7 things to do after you get engaged
Oh hello newly engaged friend!
With all my heart, HUGE congratulations on your engagement & what an utterly beautiful time in your life it is!
It makes me incredible sad when I hear from couples who describe their engagement period as ‘stressful’ & they feel they can’t enjoy this cherished time without the anxiety of knowing what wedding planning actually entails.
I’m hear to change all that…I want you to enjoy & celebrate your engagement freely without the pressure of worrying about the first stages of planning your Soirée.
Below you will find my 7 best piece of advice to ensure your wedding planning begins on the right foot & you can enjoy your precious engagement time free from anxiety…
01. DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
This deserves to be said in caps!
I know it can be really tempting to dash out & grab the latest copy of Bridal Vogue or lose an hour (or several) pinning alllll the things on Pinterest, but hold your horses for just a sec & soak up the newly engaged feeling.
Open that bottle of delicious champagne, indulge in a celebratory dinner or just snuggly up on the sofa together & enjoy this wonderful moment!
02. Celebrate your engagement
Whether you’re all for a full blown engagement party or an intimate supper with your favourites is more your vibe, take some time to just be engaged without the mental load of wedding planning.
If little ‘wed-min’ thoughts begin to encroach on your precious engagement time then jot them down for now (in a fabulous notebook of course). Those little ideas/questions will then be in one place when they’re needed…& not swishing around your brain during celebration time.
03. Start day dreaming
You may be an excited soul who’s dreamt about your wedding day your entire life or it’s something that you’ve never really given much thought. Which ever camp you’re in, now is the perfect time to start visualising your wedding & what elements mean the most to you both.
The most efficient way to gather your wedding wishes is to begin a Pinterest board & fill it with anything that takes your fancy & sparks joy!
You don’t need to be a Pinterest whiz or think too much into what you’re pinning at this stage so don’t worry about your pins complimenting one another or fitting into a specific colour palette. Just have fun & pin anything that catches your eye. (I pinky promise this stage will be super helpful during wedding planning).
04. The budget
If you take on board one thing today, make it this!
Get real about your budget before you even step foot in a wedding venue/bridal boutique/cake shop & have those budget conversations with the people contributing to your wedding from the onset.
Why?
Knowing your budget MASSIVELY reduces your wedding planning time, overwhelm, anxiety & ensures your budget is invested in the areas of your wedding that bring you the most joy.
When you know your budget upfront, your supplier searches become more targeted which is going to save you time & reduces the wed-min stress.
Budgeting isn’t one of the most exciting wedding planning jobs so I’ve done some of the hardwork for you! Click below to find my average breakdown for a wedding budget & some handy tips to kick off your budget planning.
05. The guest list
Now that you have your overall budget broken down into categories, its time to start jotting down the guest list.
This can be a task that causes tension so here’s my top tips:
1. Start by creating the VIP list – these are the people you absolutely cannot imagine getting hitched without.
2. Next create a second list of everybody else you’d love to invite & don’t hold back! Add partners, work colleagues, children (if you’d like little ones to attend). This will give you your max number of guests.
3. Now take the second list & highlight your most treasured guests; you know the one’s, the fabulous people in your life that make you laugh uncontrollably, wouldn’t hesitate to buy you dinner, spark the best memories & have stood by your side through the wonderful times…& challenging ones. This list, along with your VIP list will give you your minimum number of guests.
You know I’m all about saving you time & reducing stress so I’ve created a guest list spreadsheet ready for you to use! Simply click below to grab your copy…
06. The Venue Search
You’re now armed with your venue budget & guest list so next up – The all important venue search.
Your venue is the most important supplier to nail at this stage for obvious reasons & other suppliers won’t be able to accurately supply quotations without knowing your venue location & wedding date.
My heart always sinks when I receive an enquiry asking for pricing for a wedding without a venue & a confirmed date so to begin your search, here’s a few things to consider:
1. Location – What area do you want to say your ‘I-do’s’? Where will your guests be travelling from? Would you like guests to stay on site or in close proximity to your venue?
2. Pick a season – Some venues will cater for weddings all year round while other may offer beautiful features for outdoor soirée’s so choosing a season will help narrow down your search.
3. Grab your copy of my ‘Little Black Book of Suppliers’ which includes an extensive list of exceptional wedding venues throughout the UK. This little beauty will save you oodles of time at this stage of planning so grab your copy below:
07. Assemble your supplier dream team
There’s a lot of choice out there & it can feel pretty overwhelming when you start searching for suppliers that match your vibe.
Here’s my top tips for finding your supplier dream team without tearing your hair out:
1. Before shiny object syndrome creeps in, pick your top 5 must haves for your wedding day & make them non-negotiable. Maybe a killer band/DJ is a must or the overall aesthetic & styling of your venue fills you with excitement ; ) – These areas are where you want to focus your supplier search (& energy) first.
2. Be honest with suppliers about your budget (& I know you’ve done your homework & completed your budget breakdown so this step should be a breeze!) Most suppliers will ask about the investment you wish to make to ensure they don’t waste your time (& theirs) presenting products/services that don’t fit your budget – It saves you time too because you won’t end up with an inbox full of quotations that aren’t aligned with the investment you wish to make.
3. Grab your copy of my ‘Little Black Book of Suppliers’!
I’m continually asked by clients for supplier recommendations so here’s my list of my absolute besties! This will save you a looooot of time during your supplier search so click below to get a copy straight to your inbox!
Ok, now what?
I’m here to help you…
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