Congratulations on your engagement! You said “YES!”, now what’s next? We know that this is an exciting season in your life, and we understand that the excitement can wear off when the reality of planning a wedding sets in. We are here to help, to calm those nerves and remind you to enjoy the process of planning your wedding. So throw those stress nerves out the window and plan with ease.

1. enjoy being engaged

Don’t get ahead of yourself and jump into planning the minute you say “YES!”. This is an exciting time, one of the best, so don’t overload your plate. Planning your wedding should be a fun and enjoyable time, not a reason to pull your hair out. *Bonus Tip: For every hour spent planning make sure to spend another hour with your fiancé with no wedding talk.

2. don’t stress over planning a “perfect” wedding

There is no one way to do a “perfect” wedding, so let’s not fixate on that. Your wedding should be all about you and your fiancé. So don’t fall into the trap of being “traditional”, you can skip the garter toss or bouquet toss, if it’s not for you. Have as many bridesmaids and groomsmen as you’d like! Find what you both love and don’t love and go based on that.

3. talk about the big three

There are three conversations you must have once you’re engaged: Budget, Wedding size, and Location. This is all crucial to kick start your wedding planning. The last thing you want is to fall in love with a venue that doesn’t accommodate your guest list, or budget too low and feel like you’re settling. These conversations don’t need to be hard, but they must be talked about early on.

We’d love to connect you with others in the industry: Preferred Vendor List

4. prioritize what matters to you

When planning for a wedding it is important to prioritize what matters most to you. I always advice my couples to tackle everything in three’s. So, for example, if the venue, photography and videography are your top three, then search for these vendors first. Don’t overwhelm your search with options. For each category allow yourself three vendors to inquire with. Once you have found the vendor for each of these categories, move on to your next top three. This helps you plan with ease and stay on budget.

5. trust your soon-to-be husband with the planning

Don’t assume that he’s not into it, or doesn’t care what colors or flowers will be displayed at the wedding. It is very important to always consider what the other person wants and simply not assume. A good way to see where you both stand on the outcome for your wedding is to come together and create a list of priorities. This will help you both be aligned with your vision.

6. don’t worry too much about others

For those of you who have planned a wedding before know how much people love to share opinions and advice for your big day. While some of it can be totally helpful, at times it can be a bit awkward or just not wanted at all. Want to know a secret? It doesn’t matter! You know why? Because it is your day and you should be considering yourself and your fiancé. In the end you two have control over your wedding. If you’re finding yourself in this current situation, just brush it off!

7. engagement photos are necessary

Each year we get some couples who want to opt out their engagement session, but friends, we want to educate you on the importance of these photos. They are here as a memory of who you two are before you say I do. A testimony to the love you had, and will always have. They’re perfect to use for your save the dates or as decor for the big day. During this time we get to know each other, and how we work. But most importantly, it is one of the best experiences to make you comfortable in front of the camera, because let’s be real, most of the time this is the first time for most.

Your engagement season only happens once, and you guys, it’s the best. It should be about being in love, soaking up the excitement, and getting ready to start a new adventure together. Just because you said “yes” doesn’t mean you need to stop dating. Remember to continue the romance even more now! Try new places, spend more time together and away from planning.

Read more about our Wedding Planning Checklist to help keep you organized with wedding planning! Need a tangible copy, print it out here