If you are reading this then I have to tell you right now CONGRATULATIONS! What a beautiful time in your life! Planning a wedding is no easy task but hopefully, with the help of this guide, you will be less stressed! Below you will find tips for 10 Things To Do After Getting Engaged. I am a Nashville wedding photographer so I help couples plan their dream days quite often. Let’s dive in!
Related: Best Nashville Engagement Session Locations
1. Enjoy The Moment
There is no better feeling than saying yes to your best friend for life. Let’s face it, you probably want to go on social media and tell the WHOLE world about the news but I beg you to just take the time to soak it all in! The day you get engaged is one of the most special days of your entire life and you certainly do not want to spend it on your phone. Go out and enjoy a celebratory dinner or pop open a bottle of champagne! I promise you there is no better feeling than that first day of being engaged 🙂
2. Share The News
Once you have broken the news to your family and close friends, it’s time to tell the world! One of the best things about getting engaged is feeling all the love from everyone around you! Go ahead and post that ring selfie on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc! Let the world know that you said #IDo!
3. Plan An Engagement Party
Before you start the adventure of wedding planning, throw an engagement party to celebrate with your family and friends! This can be a surprise party or can be hosted by family or friends! This is a time of getting congratulated and loved on by your closest circle. The people invited to this should also be invited to your wedding. This is the perfect way to start off this special time in your life of being engaged!
4. Start Thinking About Your Wedding
I know you have probably been dreaming about your wedding day for years, but the time is NOW that you actually get to start planning it! Don’t worry, you don’t have to start reaching out to vendors quite yet but it certainly is a good idea to start putting together mood boards! This is a great time to figure out your color scheme, florals, dresses, decor, etc! This may seem a bit overwhelming but there is no need to stress! If you choose to hire a wedding planner, they can help you plan the wedding you have always dreamed of and more!
5. Establish Your Wedding Budget
Your wedding budget is the backbone of your wedding and you will be planning it so it is crucial to plan your wedding budget soon after getting engaged. I know how overwhelming it can be talking to your parents about this topic or figuring out what your budget is but I promise it is important to get done early! When figuring out your budget, there are always going to be unexpected costs that you did not plan for so make sure you leave extra wiggle room for this!
6. Create A Guest List
After establishing your wedding budget, now it is time to create your guest list! You may be wondering why this comes before choosing your DREAM venue but it’s for a good reason! Creating your guest list before meeting with venues helps you know what venue and budget is right for the number of guests you will be inviting. This guest list should have the people YOU want to have there. It doesn’t have to be anybody’s decision but the two of you on who is there for you on your wedding day. I have photographed big and small weddings and love both! Make sure when creating your guest list you are staying organized with wedding guest list tools such as this one.
7. Choose A Venue And Set A Date
This is the step you have been waiting for and I don’t blame you! Starting the search for your dream wedding venue is so much fun! There are so many different types of weddings whether you want to have a traditional wedding, elope, have it indoors, outdoors, etc. There are lots of decisions to be made and the ultimate thing I want you to keep in mind is to do what YOU two want! This is your wedding day and no one else’s so celebrate it the way you have always dreamed of! When you are inquiring and touring venues, it’s important to make sure they can accommodate all of your needs for your day. Below are some questions to ask when talking with venues.
- Is your date available?
- What is the guest limit?
- What is the cancellation fee?
- Do they have different rates for different days of the week?
- Do they allow 3rd party vendors or do you have to choose from their list?
- What is the deposit and payment schedule?
- Is there a curfew?
- Are there noise restrictions?
- Is there a food and beverage minimum?
- Is the catering done through the venue or can you bring someone in?
If you are planning on getting married in Nashville, feel free to take a look at the Best Nashville Wedding Venues!
8. Take Engagement Photos
Now that you have your date and venue set in stone, getting your engagement photos taken is next! This should be the FUN part with an emphasis on fun! As a wedding photographer myself, I know how anxious and nervous it is to get in front of a camera for the first time! When reaching out to photographers, many of them will have an engagement session included in their wedding package so be on the lookout for that. Getting professional photos taken as early as you can is a good idea so you can use them to send out save the dates! When planning for your engagement session, have it be somewhere that means something to you two like a place you first met or a park where you would go on walks frequently. This is such a special time in your life so make sure to cherish these moments!
9. Book All Other Vendors
Building your dream wedding vendor team is something you definitely don’t want to wait on doing as most vendors book 6 months to 1 year out. Now you are starting to see why the steps before this needed to happen because you now know your budget, wedding date, venue, etc which helps you build out your vendor dream team! I would highly recommend getting on a phone call with each vendor you are interested in working with to make sure they are a good fit for you and are available for your date! Listed below are some of the most common vendors on a wedding day that you should be reaching out to if you plan to have their service on your wedding day! If you plan on hiring a wedding vendor, they will be able to help you reach out and book vendors who are reputable!
- Photographer
- Caterer
- Florals
- Cake
- Wedding Planner
- Hair and Makeup
- Attire
- DJ
- Videographer
- Stationer
- Officiant
- Jeweler
- Rentals
- Transportation
10. Say Yes To The Dress
Finding your dream wedding dress early on should be a high priority as it can take anywhere from a month to 9 months to get your wedding dress! Many brides find themselves shopping around at multiple wedding dress shops which can take multiple days. When you are dress shopping, this should be a fun time! You will know when you have found THE one!
And there you have it! I would like to be one of the many people who wish you a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on getting engaged! It is one of the most special times in life that should be filled with happy memories and lots of love! I hope this guide helps you in planning your wedding day! If you have any questions feel free to message me on Instagram! I would be happy to answer any questions you may have 🙂
