You’re engaged! Now what?

You’ve just said “Yes!” to the partner of your lifetime, now what do you do?

Engaged!

Congratulations! You’ve announced it to all of your friends, family, and co-workers. You’ve whipped out that box you made when you were 12 with all the magazine clippings for inspiration, long before Pinterest was a thing. You have gone pin crazy for your “Mawwwige” boards on Pinterest. Your partner and you have been dreaming up all of the cute but personalized details for the wedding or honeymoon.

Enter the Overwhelm and Dread

Excitement for the day you say “I do” still lingers, but the massive undertaking planning an event of this size has set in. Where do you find the perfect vendors? What’s needed for a tent wedding? How does decor get sourced? Timelines, transportation, payment schedules, power requirements… all of these things are not the glamour you envisioned and you do not know where to start. You’re engaged, working full time, living a full life, and now an event planner too? No worries! Here’s a simple guide to help you along the way.

Step One

Chill out. Yes, I said it. Chill out! When I speak to brides, grooms, partners, etc. in our initial phone consultation a heavy worry has set in. As we talk further, I am able to see there’s so much work they have already done. Just knowing what you’d like, or the general direction, is a large chunk of the work! I can confidently say you’ve done more than you think you have, so chill out.

Step Two

I always advise my clients to first identify their priorities. Is a great honeymoon important to you? Does food and music matter most to you? Could you care less about decor, but need the entertainment for guests to be out of this world? Make a list of all the elements you’ll have at your wedding, and label these 1 through 10. Most times, just through conversation with a client, your wedding planner can identify these for you. If you’re the DIY bride, you’ll want to know this up front.

Step Three

Know your budget. Discuss with family members who may be contributing to the costs what their investments will be up front. Chat with your spouse about the reality of your wedding budget. Once you know your total budget, refer to a pie chart like this one to allocate funds appropriately while keeping your priorities in mind.

Step Four

Start with the big items first. Your venue, music, caterer, and photographers should be contacted 24 to 18 months ahead of time. These folks book up quickly in the peak wedding season, so jump on it. Next, contact a florist or devise a strategy for florals. Some choose a floral designer, and some choose a Pick-Your-Own route. My favorite Wedding Wire Award winning PYO farm is Cedar Circle Farm, in Thetford, Vermont.

Step Five

Fabulous, now that your location, food, music, pictures, and flowers are done you can turn your focus to hiring an officiant. Remember, if you are a part of an organized religion and would like your priest/pastor/head/etc. to tie you together in matrimony the church may have their own set of steps you must consider first. Talk with your leader to know what these are, so you can begin incorporating these into your timeline. Not religious? Find a Justice of the Peace to manage your ceremony! These folks will be registered with your town and state, a quick Google search will help you discover them.

Step Six

Secure decor. Rentals are highly recommended! Companies like Vermont Tent Company, Under Cover Tents, or Taylor Ann Rentals provide a comprehensive list of flatware, dishes, and all the tablescape items one could need. For the DIY savvy bride, you may wish to find all of these items ahead of time through warehouse sales, yard sales, or clearance shelves. I do not recommend this! The headache that comes from now handling storing, transportation, set up, break down, and what to do with it all afterwards is not worth the headache and extra work. Not to mention, the possibility nothing will match!

Step Seven

Discuss execution with your partner. It is beyond difficult to both coordinate your day, and enjoy it at the same time. I do not know how many last minute Day Of Coordination books have happened in every wedding planner’s lifetime, but we have all heard the panicked phone calls from a future spouse who is concerned with juggling it all. No one wants to show up to hair and make up frazzled because you spent the last three hours setting tables. Your day should be enjoyed, not working you to the bone! Hire your Day of Coordinator, or employ close family friends outside the wedding party to make it all happen.

More steps to come

This is a basic list of steps to take to manage that overwhelm. We all know there’s so much more to handling every detail than what’s listed here. Managing your timelines, making sure everyone knows where to be, that guests know where to be, handling the emergency vendor situations, ordering the invites and signs, the cake… all of it needs to be done. It’s why your wedding pro’s are prepared to help you. We want you to enjoy your beautiful day to the fullest without the stress and worry. We’ve got your back.

Need more help?

Let’s connect, shoot me an email with your questions. As a wedding pro, I love to share my expertise. Follow me on IG for inspiration and introductions to my favorite wedding professionals.

You’re engaged! Let it stay joyful, let us take on the management of an event.

Chat soon, xx

Kayce Mae