You’re engaged!!! Now what???

So, you found the one, said yes, and are wearing the ring. But what’s next? Your mind is swirling with everything you know you have to do before the big day, with a haunting realization that you have no idea how to plan a wedding. It becomes very clear to you rather quickly why future brides are often stressed out, sleep deprived, and grouchy!!! Here are a few tips to planning the big day without losing your mind. You can and should enjoy this unique time in your life and these tips will hopefully keep bridezilla far away and make this a time you want to remember.

MAKE A BUDGET!!!! All weddings cost money, even the most simple ones. The best thing you can do for yourself and those contributing to the budget is to know what you can spend and what you want to spend it on. Make a list of what is important to you. Do you want to serve a meal at the reception, or a dessert? Where will you be getting married and if you need a venue, how much are you willing to spend? Do you need a videographer, florist, caterer, decorator, or wedding planner? How many guests and how big will your bridal party be? If you can come up with a set amount for your whole wedding and then budget it into appropriate categories in the very beginning, then you know what you can afford and what you cannot. Not only is this the best way to plan a wedding, it is also good practice for your future marriage. Don’t let money be a problem in your wedding or your marriage. You can have a beautiful wedding without breaking the bank!!!

GET YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS EARLY!!! Many brides do not realize how long it takes to go from engagement session, to getting announcements to guests. You first have to find a date that works for you, your fiance and your photographer for the session. Then you will need to give your photographer a time to get the edited images back to you. (Make sure your photographer talks to you about how long this will take. During busy seasons, a month is a good timeline but can be quicker in the off-season.) Once you have the images, you will need to get them to your printing company and allow two to four weeks to receive your announcements. You will then need to address them and allow time for delivery. Announcements should be received by guests 4 to 8 weeks before the wedding. If you have a longer engagement you may want to send out save the date cards anywhere from 8 to 12 months before the wedding.

THINK ABOUT RENTING YOUR WEDDING DRESS!!! One of the biggest costs of any wedding is the dress. Most dresses ring up in the four figure area. But, all brides have a dream dress and everyone wants to feel beautiful on their wedding day!!! The question becomes then, is it worth spending over $1000 for a dress I love but will only wear once? If this thought has plagued you, consider renting. You can typically get a 4 figure dress for around $200 and depending on the package you choose, it may come with a veil and shoes. You will have some amazing dresses to choose from that may be out of your league if you were buying, unless you have an unlimited budget. And then after you are done with it, you just send it back. Don’t worry about cleaning it, since your fee usually covers cleaning. The best part is you will not need to find a way to preserve it. Styles change and it is very likely that your future daughter will want to pick out her own dress anyway, so don’t get too set on handing it down to the next generation. With this said, many brides still like to have their own wedding dress and as long as you keep within your budget, I say, go for it!!!

LISTEN TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE!!! As soon as you start planning a wedding, everyone from your best friend to your coworkers, will have an opinion on how it should take place. Choose a few people, your mom, your best friend, your savvy aunt, or your newly married cousin, whose opinions you respect. And then disregard everyone else. You need a team of loving people with your best interest in mind around you to pull this off. You do not need endless opinions!!! In the end, it is your wedding. Surround yourself with those that care most about you!

RELAX AND ENJOY IT!!! This is a special time in your life! You will never be “the bride” again. Let people pamper you if they want to, and enjoy all the times you will get to be the center of attention. Don’t forget that the most important person in your life is now your fiance. Keep building that relationship. Don’t be too busy planning your wedding, that you don’t have time to build your marriage. Make a habit now of putting him first in your life!!!