‌You’re engaged, now what? Well, we are all about popping some bubbly and toasting to that new ring on you left hand. Being engaged is such an exciting time, but it can also feel overwhelming. Especially, when we are used to observing and comparing what everyone around us or everyone on social media is doing. But, here’s the thing… this is YOUR engagement, not anyone else’s! Read on for a few tips on what to do now that you’re engaged!

One: Take it all in! Don’t feel like you have to immediately post your engagement on social media.

We live in a world where if we didn’t post on social media immediately, it feels like isn’t actually real or it’s somehow not as important unless you post right away. (And, of course, we completely understand wanting to have all the likes, hearts, and congratulations!) But, not posting right away allows you time to breathe. Call those close friends and family members and tell them the news first.

People are sharing less in real time on social media and when you take a minute to breathe and let everything settle in, it will be refreshing to get to have a second wave of celebrations once you officially update your Facebook relationship status. There is plenty of time to share your news with everyone in your social network, we promise!

Two: Take time to celebrate.

Life is already busy. We’re always on to the next thing… You’re engaged so next is a wedding and next is buying a house and then maybe starting a family… etc. Be sure to take time to bask in you proposal and that just being engaged feeling. (It’s totally a-okay if you can’t help but stare at your ring all day long!)

The engagement season of your life will go by so quick. You have lots of time for wedding planning, so just be sure not to skip over the excitement of your engagement.

Three: Don’t start promising people they’ll be invited during the hype of the excitement.

You’ve probably envisioned your wedding day. We wouldn’t blame you if you’ve had your Pinterest wedding board set in stone since your met your fiance, but until you’ve actually started the planning and securing vendors, you don’t know exactly what your day will be like. Plus, you have things that you’ll have to factor in such as how many guests can you invite within your budget? Because of this, it’s best not to make any promises you can’t (or don’t want to) keep with people being invited.

Once you’re ready to start the planning, here are some things you should do within the first month.

One: Crunch the Numbers

Make sure you have an accurate budget of what you can and want to spend on your wedding. If any family members are contributing, be sure to have an understanding of what they are willing to contribute. You can have an incredible wedding at any budget, but nothing gets more stressful and complicated than trying to book things out of your budget. Save that strain and stress on your relationship and crunch the numbers in the beginning. You will need to keep an eye on the budget throughout your planning process, but figuring out the numbers in the beginning will make this easy throughout the rest of your planning.

Two: Research Venues

The venue is the second place you should start after you’ve secured your ideal wedding budget. You’ll need to secure your date with the venue before you start hiring other vendors. Line this up first before reaching out to anyone else. Then you can start contacting the rest of your ideal vendors. There’s nothing worse then finding a vendor you love just to find out that they don’t have your date available!

Now, there are exceptions to this rule…

There are some couples who know they just HAVE to have XYZ Photographer, so if this is the case for you, than you book your photographer first or ask what dates they have available around the time of year you want to marry, and then contact your venues to see what dates align.

Or, maybe you need help in selecting a venue that is most ideal for your wedding day. If this is the case, then hiring a wedding planner should be your first step after securing your overall budget.

Check out a list of wedding venues The Wedding Blue Book loves.

Three: Hire a Wedding Planner

Planners can help with venue research to find the perfect venue for your wedding needs. If you already have your venue and don’t need extra help with that, finding a planner should be your next step.

Planners will not only give you vendor recommendations for trusted professionals that they know, but they will also ensure these vendors will be a good fit for your style, personality, and budget. Planners can also help design the event for you if design isn’t your thing!

Beyond helping with vendors, planners will be your go-to on the day and the weeks leading up to the wedding. They’ll create a timeline, finalize all your vendors, help with set up and decor, run your rehearsal, and of course, manage the entire wedding day.

Each wedding planner has different systems, but it’s important you vibe well with them because you’ll be spending A LOT of time with them.

Check out a list of wedding planners The Wedding Blue Book loves.

Four: Start Building Your Guest List

Once you have your venue and planner booked and you’ve crunched the numbers, you’ll have the information you need to know how many guests you can invite. Then you can start building your guest list with your favorite people!

Don’t stress about plus ones. The standard rule is to provide a plus one if someone is engaged, however it’s a modern world and it’s your day so you can play by any rules you want! Be sure to consider your budget and venue capacity, but also your guests and their experience. Ultimately it’s your wedding, but you want your guests to have fun too and that might mean giving them a plus one.

Also try not to stress about every single person your parents may want to invite. Everyone has to draw the line somewhere. You can always start with a primary list and a secondary list as well to help narrow it down.

Well talk more about preparing your guest list very, very soon! (Hint, hint!)

Five: Map Out Your Vendor Priorities

Knowing your vendor priorities is imperative. Some things may be super important to you while others may not matter. For example, if videography isn’t important and you don’t want a videographer, you can put that money toward another vendor. Knowing your top priorities is important because regardless of your budget, there will be times where you have to figure out what vendor is in your price range. Prioritizing vendors and knowing what’s important to you will help!

We are so happy for you and your engagement! Or, if you’re reading this and pre-engaged, we celebrate you, too!

And, don’t forget to submit your engagement to The Wedding Blue Book!