Congratulations! You’re Engaged!… Now What?

First of all, congratulations on your engagement! This is such an exciting and joyful milestone, and it’s the beginning of a beautiful journey toward your wedding day. But if you’re wondering, “What happens next?” don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Here are some steps to help you get started on the path to planning your dream wedding.

Take Time to Celebrate!

Before diving into wedding planning, take a moment to enjoy this special time with your partner. Share the news with close family and friends before announcing it on social media. Plan a little celebration or engagement party—this is your moment! Hint: it could be a good time to test out some vendors you might have your eye on.

Discuss Your Vision

Take some time with your partner to day dream about your wedding. Discuss the basics:

• Size: Do you envision a elaborate celebration or something intimate?
• Location: Do you want to stay close to home with a local venue, destination wedding at a special place that holds some memories for you both, or something completely unconventional?
• Style: Romantic, rustic, modern, traditional, or unique? This will be a fun time to see how your individual personalities and personal style will blend.
• Season: Do you have a favorite time of year for your wedding? Think about this as it pertains to your venue options as well. Outdoor wedding? Maybe not during hurricane season…

These initial conversations will help you start building a cohesive vision for your big day.

Set a Budget

Discuss finances with your partner and anyone contributing to the wedding. Setting a budget early will guide many of your decisions moving forward. The majority of weddings go out of budget. Remember to prioritize what’s most important to you—whether it’s the venue, food, photography, or entertainment, ahem… hair and makeup.

Choose a Date or Season

Even if you’re not ready to commit to an exact date, narrowing down the season or month will help you move forward with booking venues and vendors. Most vendors, including your hair and makeup artist will need an exact date before they can quote pricing or confirm availability. Popular dates fill up quickly, so don’t wait too long to decide.

Hire a Wedding Planner (If Desired)

If the thought of planning feels overwhelming or you want expert help, consider hiring a wedding planner. They can assist with everything from finding vendors to coordinating your wedding day so you can enjoy it stress-free. A day of coordinator can be a great option, but is very different from a full service planner. Consider how much you have going on in your personal and work life. Having the extra help and expertise through the whole process can make the experience so much more enjoyable!

Book Your Venue

The venue sets the tone for your wedding day and is the most important component in choosing a date, so this is one of the first major decisions to make. Some venues provide full service, including planning, or only work with specific, preapproved vendors. Hold off on pulling the trigger on any other vendors until you’ve made a decision on where you’ll be hosting.

You’ll want to consider things like:

• Is there a space on site to get ready?
• Will the space accommodate your full party plus hair and makeup comfortably?
• How early can you access the space? You’ll need to consider that hair and makeup will likely need to be complete about 2 hours before your ceremony.
• What services does the venue offer that might make your night a little easer?
• Does the venue allow outside vendors?

Once your venue is secured, you can start booking other vendors like beauty vendors, caterers, florists, and photographers.

Hire Your Beauty Team

You’ll want to look and feel your absolute best on your wedding day, so start searching for a hair and makeup team that aligns with your style. Hair and makeup is an art and each artist has their own specific style and set of skills. You want to search for an artist who’s work you can pull inspo directly from. If the artist you’re considering doesn’t display a similar look to what you have in mind, they may not be a good fit for you.

Things you’ll want to know before reaching out to your artist:

• Your wedding date.
• How many services are needed. Be sure to ask each person if they are interested in both hair & makeup; don’t assume or make the choice for them.
• A rough idea of a timeline. Just knowing your ceremony time is very helpful.
• Where you plan to get ready.
• How early you can enter your venue or getting ready space.

Most hair and makeup teams require a retainer to hold your wedding date. If your party is paying on their own, it may be helpful to collect from them in advance to make that first initial payment. If you’re thinking about doing a trial, be sure to secure your wedding date first.

Enjoy the Process

Remember, this is about celebrating your love. Try not to get too caught up in the details and take time to savor the journey. Plan date nights, check tasks off your list together, and lean on friends, family, or professionals for support when needed.

Planning your wedding can feel like a lot, but it’s also an opportunity to create meaningful memories with your partner. By taking it one step at a time, you’ll be well on your way to an unforgettable celebration. Cheers to your engagement and all the exciting moments ahead!

• Hair & makeup – Curl.Wink.Blush
• Photographer – Kayla Berger Co.
• Venue – Amelia River Club
• Planner – Within Weddings
• Dress – Beauty Within Bridal
• Florals – True Bloom Designs