You said Yes Now What?
The holiday season is one of the most popular times of the year to get engaged. But now that it’s been a few weeks, the initial excitement has calmed down a bit, and the realization hits that now you have a ton of planning to do!
So what do you do now? There are countless details to consider with your upcoming wedding but don’t get overwhelmed! It can be easier than you think. In fact, no matter what size or style of wedding you’re planning, there are 5 key things that we think every bride should start with. Lock in these 5 things and the rest will eventually fall into place.
First, pick a date.
This probably seems obvious, but this can affect so many things. Though a wedding can be planned in just a couple months, it will likely require some concessions and compromises. So if you’re feeling pretty particular, we recommend giving yourself at least 9 months to a year to get everything ironed out especially if you’re considering peak wedding season (typically May-June and in recent years, September-October). Plus, keep in mind that for major wedding dress shops, most of them require a minimum of 6 months to get a dress ordered, and that’s not counting the additional 1-2 months alterations can require.
Second, book a venue.
Along the same lines as picking a date, choosing a venue is an obvious step but it’s always surprising to hear how quickly venues can fill their calendars! We know of a few local venues who had their weekends in June filled nearly a year and a half in advance! So once you have a date, the first thing to jump on is a location for your ceremony and reception. This step can help determine a lot of other choices you’ll need to make – a venue can help you figure out what kind of theme or atmosphere you’re going for which will influence your decoration and color choices, they may have regulations for food and beverages helping you determine catering options, plus this may be the largest factor in figuring out exactly how many people you’re inviting!
Third, pick a theme (or a color).
Even though, “what are your colors?” is probably the first question you’ll be asked after “when’s the date?” we’ve found that lately, the most beautiful weddings are planned around theme instead of just a set of colors. Don’t get it wrong, colors can make or break the atmosphere of an event, but in order to avoid stressing over finding the exact match of dusty blue or rose per your tiny swatch of fabric, consider what the overall look and feel should be. Will it be vintage with shades of pastels and ivory, modern with berry colors and accent of sunny yellow, or bold with an array of sunset oranges?
Fourth, make a timeline.
There are countless resources and bridal guides out there, each with their own checklist… which are great to get the ball rolling, but we also recommend setting aside some time to put together your own custom timeline. Take your date and work backward with as much detail as you can! Make sure you order your dress at least six months out, try to book a DJ and photographer nine months out, order your linens and chair covers at least 3 months out, schedule your engagement photos, and set a deadline for save-the-dates (around 1 year out) and the invitations (3 months out). It may seem daunting and like too much work to plan everything out so far in advance, but trust us, you’ll be so grateful to have all of this information in one place and for those procrastinators around, it’s so helpful to give yourself some deadlines so it doesn’t all pile up at once.
Fifth, enjoy being engaged!
Yes, there is a lot to plan and a lot of decisions to make, but don’t let flowers, chair covers, tablecloths, or cake tastings take away from how special of a time this is! Involve your fianc├®e and make sure you both stay on the same team. It’s likely you’ll disagree on something, but keep the big picture in mind and remember the why of what you’re planning. And take some time together, away from the planning every once in a while.
Best Wished & Happy Planning From Beyond Elegance Rentals
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