Congratulations on your engagement and welcome to this exciting time in your and your partner’s lives. It’s time that’s gone too soon, because it’s filled with both so much fun and so much to do. If you’re looking for things to do after getting engaged, look no further! As you prepare to announce your engagement to friends and loved ones (and, possibly the entire internet) consider pouring some of your positive energy into wedding planning with this helpful guide!
You’ll need to get moving if you want to lock down your first-choice venue, photographer, caterer and DJ. Plus, a head start will help set-aside quality time with your SO later on when you’d rather be making romantic memories and cherishing this special time. Even if you plan on hiring a wedding planner, there’s a lot of work ahead so, sticking to an itinerary can help things from becoming too overwhelming during this wonderful time!
Day 1 of your engagement: Share the news with friends and family! Tell them in whatever way feels right—call, post a picture online or tell them face-to-face! Maybe start with those you want to tell personally before posting on social media to make those closest to you feel special. They’ll want to see your new ring and your smiling face close up!
Day 2: Insure your ring. We didn’t promise it would ALL be fun; there’s certainly some business to attend to. On your finger, your ring is priceless but if it’s ever lost, damaged or stolen, you’ll want to make sure the cost of a replacement is covered! Knock this task out early to give yourself peace of mind before moving on to the fun stuff—like creating a wedding inspiration board!
Day 3: Start a wedding inspiration board. Inspiration boards are a great tool for visualizing your wedding and all the little details that will make it special. Take those all-important first steps to making your dream ceremony a reality with curated images and objects that best capture your overall vision. Choose a deadline for completing your inspiration board to help you settle on an aesthetic. Great ideas can come from anywhere!
Day 4: Start thinking about a wedding date. Your love with your partner is far from ordinary, but the typical engagement lasts from one to two years. It can take all of that time to plan a wedding. The date you select will have an impact on other aspects of your wedding, such as how much time you have to plan, when you’ll have your bachelor or bachelorette party, whether the ceremony will take place indoors or outdoors, and how far in advance you’ll have to book your preferred venue. Winter weddings can be incredibly stunning and increase the likelihood of reserving your preferred photographer and other vendors!
Day 5: Create a wedding website. In the digital age, wedding websites are all but essential. But they don’t have to be a ton of work. There are great templates that make for easy website creation.
Websites create a home base of sorts where guests can go for announcements and follow your wedding journey. They can help you stay organized and prevent wasting time with repeated back and forth.
Day 6: Research venues. Even if you have a venue in mind (or maybe an aesthetic), you’ll want to immediately check websites and make phone calls. Venues can be one of your largest wedding expenses so pricing them helps build your wedding budget.
Depending on the venue, expenses like food may be included or the venue may have a handful of their own preferred list of vendors to work with. Point is, you won’t know the details until you ask! If you like what someone has to say, go ahead and schedule a visit. Great venues can be found where you least expect them. Refurbished warehouses or industrial centers can make for stellar, if unconventional, wedding venues.
Day 7: Crunch some numbers. Establishing a baseline budget or at least a ceiling can bring a lot of clarity to wedding planning. You’ll have hopefully already spoken to one or two of your ideal vendors by day seven and have a feel for what you can afford. Most couples have to make concessions and compromises throughout the planning process so they can splurge a little on what they want most.
Day 8: Consider hiring help. If you’re thinking about hiring a wedding planner it’s best to do so as early as possible in the planning stage. Like all wedding industry vendors, the best professionals book quickly, so act fast.
Day 9: Determine a wedding size. The size of your wedding has a big impact on the overall cost. Capping for your guest list (and staying committed to that number)
As with your budget, estimating the number of guests you plan to invite is helpful to the planning process. But keep in mind that it isn’t unheard of to modify the guest list over time. Some couples start planning and realize they can’t narrow down the guest list or decide to save money by not hiring a wedding planner.
Day 10: Narrow down your wedding party. The average number of bridesmaids or groomsmen is three to five. Avoid excluding friends with a big wedding party or reinforce a sense of intimacy with just one or two. But remember, you’re on the hook for at least some wedding party-related expenses. Deciding who will stand next to you on your big day could influence the wedding planning process. Plus, you will want to let party members know ASAP so they can plan accordingly.
Day 11: It’s all about the dress (if you want it to be). There are more possibilities than ever for expressing the true you on your big day. It’s about picking one of the many garments suitable for ALL genders for a one-of-a-kind look that makes you feel yourself. Break the mold or put your spin on tradition with unique wedding garments including jumpsuits, rompers, suits and even skirts!
Day 12: Enjoy the moment. We’ve thrown a lot at you these first 11 days. Take today off from planning to truly savor the moment. Maybe take some time to cross items off of your engagement bucket list!