Engagement Season is Here, How to Start Planning Your Big Day

Another wedding season has come to a close. 

As fall wraps and winter approaches, another exciting time of year is upon us – engagement season. Every year newly engaged couples begin planning their wedding days in the winter months soon after engagement, but with so much work and planning that goes into a wedding it can be hard to know where to start. Where do couples need to start looking? How far out should they be planning? 

These are all important questions, but there’s no need to stress out. Wedding planning is a marathon – not a sprint – and taking a few small steps within the first few months of engagement will help guide the rest of the journey and help you ease into the process. 

Here are some tips to help you get started. 

Set the Scene

The first decision that needs to be made is the timing. Do you prefer a spring wedding or is fall more your style? Also, if there’s a specific date that you have in mind, start there. It’s always good to have something in mind and go about choosing an aesthetic, vibe or venue from there. 

For example, if you’re set on a spring wedding you can then start picking out the color scheme and decor ideas based off of that – whether it’s pastels matched with greenery or vibrant colors with tulips – the choice is yours. 

Agreeing to a season or date will help guide the rest of the planning process. One thing to note is if you do choose a date, remember to be flexible. Sometimes venues book far in advance so don’t be surprised if the date you want is booked. Having a backup date or two is always good to plan out. 

Pick the Place

After choosing the time of year, picking the venue is the natural next step. It will be one of the biggest decisions of the entire process – but don’t fret – there’s no need to commit just yet. Having an idea of where you’d like the day to take place is all that needs to be done early on in your engagement. 

Where you choose to have your wedding depends on a number of factors, including season, aesthetic and the size of the event. Are you looking to have an outdoor affair with lots of guests? Or would you rather have something indoors and more intimate? 

The choice is yours, and there are plenty of venues to accommodate both options and everything in between. 

Take it Slow

Getting engaged is one of the most exciting moments of your life, so be sure to savor it and while wedding planning can seem daunting – taking the first few small steps to start the process may seem like nothing now, but in reality it will be the guiding light that leads you through the entire journey. 

Remember to take your time and work on the schedule that works best for you. This is your day, and no one should have a say in how it’s planned aside from you and your partner. 

Happy planning!