You’ve been dreaming about your wedding day for as long as you can remember, and now you finally know with whom you get to share that momentous day. What you may have forgotten about was exactly what you need to get done now that it’s happening. It’s not too complicated, but there are a few key things that you need to focus on.
Call your folks/siblings/best friend ASAP
Share the joyous news! I can’t stress this one enough. After you’ve said yes, this should be the very next thing you do. Yes, you can wait until the following morning to make the call, but you’d better be hiding that ring from curious eyes until then. Remember, you aren’t the only one who has been dreaming about you getting married, your parents have been, too. It’s a memory both of you will remember, and an important step.
We may live in the era of Facebook and Instagram, but let your parents and siblings hear about your impending nuptials in their feed and you are never going to hear the end of it. Texting doesn’t cut it, either. Pick up your phone, the squeals and cheers make it worth it.
Time to take care of your rock
Sometimes your fiancé knows your exact size, sometimes they don’t. So, if it’s a little loose, take it in and get it sized. Secondly, if your fiancé hasn’t already, get it insured. It’s terrible, but sometimes rings get damaged, and sometimes they even get lost (or stolen). While the insurance won’t get you your beloved ring back, at least you can recoup the funds and replace it.
Set a Date (or at least pick a month) and place
This will be a question you get asked right away. For some reason, people expect you to know the date right from the get-go. While you don’t need to know everything, it’s a good idea to pick out the month and year. Basically, it’s almost impossible to plan anything without having a general idea of when you’re going to celebrate. Dreaming of a June wedding? You’re going to want to consider venues right away, as June is a very popular month to wed. Planning on honeymooning in Hawaii? Probably don’t want to plan it during the rainy season. Plus, picking a month is going to help you find inspiration with your wedding colors, cake, flowers, even your wedding dress style.
It’s also time to talk to your fiancé about where you want to get married. Many brides and grooms these days are venturing out from their home cities to get married in their dream location. Sometimes that’s close by, and sometimes that’s a ten-hour international flight away. Determining the general location helps you start to comprehend your budget and your guest list.
Get a Wedding Planner
I’m talking about the book kind, here. We’ll get to the person later. Staying organized throughout the planning process is essential. You’ll feel less stressed as you go through the months and you’ll have a reference to look to when you aren’t sure what you are supposed to do next. Wedding planners are available as digital versions as well, but I suggest getting the real thing.
Start Saving
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you, but weddings are expensive. Even if you plan on keeping things low-key, you’re going to come across more expenses than you think you will. Maybe you are planning on wearing your grandmother’s wedding dress, for instance, you’re going to need alterations. Alterations usually fall between $75 at the bare minimum, and $275. Setting aside a couple hundred a month before you need it is going to make the price-tag sting hurt just a little less when it comes time to pay up. So, sit down with your fiancé (and check in with your folks if they’re chipping in), and figure out how much you two can afford.
Ask your parents for their (dream) guest add-ons
When you are considering venues and budget, you’re going to need a realistic number of guests to go off. So, get this one out of the way early. Ask your parents to draw up a list of the people they want there. It’s a good idea to get their “must have” list as well as their “if there is room” list. That said, it’s YOUR wedding. Take their request into consideration, but don’t let it deter from your dream.
Decide whether to hire a planner or not
Once you’ve figured out all these details, you’re going to have a better idea of how much of this you can handle on your own. Wedding planners can be a fantastic option if you want to be able to have someone else handle the stress that comes with planning a wedding and running the big day. If you want to take over the planning, but don’t want to do anything day of, consider a day-of planner. Day-of planners are much less expensive and give you peace of mind. That said, if you’re planning a very small gathering, you can probably get away with it on your own.
Plan on non-wedding involved date night with your love
If you’re newly engaged, odds are you haven’t talked about much that wasn’t wedding related. That’s fine, but it may be time for a breather. Go on a date night with your fiancé and don’t talk about wedding details - just have fun. It’s important to remember that your relationship isn’t just about who you’ll be after your “I do’s”, it’s also about who you are right now.
