Holy Cannoli, Congratulations on your engagement! 💍
First and foremost, love on your partner and enjoy the moment. Have fun remembering your relationship journey and why you love them. Think about the moment you were asked/asked the big question and the butterflies you felt when you knew the answer. This post is to guide newly engaged couples on the first FOUR steps that should take place after the proposal, to ensure a mindfulness wedding planning journey. EMBRACE THE MOMENT. The thrill of saying ‘Yes!’ is the first step. Breathe in the magic, there is no rush to dive into planning.
Beyond the excitement, it’s essential to dive into real-life conversations, starting with finances. My fiancé and I recently took the plunge (pun intended), not just into wedding budget talks but into a deeper exploration of our financial mindset. It’s not always the most thrilling chat, but understanding each other’s money values helps us prioritize what truly matters. FINANCIAL REVIEW. This conversation allowed us to understand each person’s relationship with money and gave us insight on navigating our wedding budget conversation, which came shortly after.
PROTIP: Create a budget range with your partner, including both the minimum and the maximum spend. From there think about where the money will come from and be realistic about the Wedding Date.
Step THREE and the step most people want to jump into immediately, PAINT YOUR DREAMS. Daydream with your partner about this new journey. A dream location, a favored season – explore your shared vision. Start earlyish. Take a month or two to enjoy your engagement and then have a meeting with your fiancé. Crafting your dream event involves thoughtful decisions that go beyond the ordinary. Attention to detail sets the stage for an unforgettable wedding celebration. There are ENDLESS options for weddings. Narrow down the things you want by starting with a list of things that are “immediately NO”
PROTIP: Coming to a planner with ‘No’s’ makes the planning process easier and less stressful for you. Being decisive during the process is ESSENTIAL to mindful planning.
Once you and your fiance start to visualize your dream wedding, you will also begin to imagine how many people you would like to be there. BRAIN DUMP. Take no more than 20minutes to physically write down who you would like to be present on your wedding day. Will it just be you and your partner? Maybe, an elopement with no more than 10 people? Micro Weddings are popular and can be just as fun as a rager. Most of these weddings are 30-60 guests. Have you always envisioned a BIG WEDDING with 100+ guests? Maybe even 250+. Creating your guest list is a step that MOST people don’t do early enough but influences SO MANY decisions. Get clarity on this soon. Think about what faces brighten your day.
PROTIP: Your invite list and who will actually be present WILL vary. You can typically assume that 20% of your brain dump may not be there.
It’s okay not to have all the answers. SEEK YOUR MATCH. Finding your perfect planner? Step FIVE, that’s where we step in! Options, time, and guidance – your story, your day! Hire a planner. They have connections in the industry and trusted partners. They may even know if a venue you are considering may already be booked. I have had couples get trapped in venues which limit their budget and style before they hire a planner. The biggest reason I recommend booking a planner first is we help YOU! Venue Coordinators help the venue. We can source the venue after you have started sharing your vision and can share venues ideas that will best fit your vision.
PROTIP: Venues and Planners start booking 12 – 14month in advance. START HERE!
By doing these ‘First Five’ steps early, you and your partner have set yourselves up for a much smoother planning ride. So, cheer’s to the journey of saying “fiancé” with ease and building a strong foundation for the exciting wedding plans ahead!
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