It all feels like a blur—that special moment, that special question. And now you’re engaged and everyone wants to know all your wedding planning details!
You and your fiancé are floating on a cloud, filled with excitement for your life together and ready to host the wedding of your dreams. Before you begin the wedding planning, be sure to check out our top four tips wedding planning tips from Meadow Brook Hall’s team of experienced event specialists.
Tip #1: Don’t Rush into Wedding Planning
The early days of an engagement are some of the sweetest and most exciting times in your life. Try not to stress or get too locked into wedding planning just yet. These moments when you and your new fiancé can simply enjoy each other and dream of your future together are wonderful. Try not to rush through them!
Enjoy the moment and be sure to share your big news with family and friends. While it may be tempting to post everything to social media immediately, remember to take time to share with the important people in your life—and be considerate of those such as grandparents who may not have access to your Facebook or Instagram.
Tip #2: Think Big… Together!
By now, you and your spouse-to-be know each other pretty well. You’ve had lots of big conversations—from values you hold and goals you have to whether you want to start a family or buy a house.
Planning for your wedding gives you an opportunity to take each other’s temperature on important issues, such as who you’d like in the wedding party, religious considerations for the ceremony and when and where to get married. You may be surprised by which of these are important to you and to your fiancé, and it is a great opportunity for you to compromise and work together to plan something special.
Wedding planning requires couples to make a lot of decisions—both together and with their new parents-in-law, who often have a lot of opinions and influence, and who may be helping to pay for the wedding. How you navigate these early days as a couple will help to set the tone for your future life together.
For most couples, the biggest decisions often come down to budget, guest list and timing. Understanding each other’s hopes and vision for the wedding as a big picture will help you settle smaller details as they arise.
Tip #3: Set Your Style
Today, everyone wants their wedding to look—and feel—like a specially curated experience. Personal style and mood go a long way to host a wedding celebration that is specifically you.
As a couple, consider whether you’re more on trend or classic. It’s an opportunity to express yourself and have fun doing it–no matter if you’re style is more quiet luxury, boldly maximalist or oh-so sophisticated.
This step goes beyond colors and flowers. What kind of experience do you want to create? Do you want a DJ or live strings? A daring menu or classic fare done to perfection? Garden tent or grand ballroom reception?
There are so many places to help newly engaged couples get inspired and excited, from wedding magazines to wedding planning websites such as The Knot and Wedding Wire, to the perennial favorite Pinterest and searching hashtags such as #weddinginspo on Instagram.
This is the fun part, when you can explore the overall styles, trends and ideas that may be part of your big day!
Tip #4: Begin Wedding Planning
With some of the big picture decisions under your belt, it is time to actually start planning your wedding!
This is the time to attend wedding open houses, visit venues and research great vendors such as photographers and florists. Ask for recommendations from friends and family who have recently been married and consider working with a wedding planner or event specialist who can help.
While planning a wedding can certainly be an exciting and even overwhelming experience at times, be sure to spend time enjoying your new fiancé and practice the art of compromise! Happy wedding planning!
Meadow Brook Hall hosts free wedding open houses that give couples a chance to explore the estate, sample our wines and meet with our event specialists who can help you navigate the path to your dream wedding.
For more information about weddings at Meadow Brook Hall, contact mbhevent@oakland.edu or call (248) 364-6220.
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