Your Engaged, YEAH!!~Suggestions On What To Do Next~Utah Wedding Planning

Now that you are engaged you may ask yourself what do I do next.  Well you are in the right place.  The Bride and Groom.com is certainly a GREAT spot to find everything you are looking for.  Here a few things to start with to help you get the ball rolling.

Tip~Give yourselves at least 5 months to plan your wedding~(It is possible to do it in less time, but don’t rush it)  If you are planning to be married during the busy wedding season May through September then plan as early as possible, even up to a year in advance.  These months get booked up early especially for the Thursday, Friday & Saturday Weddings.

Celebrate~Everyone loves to have a reason to party.  Your engagement is a great reason to have one.  Plan a party to celebrate with your friends & family.  You can make it as large or as small as you want.  Allow this party to not have rules, just have a great time celebrating your excitement for your special day.  This party can be a great opportunity to help you figure out who you want as your maid of honor, brides maids and your husbands best man, if you haven’t already figured those details out.

Set A Date~You may want to pick 2 or 3 dates to start out with then narrow it down after researching location, photographer & Officiant, to make sure you get the ones you want.  Once you know what dates they are available then set a date & get things scheduled.

NOTE: When selecting your date if possible to be flexible with your date it may be wise to pick two dates and see if your venue and photographer are available both dates then go from there.  If you need to change your date to get the venue & photographer you want then do it~after all, you only get married once!!

Budget~Creating a budget should be done early in your wedding.  This will help so you know what your priorities are, what you can spend in each area & what you can leave out.  If I may suggest don’t cut your budget in the photography department because those images will be your best way to remember & share your wedding with others. I found this great budget worksheet from About.com  check it out here.

Wedding Planner~ Not every bride hires a wedding planner, but if you are going to do so think about what you want help with.  If you want help planning or just controlling the stress as it gets closer to your wedding.  That way you can know when to hire a coordinator if you chose to have one. Be selective in choosing your wedding planner, make sure they have similar taste as yours or will conform to your style because after all this is your special day.

Venue (location)~ This is one of the first things you will want to take care of.  Keep in mind that Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s are booked fairly early by most venues during the busy wedding season.  As soon as you know where you want to have your wedding &/or reception I recommend calling to reserve your date.  It is best to plan as early as possible to ensure you get the location you want.

Photographer~ After the food is eaten, the decorations are put away, the flowers have wilted and your wedding dress is boxed all you have left is the memories and of course the PICTURES from your special day.  Who you choose as your photographer could ultimately be the most important decision you make for your wedding.  Because most Photography studios only have one or two main photographers it is also best to chose your photographer early on in the planning section.  As you are looking be sure to look at their work. It is important to ask for a complete wedding from start to finish so you can get an idea of what images you will get from your wedding day.  Also be sure to ask about what their editing process is like.  If you chose a photography studio with multiple photographers make sure they show you the work of the photographer that you will be shooting  your wedding.

Officiant~ If you are hiring someone to officiant at your wedding it is important that they get to know you & your fiance. Plan time to meet with your officiant before hand to let them get a chance to know about you as a couple and be able to make your ceremony personalized to you.  Check with your officiant to see if they are willing to meet with you.

Videography~ Having a video from your wedding is such a great idea.  (I love mine & my kids love watching it too.)  There are lots of GREAT videographers out there so be sure you check out their work.  A talented videographer will be able to show you what they have done in the past & give you some ideas of what they can do for you & your wedding.  There are many options and you don’t have to pay a fortune.  Decide what it is that you want photo montage, date & interview, wedding ceremony, wedding highlights or the full thing.

Dress~ It is important to find a dress early enough that you have time for alterations.  Sometimes it can take a month or two to have the dress back from alterations so make sure you plan accordingly.

Bridal show~Attend Bridal shows to get some ideas of what you want at your wedding.  We recommend the Bridal Extravaganza shows.  They have incredible vendors there & lots of fun ideas for your wedding, plus they have incredible prizes. Go here for the information on the next bridal show.

Rings~ I love looking at wedding rings.  This was one of my favorite parts of planning.  I am all for letting the guy pick out the diamond but let’s face it girls we have to wear it for the rest of our lives so you want something you will LOVE forever.  Guys, go ring shopping together & try some on for fun.  You don’t have to be officially engaged to do this, but make sure you know that she is the one before taking her shopping for one.

Invitations~ There are so many creative ways you can do invitations.  If you have a themed wedding you can always use your theme when creating the perfect invite.   Traditional invites are always classy.  You can always do homemade cards but this can be a ton of work depending on how many invitations you are sending.  When budging keep in mind postage because that part adds up quickly.

Flowers~ I love flowers!!! Having the perfect bridal bouquet can really set up the color scheme for your wedding.  Keep your colors in mind when choosing flowers to have in your bouquet.  Your florist will be able to help you with just the right thing.  (Keep in mind that many flowers come in different shades and your florist won’t be able to control what shade they will have.)  To see an article about different flowers go here.

Cake~ Wedding cakes are so fun.  I love to look at wedding cakes especially when they are unique.  There are so many fun things you can do with your cake.  We had a fun blog a couple months ago designated to cakes.  One of our incredible vendors shared some great information with us, you can check that out here.

Caterer~When looking for a caterer you need to decide what it is you are wanting to serve.  There are many options, dessert buffets, candy buffets, appetizer buffets, or the full meal buffets.  Many brides don’t like the buffet style but when you are having hundreds of people a buffet is typically more affordable.   Your food for your wedding reception will be different from your wedding luncheon or dinner.  The wedding luncheon or dinner (whichever you choose to have) is typically a plated event, although I have seen those buffet style as well depending on how many guests are invited.

Decorations~ The way your wedding is decorated can really reflect the feel of your entire wedding. Some venues will provide linens for you, be sure to coordinate with them before hiring service else where.  If your venue doesn’t have the color you are wanting or they don’t provide that then the hunt is on.  There are some incredible wedding decorators, be sure their style matches what you are looking for.

Music~ There are many options when it comes to music.   Decide what it is you like as a couple and go from there.  If you are planning to have dancing a DJ is always fun to throw in the mix.  They make the party so much fun.  If you are wanting more intimate quiet affair think about having a soft musician to play in the background.  Music  is always a great touch to a wedding.

Tux’s~ Groom’s, it is your turn.  You can pick out the look & style you want since this is your wedding too.  Be sure you have your fiance’s approval on your apparel since your pictures will surely be impacted by what you wear.

Honeymoon~ Make sure you go on a honeymoon.  I hear many couples say we just can’t afford it.  Let me tell you that you may never go again.  Life happens, whether it is school, kids or work be sure to take time away to celebrate your new marriage.  Even if it is a short, close to home get away.  A honeymoon is important.

Transportation~ How fun is it to see those gorgeous vintage vehicles or a carriage at weddings.  Love them!! There is always the famous limo that can be an option for you to drive in style on your special day.

Odds & Ends~ Don’t forget about the small details, the sign in book, gifts for your bridesmaids, wedding favors.  These small details often get placed near the end.  If you are ordering something be sure to give enough time for it to come & return if it isn’t quite what you were looking for.

To view our Printable wedding planner click here.

For more ideas and pictures  check out our planning & ideas section on our website here.

Don’t forget to check out our incredible vendors here.

Photography by: Swensen Photography

Photography by: Swensen Photography

Photography by: Monarch Photography