Wedding Planning: Post-Engagement

Welp, it's officially been almost 2 months since we got engaged, and since then we've done a whole lot of one of my favorite things in the entire world, WEDDING PLANNING.

I don't know quite where it all started (though I believe it is rooted in my love for design and people), but ever since I was young I've been addicted to wedding blogs (like Once Wed, Green Wedding Shoes, Style Me Pretty, etc.). I would spend hours looking at the beautiful photography, the stunning venues, the unique designs and the personal touches, and just fall in love with the idea of such a celebratory event.

So when we got engaged, I pretty much already knew a lot of the things I wanted in a wedding. So I talked to my sweet fiance and we were able to figure out the big requirements for us pretty easily. We always knew we wanted a short engagement (we've been wanting to get married since 4 months into our relationship), so we had to dive head first into planning to get it all done.

Now that I'm at the 2 month mark, I want to give other brides (especially those with short engagements like mine) advice on what to do right after the engagement to get your planning jump-started:

Show your fiance your Pinterest: 

Don't lie to me and tell me you don't have a wedding Pinterest board already filled to the brim with ideas. We all have one, and its time to show your fiance how slightly crazy you are. He might judge you (but c'mon now is the time to show him the REAL you), but he also might get really into it, like my fiance. Show him things you really want in your wedding including, type of venue, wedding size, bridal party attire, wedding menu, decoration themes, fun guest activities, etc. This is a great segway into other things that will be important, like traditions, customs, vows, budget, etc. The last thing you want to do is starting planning without consulting your husband to be! Start writing everything down and get a vision of what you guys want the big day to be.

Talk about them dolla billz: 

Do this with whoever might be involved with paying for this thing, which might be just you and your boo (and that's okay)! Go ahead and figure out how much money you and your boo both have saved, and how much you two will be able to save by 2 months before the wedding (which is when most things will have to be paid for). Right after the engagement, you will probably be visiting your parents or his to celebrate (or they will be meeting each other for the first time!) and that is the perfect time to ask how much they can contribute to the fund (or what aspects they would love to cover). Make sure you are prepared and present them with how much you know you can contribute, and how much you think you might need in order to cover the basics (and ask nicely of course!). Compile all of this in an organized place (see next paragraph) to figure out your total budget.

Make some Google Drive documents STAT: 

Your favorite thing for group projects in college is useful again! Google Drive is great for creating that dandy budget, a guest list, set-up instructions, menus or anything else you will need to share with your fiancee, your parents, your vendors or a wedding planner (side note: I don't have one, and I'm doing just fine! But if you feel you need one, go for it!). You can also create an account with The Knot and utilize their awesome resources, which include planners for your guest list, your budget, a to-do checklist, your vendors, and a place to store inspirations (and a mobile app for on the go!). However, I prefer to make my own Google documents because I can customize them to exactly what I need, and share them with everyone who needs them. Feel free to use my own nifty templates for BUDGET and GUEST LIST (tip: Click File -> Make a Copy in order to use it as your own).

Find a spot to do it: 

Once you've figured out your budget, it's time to nail down your venue(s). Figure out what price you can afford and STICK to it. Don't have any places in mind yet? First, try to think back on any of your Facebook friends' wedding pictures, and if you liked their venue try to look through their album to find out where it was held. Secondly, start searching through wedding blogs and filter/search through their posts by location (example: Georgia, Atlanta, etc.) and look at the websites of any that you like (I found mine by scrolling through 36 pages of Style Me Pretty: Georgia). Once you have compiled a hella-long list (on your handy-dandy goodle doc), start calling and e-mailing (e-mailing is easier, but calling is faster) them to ask for their available dates, their rates, and what is included in their package. After you've found a few that work, go visit them, take pictures and ask as many questions as possible until you've found the right fit. Most importantly, write it ALL down.

Pictures are worth a thousand dollars- um, I mean, words: 

After perusing wedding blogs most of my young adult life, I've realized that weddings are immortalized by their pictures. Only the people who came to your wedding will know what it was really like, so your pictures have to tell the story to everyone else. Because of this, I think who you pick for your wedding photographer is really important. But, it obviously comes at a pretty hefty price. The big professionals will cost you anywhere from $3,000-$5,000 and that might not be do-able for you. I was incredibly lucky and knew a friend whose photo skills I had admired for years, and she gladly agreed to do my photography at an attainable price. If you can't spend the big dough, I highly suggest asking around your friend group (or stalking Facebook) for anyone who knows an aspiring (and talented) wedding photographer that will fit in your budget. Stalk their websites to make sure they are the right fit, and then e-mail them for more information about their rates and availability. Once again, be prepared with a maximum budget, because many of them will work with you. And schedule your engagement session pronto!

Propose to your bridal party: 

Choosing your bridal party might be difficult (just remember, it's YOUR party, and you should not choose someone just because their feelings will be hurt), but asking them to be a part of your wedding will make their hearts go flutter. And make it a little project for you and your husband to be that represents the theme of your wedding! My fiancee and I stained some wooden frames with hand-written invitations that we mailed to our party, and they loved them. Have fun, be creative and think about how happy you will be to have these people by your side the entire way.

Say yes to the dress: 

Now the really REALLY fun part! Once, again take to Pinterest to determine the look of the dress you're going for (lace, silk, chiffon, trumpet, empire, a-line, sweetheart neckline, etc.) and print some pictures off of what you like. It's also a grand idea to find some designers and styles you like (and write them down). Then, determine your budget. You MUSTN'T try on a dress that is our of your budget. Seriously, don't hurt yourself this way, you are bound to fall in love with something you can't have, and everything else will look horrible in comparison. Then ask your friends about local shops they recommend (or search the bridal sites to see who has the dress you're interested in) and make some appointments! Don't do too many in one day (it'll tucker you out), wear appropriate undergarments (i.e. strapless bra), wear the jewelry you're considering wearing the day of, and bring your brands/styles list and your pictures to show your stylist. I reccommend not bringing all of your friends and bridesmaids because too many opinions WILL stress you out, and bringing a crowd WILL upset the bridal shop.

Alright, that was a lot. And obviously you are by no means done with wedding planning. In fact, at this point you've barely even started. BUT you have tackled the biggest parts that will make everything else go more smoothly from here on out. So take a big deep breath, drink some wine, and give your fiancee some attention.