Congratulations, you’re engaged!  Getting a ring for that finger is the very first step on the journey to your wedding day–how exciting!  You’ve shared your happy news with everyone, you may be settling into the idea that you have a wedding to plan and may be thinking, “Now what?!”

I know it seems like there’s SO much to do to plan your wedding day, but don’t let the big to-do list steal your joy and stress you out!

I’m taking the guess work out of the “what’s next?” and have put together a list of the FIRST FIVE THINGS you should do after getting engaged:

I.  DEFINE YOUR WEDDING VISION

Before you even say “yes to the dress,” it’s important to determine your wedding day style.  What do you envision for your day?  Are you a rustic bride?  Classic and timeless?  A breezy and laid back bride?  Vintage and elegant?  Modern and clean?

There’s so many directions you can take your day when it comes to style!  Decide what fits your personalities and vision first.  Then, you’ll be able to have a clear plan when making decisions moving forward.

Not sure what type of bride you are?  Check out this fun Wedding Day Style Quiz!

 

II.  TOUR VENUES

Once you decide what vibe you’re going for, you can begin to tour venues that will suit your wedding day vision.  Make sure the venues you’re touring speak to the style and vision of your day.  Doing so, will make it very easy to make all of your wedding day elements look and feel cohesive.  (It can be a real struggle to make a traditional ballroom look beachy & boho!)

Also, make sure your venue has all the amenities you’re looking for on your wedding day such as: a bridal suite with lots of natural light, a solid space for indoor portraits in case of inclement weather, and an indoor ceremony space if you’re planning an on-site outdoor ceremony.

 

III.  SET THE DATE!

Once you’ve fallen in love with a venue, now it’s time to choose your wedding date!  Before you do this, you’ll have a few things to consider:

• Is the time of year you choose going to affect whether really important people to you will be able to attend?
• Do you have any dates that are meaningful to you and your honey?
• Your wedding style & color palette.  Colors are seasonal!  If you’re dreaming of rich jewel tones and a deep color scheme, then maybe an autumn wedding is the best fit for you; while soft pastels speak more to the light and airy feel of spring and summer.
• What is the weather typically like during the month you’re considering?  How might different weather conditions impact your plan?

 

IV. SECURE YOUR VENDORS

Don’t wait to lock in your wedding vendors!  Many vendors book 12-18 months in advance, so if you have your heart set on working with a particular vendor, reach out to them as soon as possible.

Photographers, DJs, and florists are generally the first set of vendors most couples book.  Dates generally fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons (April-June & September-November).

PRO TIP: If you know of a vendor that you just have to have serving you on your wedding day, reach out to them before you select your date and see what their availability is to make sure they are free!

 

V. SELECT YOUR BRIDAL PARTY

There are so many fun and creative ways to ask your best friends to be a part of your special day.  Asking them to be by your side throughout the wedding planning process and throughout the wedding day is a huge honor!  Doing this step early on can give everyone enough time to clear their schedules and begin budgeting for the added expense and responsibilities of being a member of your bridal party.

(Not sure if you even want a traditional bridal party?  Check out this post on 10 Reasons Why It’s OK to Ditch the Bridal Party)

Alyssa is a fine art wedding photographer serving the Lehigh Valley and Greater Philadelphia area.  Are you recently engaged and searching for your wedding photographer?  Get in touch here!