we love suggesting to our clients! Do your research and make sure you have elements in mind. This can include color palette, texture, price range, or all of the above. While you may not have everything decided on, this is a great place to start!
5. Hire a planner!!
A planner is an investment for your wedding that will pay off throughout the planning process and long after as well. We are here to communicate between vendors, solidify timing, and iron out any kinks that may come up. Most importantly, we ensure that your wedding vision is executed while staying within your budget. Working with our clients to ensure a smooth process is a must. We communicate regularly, organize constantly and make sure that each and every component and creative contribution to our client’s days are significant and meeting standards! From weddings near our locations in Chicago and Florida to destinations in Italy to Mexico and everywhere in between – we LOVE our jobs, and making beautiful memories for our clients! Now, isn’t that someone you want on your wedding planning team?!
