Hooray, you’re ENGAGED to your best friend! Pop the champagne, throw the confetti, and celebrate! You are marrying the love of your life! Wedding planning doesn’t have to be stressful. I remember being in your shoes, newly engaged and overwhelmed at what steps to take next. As a past bride and a wedding photographer, here is what I’ve found to be the most helpful to do after getting engaged.

1.Soak it in and enjoy this time together! Take a few days or even a few weeks just to enjoy this new season of life. This is one of the most exciting, important milestones in your life. Just enjoy the moment. (And stare at that gorgeous ring on your left finger as much as you want to!) 😉

2. Set a budget + discuss the vision. Set a realistic budget first, and then brainstorm all of your dreams you’ve always had! Now is a great time to refer back to your wedding Pinterest board you’ve been adding to for years!

3. Set a date and choose a venue! These two go hand in hand. Start by deciding which season you want your wedding to be in. Are you both huge football fans? You may not want to have your wedding right in the middle of football season. Do some research, make a list of your top venue picks, and take tours! Once you have your date and venue nailed down and booked, everything else really falls into place! Those are two of the biggest decisions to make during the planning process.

4. Book your vendors based on importance to you! Vendors book up quickly, often a year or more in advance. If you’ve always dreamed of having a certain photographer, florist, or DJ, now is the time to reach out and see if they have your date available. I can’t stress this enough- my heart always breaks when I have to turn down a couple because I am already booked. Spring and fall are prime wedding seasons, so these dates especially book fast.

5. Ask your bridal party to be a part of your day! After you and your fiance discuss the size of your bridal party and who you want to share in your special day, plan how you’re going to ask them! There are SO many creative ways that will mean so much to them.

Just remember, it’s not about creating the “perfect” day, there is no such thing. At the end of the day you’re marrying the love of your life and THAT is what’s important!

xoxo,

Amber