I’ve been dying to write a post like this forever, let alone since I got engaged!  Wedding planning can definitely be stressful, and the process is certainly daunting.  I thought I’d share some initial thoughts.

So, you’re engaged…

The best advice I got the night we got engaged was from my friend Stacie.  Telling people the good news can be super exciting for some, but for others, like me, it feels overwhelming to suddenly have to share something so personal with everyone around you.  I announced my engagement to my friends with a texted photo of the ring on my finger– and then the onslaught began.  Stacie called me immediately after receiving the picture to congratulate me, and with a laugh warned me against people like her calling and monopolizing all of the night.  Sure, you might want to share the news, but don’t forget to enjoy the moment together.

When’s the wedding?

You will get asked this question the day you get engaged.  I think people recognize it’s ridiculous to ask when a couple has been engaged for hours or minutes… but, they will ask regardless.  Setting your date can be tough.  Venue availability will play majorly into this, so you might have a date in mind but it might shift once you find the venue.  I think the best you can do is pick a season or a month!  We knew, since it was late 2016 when we got engaged, that our wedding would be 2018.  I had a date in mind, but was horrified when Matt started telling people our tentative date when we hadn’t even looked at venues!  My best advice is not to get too attached to a date– it will go hand-in-hand with the venue.

First thing’s first

That being said, venue shopping is really your first step!  The Knot is a great resource for where to start, if you have no ideas at all.  It’s actually pretty easy to get started, visit the venues’ websites and email to get in touch.  (I created an email address specifically for wedding planning; good advice from my cousin!)  Most venues will send a packet with pricing info, but you’ll definitely have to make appointments to visit, see the space, and ask your questions!  Most girls, I think, have a vision of their wedding.  What we ended up choosing was not at all what my initial vision was, so keep an open mind!  We saw maybe 6 venues, but knew immediately when we found the right one.

Now you have a time & a place for your wedding!  It’s starting to feel real.  Now the fun details can fall into place.  You need the venue before the dress to see what truly fits, what the style of your wedding will be.  I’ll talk about saying yes to the dress in the next Wedding Wednesday, so stay tuned!