It was the question of a lifetime and now you’re engaged! There is no feeling quite like it–being engaged and creating a new life path with your favorite person by your side. It’s time to pop the bubbly, snap a special photo and share the news!
Wedding planning can be wonderful – and a little overwhelming – so Meadow Brook’s experienced event specialists have pulled together their best advice for couples to do once they’re engaged. Read on for our Top 5 Tips!
Tip #1: Enjoy this moment
The early days of an engagement are some of the most exhilarating and special 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 enjoy each other and dream of your future together are wonderful. Try not to rush through them!
This is the moment to enjoy the moment by announcing your engagement! Call your parents, call your friends, share your news with your nearest and dearest first.
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: Dream before you plan
Try not to rush into wedding planning, but make time for wedding dreaming. Before you have to make decisions about seating charts and flower budgets, make time to experience your happy news, and dream about your wedding.
This is the time to imagine your dream wedding, find your couple style and set your wedding vibe. Is there a special season or place that inspires you? Consider the kind of atmosphere you want. Are you focused on a dreamy, garden party ceremony, an elegant ballroom reception, or an electric dance floor?
You and your fiancé can discuss your style and aesthetic choices. Now you can explore trends, the overall style and ideas that could be a part of your big day.
Tip #3: Get on the same page
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 will come down to budget, guest list and timing.
While you don’t need to get down to every detail right away, the early days of an engagement are a good time to take each other’s temperature on important issues, such as who you’d like in the wedding party, religious considerations for the ceremony, size of the guest list, general budget 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.
Tip #4: Create your wedding checklist
Some couples prefer a long engagement while other couples are ready to tie the knot right away. Either way, one of the first questions from family and friends is always “when?”
It’s important to understand the volume of details that go into planning a major event. The best way to set everyone’s expectations for the wedding timeline is to determine when you would like to get married and work backwards. Some couples know they want to be married outdoors while others are interested in winter weddings.
Determining a general date and season helps you to back up every other decision and creates your timeline and checklist. Securing your wedding venue and date are the most important part of this process. Once you have those, you can work backward on the rest, for example, you may want to have an engagement party or engagement photo shoot, wedding shower, bachelor and bachelorette party, etc.
Know that many vendors book up early – especially in the prime summer season.
Tip #5: Begin the wedding planning!
Finally, it is time to start actual wedding planning! You’re ready 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.
Wedding planning comes with a lot of details, so it’s important to be organized from the start. Create a shared digital folder where you can save vendor quotes, budgets, contacts and more. Keeping everything in one place helps to keep the planning smooth and to share important information with your soon-to-be spouse and any key family or friends who are helping with the process.
While planning a wedding can certainly be an exciting (and sometimes overwhelming experience), it is filled with important skills—such as the art of the compromise—that will not only ensure you have an amazing wedding, but an amazing life as a married couple. Happy wedding planning!
Meadow Brook Weddings
As a nationally recognized museum and cultural destination, Meadow Brook Hall was built for entertaining, and our lavish gardens, elegant architecture and dramatic two-story Gothic-inspired ballroom make it a stunning and unforgettable wedding venue.
With versatile indoor and outdoor spaces, inspired cuisine and world-class service, we offer the perfect setting for ceremonies and receptions – of any size or style – throughout the year. So, whether you’re envisioning a fairy tale wedding, an enchanting garden celebration, or a glamorous ballroom reception, our full-service venue can seamlessly transition your dream to reality.
Weddings at meadow brook