The Holiday Season is here! And what does that mean besides the overindulgence of food and alcohol, awkward family gatherings, and heated games of Euchre or Uno….it means there are plenty of opportunities to pop the question!! Between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day about 700,000 couples will become engaged. So, after that initial surprise, shock or sigh of relief, the next thought may be “What do we do now?”
Now be prepared…you are going to get unsolicited advice and questions from everyone! So, I have created a list to guide you through these first days, weeks, months following your engagement!
1. Enjoy the moment! Spend time with your fiancé…enjoy saying fiancé. Discuss boundaries for the wedding planning process. It can become all-consuming and take over. Make sure to balance your life and the wedding. Pinterest can be a wonderful thing but it can also become your fiancé’s nightmare!
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2. Insure your ring! Nobody thinks it will happen to them. How could I possibly be careless with something I have been waiting forever for….but you will get in the moment and one day you are washing dishes or mixing up a meatloaf and you set the ring off to the side and it’s gone.
3. The “B” word! No not that word….BUDGET! Sit down with your partner and create a budget. Where do you splurge? Where do you save? The budget determines so many factors. How many people can we invite? What venue can we afford? Open or cash bar? Plated meal or buffet? DJ or is Uncle Bob spinning out tunes from his phone? There are so many questions that will be answered once you establish a budget. The most important thing to remember is STICK TO IT! Paying your rent or car payment is more important than having llamas in sombreros next to a margarita wall at your reception…although that would be really cool! Check out the TikTok below!
4. Stay Organized! Keep a binder, folder or use a digital planner to keep all your to-do lists, contacts, vendor information and important dates neatly organized.
5. The Venue is ground zero! Booking the venue is the first vendor that needs to be locked in. Once that decision is made, and the date is set, then booking the rest of your vendors should fall in place. The venue is the one decision that sets the tone for the majority of the wedding decisions. Did you get the date/season you wanted? How many people can we invite? Does it fit in our budget? How much work needs to go into decorating the venue? What’s all included? Do I have to use their vendors? Make sure the venue you pick is one you can afford and still have money in the budget to check off the other items on your wishlist.
6. Start thinking of the bridal party. Don’t make any decisions yet…a lot can happen between the time that ring goes on your finger and when you actually walk down the aisle. Certain people in your life can add stress to an already stressful day. Granted some situations are beyond your control and family is family so you may not have a choice. Just remember, more doesn’t always mean merrier!
So to all the newly engaged couples out there….Congratulations! I hope you check out our website if you are getting married in 2024! Into the Woods Event Space would love to be a part of your special day! Again, take time to enjoy this exciting moment in your life. Then you can break out those Pinterest boards!