"At last he popped the question and you finally have that sparkling diamond ring on your finger you've always dreamed of. Now comes the even more exciting part- planning that magical wedding you've rehearsed since you were a little girl!
But as the excitement wears off a little the panic and feeling of being overwhelmed can often replace it. So much thought, organisation, decisions and time goes into planning a wedding, and the bigger the guest list the bigger the job!
So to help out a little, I've researched a step-by-step guide on what to do after the initial engagement. Hope this helps..."
The engagement
Ok, the ring is firmly on your finger, here's what to do next:
First call your family and friends and share your happy news! This is a time to bask in the glory before the planning begins so enjoy it.
You can choose to formally announce your engagement- perhaps in the paper or a formal notification to all you know. One thing you should definitely do is arrange for your parents to meet if they haven't already.
Buy yourself a wedding organiser, wedding books, magazines, etc and plan an engagement party! Even though you could plan the party before you stock up on wedding materials they're always a good guide, as you may want your engagement theme and wedding theme similar so it gives you great ideas.
Set the wedding date! It's a wise idea to set the date asap as it's one of the most important decisions you'll make in your wedding. It's also good to be able to announce the date at your engagement party.
The engagement party is usually scheduled no more than three months after the announcement so try and do it as soon as possible, and then you can start wedding planning.
Keep track of engagement gifts you receive to send thankyou notes to everyone.
The initial wedding planning
(10+ months until the wedding)
Now that you've celebrated your engagement time to get down to business! Here are the first steps you should consider in planning your wedding:
Think about what theme/ tone you want for your wedding. Formal or casual? Indoor or outdoor? Traditional or unique? Deciding on the overall theme and tone first is the best way to help you decide on your venue and everything else that follows.
Make a decision on the theme and wedding colours and research decoration ideas.
Before you book anything, set yourself a realistic wedding budget, allocating how much money you're able to spend on all aspects of the wedding from the wedding dress, to the wedding cake to the wedding reception.
Start your guest list. You need to know how many people you are inviting to work with your budget and wedding venue.
Select and reserve your wedding reception and ceremony venues. Many popular places can be booked years in advance so if you have your heart set on somewhere and don't plan to have a long engagement you might have to be flexible with dates.
Once you've booked your wedding venue, make a final decision on the decoration theme.
Choose your bridal party, including flower girls and a pageboy if necessary.
Choose and book your wedding officiant.
Try getting to a bridal expo to experience different ideas about entertainment, wedding cakes, wedding photographers, wedding caterers, wedding florists and bonbonniere.
The middle wedding planning
(6+ months until the wedding)
This is when you'll get the bulk of your wedding planned!
Time to go wedding dress shopping! Make appointments with bridal boutiques as most are by appointment, and shop around for your perfect dress. Order your dream dress along with a veil, accessories, shoes, etc.
If you require catering decide on a company and sign the contract.
Choose your florist and start the flower arrangements.
Book the entertainment for the ceremony/ reception.
Decide on your wedding photographer and confirm the booking.
Take your bridesmaids on a shopping trip and decide on their dresses. Some bridesmaids pay for their own dresses, so make sure you discuss the arrangements with them beforehand.
If you're making your own wedding favours you'd better get started. If you are purchasing them start looking around for the type of favours you'd like to give your guests.
Do taste-testing of different wedding cakes and decide on one that's right for you, making a booking with the baker/ designer/ caterer for your favourite design.
Start planning your honeymoon!
Heading towards the finish line
(3+ months until the wedding)
During these crucial last months before your wedding, all the finals details should be finalised, as you don't want to be rushing around in a panic weeks before your big day.
Select your wedding invitation design and get them printed and sent out.
If you're purchasing wedding favours decide on them and purchase now. If you made your own, ensure all final touches are complete.
Register for gifts.
Arrange wedding transportation.
Decide on groom and groomsmen wear, order and purchase.
Finalise any last touches to your bridesmaid attire- including accessories, shoes, etc.
Ensure you have a fitting for your dress for any adjustments and arrange a final fitting for around a week before your wedding day.
If necessary, start planning your rehearsal dinner.
Read up on various beauty regimes leading up to your wedding day, as many can start months in advance.
Select and purchase your wedding rings (if you need to order them in they can take up to eight weeks, so don't leave this until the last minute!)
Book wedding night accommodation and any other accommodation required for traveling guests.
Buy gifts for your wedding party, parents and each other.
Finalise any last details of all your bookings. Confirm everything with your venue, photographer, entertainment, cake, etc. and finalise any payments necessary before the wedding.
Enjoy the lead-up to the most exciting and important day of your life!
"Following this engagement and wedding checklist should enable you to enjoy your last weeks leading up to the wedding, and ensure you have everything 100 percent under control for the magical wedding day you've always envisioned!"
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