Engaged: Now What? Five Steps to Start Planning

Engagement Season is upon us and we couldn’t be more excited!  Wedding planning it is exciting and scary, wonderful and stressful all at the same time.  Hosea House is here to walk you through the first steps to ensure your engagement is off to an even better start.

Take a minute + enjoy

You’ve called your family and best friends, posted the perfect picture and are watching the “congrats” roll in, but before you dive in to wedding planning--rest.  This is such a special time in your relationship, so take it in. There is no timeline, enjoy this season together.

Gather inspiration

All those hours you’ve spent on Pinterest or Instagram posts you’ve saved? It’s go time! In the early stages, broader is better.  Collect images of things that make you both happy and reflect who you are as a couple instead of specific blooms or china patterns, this will give you much more flexibility when visiting venues and vetting vendors based on your budget.

Create your guest list

Take a moment to write down the names of all the people you both love and those you can’t imagine getting married without. Be frugal, it is not about inviting everyone you both (or your mothers) know, it is about gathering all the people who got you to this point.  Make a spreadsheet to keep track of all their information (roles, addresses, dietary restrictions, hotel accommodations, etc.).

Talk Cheddar

The money talk is hard, there is no point in sugar coating it. If it is just the two of you paying for it, be sure to set a realistic, but manageable budget. If parents are chipping in, discuss expectations and to determine how much their opinions will affect your planning.  Transparency and making sure everyone is on the same page will save you from stress (or passive-aggression) later on. 

Need a little help?

Think about your schedule, your temperament and even your desire when it comes to planning your day. Do you both work jobs where you travel often? Do you live out of state and want to plan a wedding in your hometown? Are you the type that needs to walk through every decision or would you rather just show up and get married? A little introspection goes a long way in determining what level of planning/coordination you need.  Most venues require, at minimum, a professional “day-of coordinator” (see our FAQs to find out why there are so many names for coordinators) but based on your needs you may want a more inclusive package.

Working through these steps will set the tone for your planning process, but remember, you’re planning a party to celebrate your love--it should be fun!  

xoxo, megan

Photo by Ariel Evon Photography