This is a series about what to do after you get engaged! Make sure you read these in order.
Step One: Share the News

A typical engagement is usually one year. Planning for a traditional wedding (not destination or elopement) takes time to plan. Here we are at the very beginning of planning. The next steps that take you from engaged to married!!

12 Months to Go!

Pick a Date
This is absolutely the first planning step. Before you can do ANYTHING, you have to decide on a date. Make sure to avoid any special dates that the rest of your family or friends have things planned on. It’s okay to choose a holiday like Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend, or New Year’s Eve but just remember some vendors may already be booked or not available. Holiday weekends/days go FAST! Talk it out with your important people to find the date that’s perfect for you. Side note: June dates go even faster than holidays. If you are dreaming for a June wedding you might want to think two years out or plan a day that’s not Saturday.

Decide on Budget & Theme
After the date is set, your budget comes next. How much are you going to spend on your big day? Will anyone be helping you pay for it? What are the most important items on your list? Weddings are a big investment and you want to make sure you plan for everything. Sit down together one night and put together a fun little spreadsheet (spreadsheets CAN be fun, especially over a glass of wine.)

Once the numbers are inline, you can start planning your vision for the day. I always suggest budget first, then theme because you want to be realistic. This is the super fun part! Time to put your Pinterest boards into use! It’s easy to get overwhelmed at the beginning, so I always suggest to figure out colors first to get yourself started.

Start Prepping a Guest List
Before you can find the perfect venue, you need to decide how many people you will invite. You want to make sure you find a space that can accommodate everyone. Think about if your family and friends will be traveling. Will they need hotel rooms as well? Prep a first draft of your guest list to get an idea of how many people will be attending.

Get Your Ring Insured!
It doesn’t sound like a ton of fun but it’s totally necessary! If a stone gets loose or you accidentally leave your ring at the gym, you want to make sure it can be protected or even replaced. Your fiancé may have already purchased insurance, but if not you definitely want to take the next steps into finding a policy.