five things you need to do during engagement season, engagement season tips

The For Couple’s Series:

1. 5 Things You Need To Do RIGHT NOW During Engagement Season
2. Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer
3. The Importance of 30 Minutes
4. The 2021 Bridal Guide

1. SET A BUDGET

Do your research, look up prices for vendors in your desired market or venue area. Keep communication open between you and your partner. Who’s paying for the wedding? Are any family members chipping in? Are you paying for it yourself? These are all questions to decide upon before following the other four steps. After you decide on a budget, that is a stepping stone to the rest of your engagement journey 🙂

2. Register on Zola, The Knot, or WeddingWire.

I’ve heard countless amazing things about the three websites that not only help you with your registry, but are chock-full of resources that aid in planning your wedding day! All three sites have articles on choosing vendors, forums from past and current brides, and even a sample seating chart to help with the not-so-fun

3. Draft Your Guest List

This is a tough one because yes, of course you want to invite everyone you know to your wedding. Well consider this your warning: the more people you have, the more you have to spend. (This is why you do your budget first.)

Example: You want to have 200 guests. Your budget is $20,000. This means that you will have $100 per guest. Well, that really ritzy hotel you love? Yeah they’re not even going to be close to $100 per person for food and beverage. And that doesn’t include flowers, decor, and all your other vendors!

4. Choose Your Bridal Party (carefully)

When my oldest sister was getting married, I can remember her telling me, “if you even have to hesitate to put someone in your bridal party then they don’t belong there…” WHICH IS SO TRUE. Choose wisely, friends. I know it is so difficult  to put friends in your bridal party because you’ve known them for so long, but think about the role they play in your life and your relationship with your S.O. Pro tip** Try to make it an even amount with your fiancé (your photographer will thank you later ;))

** Ask them to stand beside you with these curated gifts from Marigold & Grey or Greetabl! TIP: If you click those links you’ll get something special off the price tag **

5. Pop the bubbly – it’s time to celebrate!

After you celebrate with that ring photo, selfies, and soak in all of the comments on Facebook, take some time to pop champagne with just you and Him (and maybe your closest friends + family too, because they’re pretty darn awesome).