It’s so exciting to get engaged and tell all your friends and family the news! Showing off your ring and the beginnings of wedding planning is such a fun time, but eventually the time for getting things ordered, picked out, and booked will come and it can be very overwhelming. While this isn’t a do all or end all list, I hope it will shed some light on what to do next as an engaged couple.

OPEN A WEDDING BANK ACCOUNT AND FIGURE OUT YOUR BUDGET
Keep your wedding money separate from your personal account. This can help you see exactly what you have spent and what is left to spend.

INSURE YOUR RING
Visit your jewelry store and get an appraisal for your ring. Take it to the insurance company to get it insured.

COLLECT IDEAS FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY
Wedding day ideas are probably something you have swimming around in your head. Now it’s time to collect those ideas and make them concrete. Use Trello or Pinterest to help organize your ideas. I would suggest saving everything you love and go back to see how cohesive your ideas are then delete the ones that just don’t make the cut.

MAKE A GUEST LIST
Making a guest list will coincide with your budget. They go hand and hand. When budgeting and thinking about a guest list consider food and drink costs, how many tables, tablecloths, and chairs to rent, flowers for each table, etc.

HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER
They think of things you may have never considered and they are wedding professionals that can make your day (and mom’s day) so much easier. I interviewed a wedding planner HERE, check it out if you are undecided about hiring a planner or coordinator.

CHOOSE AND BOOK YOUR VENUE
After you have decided on a date, look for the venue. It’s better to do this early so you have availability options.

BOOK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
I usually get contacted by couples around 8-12 months before the wedding. This is a good time to get on my calendar to ensure your date is available. Also, around the 8 month mark is when I take engagement photos to ensure you have ample time to receive the photos back from me and get the save the dates mailed out.

BOOK YOUR FLORIST, CATERER, BAND, ETC.
If you need recommendations for any of these, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I have photographed weddings for almost 10 years and have worked with many professional vendors.

After you have gotten through this list of what to do after you get engaged, you can now breathe a bit and enjoy the rest of your engagement…and picking out that fabulous wedding dress.