Hooray! You’re Engaged! What’s Next? [Wedding Planning 101]

Getting engaged is just the beginning! Next up is wedding planning with your spouse-to-be. Learn how to get started planning for the big day!

Congratulations on your engagement!

It’s natural to want to tell the whole world immediately, but savor the moment with your partner first. They have spent time planning this moment, and the occasion should be celebrated together. Then, when you’re both ready, it’s time to let the big news out and settle into the daunting (yet exciting) next step: how to plan your wedding.

Once you’re ready to start spreading the news, call up the family as soon as possible. If there is anyone who will be devastated to see your big announcement online instead of receiving a personal call from you, it’s your close family members and friends. Once you’ve done your due diligence there, then you can start getting into the nitty-gritty.

Even the simplest wedding is a complex arrangement of moving parts and will require careful forethought. How you choose to plan your wedding is personal, but there are some general rules of thumb you can keep in mind to make things go smoothly.

Finalizing Your Wedding Timeline

Everyone has a dream wedding they envision, but turning those dreams into reality takes a good deal of hard work and patience. As every couple has a unique vision, it helps to remember that wedding planning is not one-size-fits-all. The average engagement period is 12 to 18 months, which might seem like a lot of leeways to iron out the details, but will move quickly in actuality. Consider hiring a wedding planner—an experienced professional can be your greatest ally in this crunch time.

The availability of your preferred venue will have the most impact on the date of your wedding. As such, picking a venue and ironing out the day-of details should be the first order of business.

Keep in mind, the day you pick will have a significant impact on your budget. Wedding venues’ and vendors’ pricing fluctuates, with surge pricing during popular periods, and cheaper costs during low-demand seasons and days, like weekdays.

Saturdays between May and October (the summer season) are considered the peak wedding season. Early November weddings have also recently gained popularity, as has New Year’s Eve—the holiday has a celebratory feel, after all, and your guests are already looking for social events. On the flip side, remember that your guests might not appreciate having to choose between their own family traditions and supporting your new family, so avoid family-centric holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Choosing a Wedding Theme

Thanks to Pinterest and Instagram one can now find an endless stream of wedding inspiration to scroll through. The modern bride has all sorts of wedding themes to choose from, or mix and match to build your own unique ceremony.

Ultimately, however, whatever wedding theme you choose should be authentic to who you are as a couple.

Take a look at your closet. What colors and styles do you naturally gravitate towards? When you or your partner envision the day, do you see any specific details? Your dreams may be boundless, some pragmatic parameters can give you both direction and boundaries.

The season your wedding date lands in is an important consideration. For example, what weather are you expecting? This will influence everything from venue locations to attire. Asking your wedding party to don black-tie apparel in the hottest depths of summer is less than ideal. Will your theme make the most sense with an outdoor or an indoor venue? Does the aesthetic align with your thematic aspirations? In the end, as long as the wedding vibe fits your personality and coordinates with the time and place you choose to say “I do,” you’ll be just fine.

Deciding on Your Wedding Venue

Once you lock in your wedding venue, you’ll find that all the other planning falls into place. There are many important facets to consider when selecting the best-fitting location. The most important aspect—even if it’s not romantic or fun—is the budget. Your budget plan is the most crucial part of your wedding preparations and should be assessed shortly after getting engaged. Couples can expect their venue to cost as much as 50% of their total wedding budget.

When venue shopping, it helps to have at least a rough sketch of the guest list. Many brides report that the guest count they originally imagined did not in the end reflect reality. Making a realistic guest list means actually writing down the names of who you and your partner must invite. After this exercise, you should have at least an accurate approximation. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be better equipped to decide which venue will best accommodate the needs of your and your guests.

One more key consideration for the modern bride is the carbon footprint of your wedding. We all strive to be earth-conscious with our lives. Shopping for eco-friendly venues and vendors can help reduce the environmental impact of your big day.

Selecting Your Wedding Bands

Selecting your wedding bands is entirely up to personal preference. Traditional couples might prefer matching simple gold bands. Many brides also elect wedding bands that make a stackable set with the engagement ring. Another important thing to consider is how to most ethically source your wedding jewelry. There are a wide variety of metals and band styles to choose from when selecting wedding bands—at the end of the day, choose one you’ll cherish forever.

Shopping for Your Dream Wedding Dress

No wedding plan is complete without dress shopping. Scouting out your wedding dress will be a memorable experience. To ensure it’s a pleasant one as well, there are some points to consider.

On average, approximately 9-10% of the wedding budget will go to the dress. The money you set aside for the gown will need to cover the dress, as well as tax, any alterations needed, and shipping costs.

Also, consider the fact that your dress will be the most important indicator of your wedding theme. The first question to ask yourself, then, is how do you want the dress to make you feel? Do you want a romantic, or sexy, or modern, or elegant, or daring vibe? Or maybe a mix of several of the above?

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Randy Fenoli, author of It's All About the Dress: Savvy Secrets, Priceless Advice, and Inspiring Stories to Help you Find ‘The One’ writes, “Once you find your story, I promise you will find your dress.”

Whatever dress you’re envisioning, don’t let predetermined notions limit your dress choices.

Enlist Help From the Wedding Dress Experts at Afarose

With Afarose's Virtual Appointments an in-house dress expert will assist you in defining your wedding style, and then pair you with the perfect dress.

Instead of visiting dozens of brick-and-mortar boutiques all over town, Afarose has a large selection you can shop from the comfort of your home with a 30-minute zoom video call. The Try-At-Home Policy will then help you ensure that your gown is a perfect fit.

When deciding how to plan a wedding, the process can seem overwhelming. But with thoughtful, helpful vendors like bespoke wedding dressmaker Afarose, your big day is sure to be a success. Schedule an appointment with Afarose today to start planning the wedding of your dreams!