Newly engaged? First of all, congratulations! This is such an exciting time in your life, so make sure you enjoy it. We know the next step, planning your wedding, can seem overwhelming, so make sure you celebrate your engagement first! After you’ve taken some time to soak it all in, here are the first three vendors you should book when you’re newly engaged.
Newly Engaged? Start Looking for a Wedding Planner
If you want a full service wedding planner, this should be one of the first vendors you book. Wedding planners (like us!) can help you source a venue and other vendors that will be the best fit for you. We can also help with design and bring your vision to life. By booking your wedding planner first, you can hand over the planning to us right from the start so that you can enjoy being newly engaged.
Look for Your Venue
Next, you’ll want to begin thinking about your venue as they book up quickly. Some things to consider include the location, style of venue, how big the venue is, etc. You’ll need to have an idea of what your guest count is going to be. Think about if you want the ceremony and reception to be at the same place. You’ll also need to consider what the venue includes (rentals, getting ready rooms, etc.). Does the venue have noise restrictions? What about lodging on site? Do they have preferred vendors that you’re required to work with?
Find a Photographer
For your photographer, start with photography style. Do you like dark and moody, light and bright, true to life, etc? We recommend that you schedule calls with photographers you’re interested in to get a feel for their personality. You want someone you feel comfortable with since they’ll be capturing one of the most important days of your life. Some other things to think about include if you want to travel off site for photos, the types of photos that matter to you (getting ready, details, family portraits, etc.), and how much direction you think you’ll want. When you’re newly engaged, you may want to do an engagement session, so that’s the perfect time to work with your photographer to get a feel for how they would be on your wedding day.
Other Vendors to Begin Thinking About
If you or your partner is going to wear a dress, you’ll need to start thinking about that as it can take six months for a dress to be delivered. You’ll want to start researching dress shops and think about who you want to be there with you. You’ll also want to start considering who you want to cater your wedding. Think about what type of dining experience you want. Buffet or plated? Do you want a food truck? What about appetizers, dessert or late night snacks? Another vendor to think about is your florist. Many florists are getting booked quickly, so do your research and start setting up meetings with florists to see if they’re available and to see if they match your style.
If you’re newly engaged and feeling overwhelmed, we hope this post has helped you figure out what to focus on first in your planning process. The most important thing to remember is it’s YOUR day. A lot of people will have opinions, but at the end of the day, the only opinion that matters is yours. If you’re newly engaged and looking for a wedding planner, let’s chat!
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