Just Engaged? Start Here With 12 Easy Steps for Wedding Planning
Congratulations, you’re engaged! Once the excitement settles, most people hit the same moment of “okay, now what?” and suddenly there are a hundred things to think about. The good news is that you don’t need to do everything at once. In this post I’ll walk you through 12 first steps in the order that makes the most sense, what can wait, and the mistakes I see couples make most often. If you’d like a head start, grab my free starter kit below!
Your First Week at a Glance
If you only do a few things this week, make it these:
- Days 1 to 3: celebrate, tell your closest people and get the ring sized and insured.
- Days 4 to 7: have the budget talk and write a rough guest list.
Everything else can wait until you’ve done those two!
1. Soak It In First
Before you open a single spreadsheet, take a few days just for the two of you. Celebrate, show off the ring and enjoy being engaged. The planning will still be there, and you’ll make better decisions once the excitement has settled.
2. Share the News
Share the news with close family and friends before you post it online, because people like hearing it from you first. This is also a good time to find out who might want to help or contribute to the wedding. Knowing that early makes the budget talk much easier.
3. Sort the Practical Stuff
It’s not the romantic part, but get the ring sized and insured. Then take a quick look at your calendar for the next year to see which dates are taken. It takes an afternoon and saves headaches later.
4. Talk About Money
This is the step that makes every other decision easier. Agree on a rough total, who is contributing, and what matters most to you both. Venue and catering usually take the biggest share, often around half the budget, and it’s smart to keep a cushion of around 5 to 10% for surprises, because trust me, there always is surprises! My wedding budget tips are a good place to start, and my Editable Wedding Budget Planner lets you track every cost in one place.
5. Make a Rough Guest List
You don’t need the final list yet, just a ballpark number. Every guest adds to your catering cost, and a rough total helps you decide which venues are an option. Write a “definitely” list and a “maybe” list so you can adjust later without awkward decisions.
6. Pick a Season and a Date Range
Decide on a season with two or three possible dates, before you look at venues. Being flexible really helps, since Fridays, Sundays and off-peak months are often cheaper and easier to book. If you love winter, my Christmas wedding ideas show how beautiful a December wedding can be.
7. Decide on Your Style
Start a Pinterest board and pin everything you love, then look for the patterns. Do you keep saving rustic details, elegant florals or something modern and minimal? Pick two or three colors and a general feel, and choosing the venue, flowers and decor gets a lot simpler. My rustic wedding decor ideas are a good place to start. The vision board page in my Complete Wedding Planner Printable has space for your colors, theme and flowers all on one page.
8. Look at Venues
The venue is usually the biggest decision, and popular ones can book up a year or more ahead. Contact a few that fit your guest list, ask for their pricing and availability, and check out your favorites. Collect the price lists first, then compare them side by side before you commit. Ask what’s included, such as tables, chairs, linens and setup time, so there are no surprise extras.
Feeling overwhelmed by everything to track? My Complete Digital Wedding Planner ($27) is a 33-page printable system with checklists, vendor pages, a budget tracker, guest list, seating chart and a wedding day timeline, so everything lives in one place.
Get the Complete Digital Wedding Planner →
9. Shortlist Your Key Vendors
Once you have a date and a venue, look at the vendors who book up fastest, like your photographer, caterer and DJ or band. Look at their style and reviews, ask for quotes, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. A few good ones to ask your photographer are:
- Are you familiar with our venue?
- Do you visit the location beforehand?
- How do you handle unexpected situations, like bad weather or equipment problems?
My planner has vendor pages with questions like these already written for your photographer, caterer and more, so you don’t have to think of them on the spot.
10. Choose Your Wedding Party
Think about who you want standing beside you. You don’t have to decide the second you’re engaged, but it helps to know before you start planning showers and outfits. Ask them in a way that feels personal, as it’s a really sweet moment.
11. Set Up a Planning System
This is the step that keeps you sane. Pick one place for your checklist, vendor contacts, budget and ideas, so nothing gets lost between your notes app, your inbox and a pile of sticky notes. My planner has a checklist that starts 12 months before the wedding and counts down to the last month, so you always know what’s next. Get the Complete Digital Wedding Planner →
12. Don’t Rush the Rest
Some things really can wait. You’ll have plenty of time for the smaller decisions once the big ones are made. When you’re ready for invitations, my editable wedding invitations are easy to customize.
What Can Wait
- Invitations and save the dates
- Wedding favors
- Table decor details and centerpieces
- Your playlist and first dance song
- Bridesmaid gifts
- The seating chart
5 Common First Mistakes
- Booking a venue before agreeing on a budget. You may fall in love with something you can’t afford.
- Skipping the guest list. It controls your costs and your venue options.
- Saying yes to the first venue you visit. Look at a few before you decide.
- Not asking what’s included. Extras like linens, chairs and setup can add up.
- Trying to decide everything at once. Work through the big decisions in order and let the small ones wait.
Want everything in one go? My Wedding Planning Bundle has the Complete Digital Wedding Planner, the Editable Wedding Budget Planner and an invitation at a discounted price.
My Thoughts
Planning a wedding is a big job, but it’s a lot less scary when you take it one step at a time. Start with the budget, the guest list and the date, then let everything else follow from there. Most of all, remember to enjoy this season!
Sarah xx
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