We love "engagement" season and all of the excitement in the air, the first thing brides do is tell their families and their prospective wedding party of course! Then it is time to consider possible wedding dates, start by reading The Knot's article on How to Choose Your Wedding Date, including considerations of the season, symbolic dates such as your anniversary etc, and dates to avoid. If you have your heart set on a local wedding venue or booking your fav' wedding professionals make sure to take that into consideration before announcing your wedding date.
We have put together some Do's and Don'ts for those who are planning on a longer engagement and need a little reassurance after setting the date:
Do Hire Professionals - You may have dear friends or family members who have volunteered for one thing or another, but we urge you to put the brakes on and use this time to start brainstorming on what is important to you as a couple including budget, the atmosphere, overall decor and guest count. Meet with local wedding planners who can guide you to vendors who may be a good fit for the aesthetic you have described.
Do Attend Wedding Shows - It comes with the territory and you'd be surprised how fun it is to attend the bridal shows, taste samples, view galleries and check out what your local vendors offer. There are great opportunities to save money when booking vendors at the bridal shows, not to mention the great raffles and prizes available.
Don't Impulse Buy - Small impulse purchases eventually add up, and before you know it you have a whole room full of random items that you pick up over the course of a few months. Talk with your wedding planner and decor or rental company about items that you are interested in and request a price comparison on items before purchasing. Often purchasing mason jars, burlap and votives end up being much more expensive than renting.
Do Share Your Pinterest Board - As a wedding planner we love to get an idea of the styles that appeal to you, so Pin away! Collect images of wedding bouquets, lighting, signage, linens and photography that speaks to you and make a note about what specifically in the image is appealing. Leaving these notes for yourself will be helpful down the road when discussing with the florist or other creatives.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff - Often the longer the engagement the more the small stuff seems to creep in and stress brides out. Throughout your planning process there will be some lulls, or times where you think nothing is happening. This is normal and you are allowed to enjoy the downtime and day to day life with your Fiance!
Do Schedule Your Engagement Session Early - By scheduling your engagement session early, you can get your photos back a little earlier which will give you time to use them for your wedding website, save the dates if you choose to do them, gifts, or displaying them at your bridal shower. You will also get a chance to interact with your photographer and get to know them better too! Read What You Kneed to Know for Your Engagement Shoot
Don't Second Guess Yourself - When you have a longer engagement you may be more prone to second guess some of the decisions and purchases you have made such as your gown, or color scheme. In times of doubt, don't hesitate to call your wedding planner or your bestie to calm your nerves!
Make sure to schedule time for yourself and set a routine to include working out and other activities with your partner that you find relaxing. There is life outside of wedding planning, and don't feel guilty if you need to take breaks from planning!
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