You’re Engaged…Now What?

So he popped the question💍? You've found your true love and are ready for your happily ever after. You can already imagine all the things you will do together. You'll vacation, travel the world together, maybe start a family….Seems nice, right? Now, all we have to do is plan the wedding. Planning a wedding can be time-consuming, stressful, tiring, and so much more! Please don't get me wrong, planning a wedding can be loads of fun too. But, who can plan a wedding without getting stressed? Well, here's some tips that will help lighten your load and make your day 10x more enjoyable!

1. Enjoy the moment

   Jump for joy! Like seriously scream, shout, do your little dance 💃🏽 because you are about to be a wife girl! It's natural, especially as women, for our minds to start running and thinking about every little thing that needs to be accomplished, especially for a day as big as your wedding.

   Before he can even get off his knee, you probably already picked your bridesmaids, picked your wedding colors, thought about who to call, and chose your wedding day hairstyle. But, stop.

   Breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth. Feel better? Good! This is such a special moment that you want to enjoy before all the planning comes. If you have the time, take a week or so to savor it all. Trust me, you'll want to do this now, because a roller coaster is ahead! So, make sure you take time to enjoy the moment!

2. Pick a date.

Pick a date that is special to you. This will be the date you remember forever. My sister got married on the same date she started dating her now-husband a year later. Every time their anniversary comes around, they don't just think about their wedding day, they also rekindle the feelings they had when they first started dating. That makes this date even more special to them.

So think about your date and what you want to remember. Picking a date helps with so many things too. Thousands of people get married every year, no telling how many in Chicago. Desirable venues, photographers, and DJs all get picked so far in advance that they're booked before you know it. So selecting a date can be very important and vital for securing these places and people.

3. Decide on a budget.

It can be hard sometimes to discuss a budget. Everyone tenses up and starts sweating when they think of the amount of money 💰that goes into a wedding, but this topic needs to be talked about.

Without discussing a budget, it’s a little more difficult to wisely decide how much money should be reasonably spent on certain things. So talk about the budget now so that you can move forward with your plans.

4. Pick a wedding planner/vendor.

Have you thought about hiring a professional wedding planner? They can very be helpful with taking a lot off your plate and helping your vision come together by handling such things as finding a vendor or making sure your wedding runs smoothly.

If you choose not to hire a wedding planner, that's fine, but let's start getting some things in order. First, let's look up some venues. When picking a venue, ask yourself,

• Do we want our wedding indoors, outdoors, or both?

• How many guests are we thinking of having?

• Do they have an in-house caterer, or do we need to provide our own?

• Can the venue accommodate a DJ and/or a band?

• Is there parking on-site, and if so, is it complimentary?

  These are just a few questions to consider when determining a venue.

  Next, let's find a Dj. When picking a DJ, ask them about their music library and make sure they're willing to work with you. You can also ask the venue if they have referrals. Deciding on a DJ matters!! We chose a DJ one time for a party and specifically told them everything we wanted and didn't want, but when it was time for the party, he went against everything we said. Since music is something that brings everyone together, you make sure your Dj brings the house down!

5. Pick your wedding photographer.

Wedding photographers get booked sometimes a year in advance. Choosing a photographer now is great because you also get to have an e-session, also known as an engagement session. E-sessions are a great opportunity to get to know your photographer before the wedding, to get in front of the camera and warm up, and get gorgeous photos for wedding invitations, the wedding website, save the dates, and so much more!

6. Get your dress.

Girl, round up that bridal party and let's find a dress. Finding the right dress can take some time. That's why it's wise to go shopping as soon as possible. Go to a couple of stores, do some window shopping and make an appointment at a bridal boutique or shop for fitting. Once you say yes to the dress, you can get your alterations started, which usually take a couple of months, so it's wise to get it done sooner than later.

So, how to plan a wedding?

1. Take a minute before you start planning to enjoy the moment and realize that you're engaged!

2. Pick a date for the wedding so that everything can start falling in place.

3. Decide on a budget…I know I know nobody wants to talk about how much is about to fly out of your pocket but remember this is one day, and you want it to be remarkable. You deserve the best, so talk about that budget.

4. Choose your wedding planner then start looking at venues and DJs.

5. Book your wedding photographer and have an engagement session.

6. Get a dress, obviously. Like I said, alterations can take some time, especially with so many people getting married each year. 

Relax

Last but not least, my little personal tip, relax 😌. I know it can be tricky with so much to do and think about, but this is an important step. Trust me. Everything will get done. You got this!!