The holidays are THE most popular time of the year to get engaged. 40% of all engagements happen between November and February. So if you’ve been suspecting your significant other of hiding a ring…..get ready!
Becoming engaged to the love of your life is a fantastic feeling. So first of all, take a deep breath and make sure to enjoy this moment, because wedding planning can be STRESSFUL.
Hopefully, that’s where this post can come in handy. I am here to help you figure out what to do next in this crazy time of your life.
Figure Out Your Budget
First things first, you need to figure out how much you want to spend on your wedding. Knowing this will dictate your dress, vendors, venue, and all the little things that you will think about along the way. Choose a comfortable limit and stick to it!
Book your venue
Take your time and find you’re dream venue. Here in the Pacific Northwest, there are some beautiful places. The venue will also help you dictate the date of your wedding. If you don’t have a specific, meaningful date, the availability of the site will help you narrow down your particular day.
If you do have a date that you need to be married on, get venue scouting immediately. Prime dates go fast, and sometimes years ahead of time. To make sure you get your dream venue, book that as soon as you know that it is the one.
Wedding Planner
Book your photographer

Your Dress

Catering and Other vendors
Now that we have some of the big stuff in line, time to get all the others queued up.
Favorite foods? There’s a caterer for that (I love taco bars and food trucks at weddings). Figure out if you want a four-course meal, a buffet, or just hors-d’oeuvres. Small catering companies usually only one wedding a day, so start researching the awesome ones in your community.
Cake! I have seen some simple to highly detailed cakes. Go with a theme or something you love! Super cute cake toppers, fresh flowers, no frosting, it’s all good! Also, pies, donuts, and candy work just as well. Talk with your local bakers to see what they can dream up to fit your wedding.
Details. What type of table decor do you want? Something simple like lanterns or candles, or a vast, ornate arrangement? I have had a few favorites that I have loved. One was a simple centerpiece but had childhood pictures of the couple on each of the tables. Another was put together by one of the bride’s friends. They are huge Disney nerds, so she created centerpieces that represented a different Disney film at each table. A spinning wheel and flowers for Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel’s tower, and of course the bridal table had a rose in a glass dome. Find tablecloths that compliment the colors of the wedding and go with the theme.
Find things that describe you as a couple and incorporate them into the venue. Even the smallest little touch will leave a tremendous little mark on you two.
Engagement session

Invitations and Save the Dates
And just a quick reminder, I offer an engagement session with every wedding booked. I think it gives us time to get to know how we work together AND you get some great images to use for your save the dates, invitations, and even as possible wedding decor. Ready to chat about your wedding? Contact me!