Anna GionetThat “just engaged” feeling is starting to wear off, which means it’s time to start planning your wedding! With so many things to think about, you may start to feel overwhelmed before you even begin. Luckily, your friend & jeweler is here to help with a few tips on starting your planning for the big day.
1. Create a wedding timetable
Can’t wait to tie the knot or excited to enjoy your time as fiancés? Either way, the first step in planning your wedding is deciding whether you want a long or short engagement. There are advantages to both — it all depends on what feels right to you and your partner. Once you have an idea of a timeline, the rest of your planning will be a lot easier to manage.
2. Set a budget
Many of your decisions about your wedding will depend on how you allocate your budget. This is also the time to figure out if you’ll be paying for the entire wedding yourselves or if you have family members that would like to be involved, as this may end up shifting your ultimate wedding financial plan. Talking about money is never fun, but you can’t realistically figure out what kind of wedding you’re going to have if you don’t know how much you’re able to spend.
3. Document your vision
Whether you already have your dream wedding in mind or have no clue where to start, now’s the time to collect inspiration and put together some ideas for what you want your wedding to look like. This can involve where it’s set, the “style” of the wedding, whether you want something big or small, buffet or sit-down, and more. Use your Pinterest, Instagram, and other social media to collect images and notes you can refer back to as you get more involved in the planning of your nuptials.
4. Propose to your wedding party
A wedding is beautiful, but it can also be stressful — so it’s super helpful to enlist the aid of your closest friends and family. Choose a few sweet bridesmaids’ gifts and let your besties know you can’t wait for them to be next to you on your big day! The sooner you pop the question to your bridesmaids, the sooner they can help you with things like picking out your dress, planning the bachelorette party, and handing you a glass of champagne when it all gets to be a little overwhelming.
5. Decide who’s planning what
Looking to keep your budget (and wedding) small and want to do all the planning yourself? Or are you super busy and want to outsource the hard stuff to a professional? The next step in getting ready for your wedding is deciding whether you want a wedding planner or day-of coordinator to help you make your dream wedding a reality. The cool thing about this is you can pick from a full-time planner who manages every detail to a part-time consultant that will help you figure out the basics, or just stick with someone that will make sure everything runs smoothly on the big day. The choice is yours!
6. Find your venue
Picking your venue is sort of like setting the stage for your wedding — before you can do anything else, you’ll have to make a decision about where you want to have it. Most wedding venues book out far in advance, so once you’ve figured out where you’re headed, you’ll have a better idea of what you still need to do. Some places may offer in-house catering, wedding coordinators, and alcohol, while others provide a list of preferred partners to work with. Get your location set in stone before you get started on the other aspects of tying the knot.
7. Start your registry
Getting your wedding registry set up early can ensure that all your loved ones have an opportunity to get you a gift you and your partner will actually enjoy. If you feel like you don’t need any gifts, many couples are opting to instead ask for donations in their name to a charity they feel strongly about. Either way, getting this done will make it a little easier for your guests to budget accordingly.
8. Pick your vendors
While not all vendors will book out as far in advance as the venue, it’s a good idea to take care of the ones you’re most concerned about first. If you have your eyes set on a particular caterer or DJ, now’s the time to lock them down (just in case). Smaller details, like flowers, settings, and invitations can wait until later.
9. Try on wedding dresses
One of the most exciting parts of wedding planning is getting to find the perfect wedding dress. We suggest doing a little research beforehand to figure out what kind of style, material, and shape you’re interested in so you can make the process run a little bit smoother. Then, grab your favorite ladies and a glass of champagne and starting trying on dresses!
10. Buy your wedding rings
Just like you, your engagement ring simply isn’t complete without its partner — your wedding band! Shopping for wedding bands with your partner is a fun way to get even more excited about your upcoming nuptials. You can even offer to buy your partner’s band as a gift, especially if they’re the one who purchased your engagement ring. Whether you’re looking to match your engagement ring or get something totally unique, Shane Co. has the largest selection of high-quality designs in every style to get you started.
Rachel Nipp
Anna Gionet