You just got engaged.

You cried, you called your mom, you posted the ring photo, you opened a bottle of something bubbly.

And then — probably around 2am, three days later — you sat straight up in bed and thought: wait, what do I actually do now?

Here's what I tell every couple who comes to me in that exact panic: the most important thing you can do in the first few weeks of engagement is not find a dress or pick a color palette. It's figure out who you need to hire and when you need to hire them — because the Washington wedding market moves fast, and the vendors you're dreaming of are not waiting around.

I've been photographing PNW weddings for 13 years. I've watched couples nail this timeline and float into their wedding day completely at ease. I've also watched couples wait too long, lose their first-choice venue, settle for a photographer they weren't sure about, and spend the last six months before their wedding in a low-grade stress spiral.

This guide exists so you can be the first couple.

12+ months: Lock Down the Non-Negotiables

There are three things that cannot wait, and honestly — if you're planning a July, August, or September wedding in Washington — you should be moving on these the moment the champagne bubbles settle.

Your venue. Venues set the entire tone of your wedding. They determine your guest count, your catering options, whether your dog can come (important), your permit requirements, and often which vendors you're even allowed to hire. Dream venues in the PNW — Willows Lodge, Kiana Lodge, Lord Hill Farms, Semiahmoo, the MV Skansonia — book 12 to 18 months out for peak season Saturdays. Not "tend to book." Book. As in, the date you want is already gone if you wait until spring to look for a summer wedding.

Your wedding coordinator. I know, I know — it feels like a luxury. It is not a luxury. A great coordinator knows the PNW vendor landscape inside and out, will save you from expensive mistakes, and will be the person who keeps your entire wedding day from going sideways. Book them early and let them help you with everything that follows. Worth every penny. Some of my absolute favorites in the area: It's All in the Details, Your Perfect Bridesma id, Pink Blossom Events, LCM Events, It's Your Day Events, and Manette Gracie Events. Book them early and let them help you with everything that follows. Worth every penny.

Your photographer. I'm obviously not unbiased here, but: PNW photographers with full galleries, real reviews, and summer availability are not abundant. The good ones — the ones whose work makes you feel something — book 12 to 18 months out for peak season. If you've found someone whose photos make you want to cry in the best way, do not wait. Reach out now. (And if that someone is me, I would love to chat.)

Intimate Venue: The Velvet & Oak Wine Bar in Snohomish

10 Months: Your Creative Team

With your venue locked and your coordinator guiding the ship, month 10 is when you build out the rest of your vendor team.

Videographer. If you want one — and I gently suggest you consider it — book them now. The best videographers in the PNW fill up just as fast as photographers, and they're often the last vendor couples wish they'd hired. I love working alongside the team at Captivate Films; they're wonderful humans and the work speaks for itself. And if you have guests who can't make it in person, Married Live Stream is a beautiful option worth knowing about.

Caterer. If your venue doesn't include catering, this needs to happen now. Get quotes, taste menus, and confirm they've worked at your venue before. Logistics matter more than you think when your venue is on a ferry route or requires a kitchen tent. I've seen Ravishing Radish, Twelve Baskets Catering, and A Lovely Night execute flawlessly at weddings across the PNW — all three are genuinely wonderful to work with on a wedding day.

Florist. Great florists in Washington book up fast for summer season. Come with inspiration photos and an honest conversation about budget. A few I adore and trust completely: Flora d'Amore, Fena Flowers, Honey Water Flowers, Floravore, Tangled Roots Florals, and Goldenrod Floral Design. The best florists will tell you what's realistic — and sometimes that conversation changes your vision in the most beautiful way.

9 Months: Music and the Vibe of the Room

Book your DJ or band. This person is going to be responsible for the entire energy of your reception, so take your time. Go see a band live before you book them if you can. Ask your coordinator for referrals — they've seen who actually shows up prepared and who coasts.

My go-to recommendations: Bugsie Productions , DJ Headsmile , and Janie Kelley (DJ, MC, and vocalist — genuinely one of a kind) for DJs. If you want a live band, Magnolia Rhapsody and Blue Wave Ba nd are both incredible and know how to read a room. A great DJ or band makes people dance who swore they wouldn't. A bad one empties the floor by 9pm. Choose carefully.

8 Months The Dress, the Officiant, and the Logistics

This is the fun month. Say yes to the dress — for real this time, not just on TV. Bring your people, go to multiple shops, try on things you'd never pick off the rack. You will surprise yourself.

Also this month: book your officiant. If you want someone who knows you personally, approach them now so they have time to prepare something meaningful. And get your hotel room block sorted for out-of-town guests — popular weekends book up faster than you'd think, especially around Seattle, Woodinville, and Bellingham.

Send your save-the-dates. Yes, now. Especially if you have guests traveling from out of state or if your wedding is on a holiday weekend. Wide Eyes Paper Co and Olympic Place Prints both do beautiful work if you want something that feels special the moment it lands in a mailbox.

7 Months: Bridesmaids & Cake

Bridesmaid dresses take longer than you think. Get the group together, decide on your parameters (same dress or same color? what's the budget?), and get orders placed. Alterations add time on the back end.

Then go eat cake. Seriously — book your bakery appointments and taste everything. Bakers need substantial lead time to design, bake, and deliver a wedding cake, especially if yours is multi-tiered or has intricate details. Honey Crumb Cake Studio and The Cake Walk Shop are both exceptional and the tastings are, objectively, one of the best appointments you'll have during this whole process. Enjoy it.

6 Months: Hair, Makeup & Paper

Book your hair and makeup team now if you haven't already. The best artists in the Seattle and Snohomish area fill their summer Saturdays early, and you want time for a trial run before the wedding day. A trial isn't vanity — it's how you find out whether you love the look before there's a photographer present. I've seen incredible work from Christy K Makeup & Hair, Off White Beauty, Anne Timms, and Michelle Wight Beauty — all of them are calm, professional, and genuinely lovely to have in the getting-ready room on a high-stakes morning.

Order your invitations this month too. Account for printing time, addressing, and mailing — you'll want them in guests' hands 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. (See above re: Wide Eyes Paper Co and Olympic Place Prints — both worth bookmarking now.)

5 Months: The Grooms Attire & Getting There

Suits and tuxedos need fittings, and sometimes multiple rounds of alterations, so don't let this one slide. Book your wedding day transportation this month as well. You don't have to do a limo — a vintage car, a party bus, a water taxi to a waterfront venue — whatever fits your vibe, book it before someone else does.

And if you're bringing your dog to the wedding (yes, please, always yes), now is a great time to look into Wags Down the Aisle — they handle pet coordination on wedding days so your pup gets to be part of the magic without anyone stress-sweating about logistics. Game changer.

3 Months The Home Stretch

Welcome to the home stretch. You've done the hard work. This month is for wedding bands (yes, the rings — funny that they come this late, but here we are), finalizing your guest favors, and confirming all your vendor details. Send your timeline to everyone who needs it. Make sure your coordinator has every contact and every contract.

This is also when I'd encourage you to think about the extra touches that make a reception feel like a party: a mobile coffee bar from Cascara Coffee Co, a fresh oyster experience from Seashucked, a mobile slushie bar from Blush & Rover, or an ice cream cart from Aha Sugar Co. None of these are necessities. All of them will make your guests lose their minds in the best way.

Then put your feet up. Pour something good. You are ready.

ONE LAST THING:

The vendors you book for your wedding are the people standing between you and a day you'll remember forever. Take your time, trust your gut, ask hard questions, and don't let anyone rush you into a decision that doesn't feel right.

And if you're still looking for a photographer who will direct you through every single moment, back up your images four different ways, and deliver your gallery in 30 days or less — let's talk. I'd love to be part of your day.

Now, you’ve earned it. Put your feet up and take a deep breath. You’re ready to get married!