I'm engaged… what's next?
by Lorna Marshall
Now that engagement season has started, most couples are trying to figure out what to do next. These tips will guide you to easy planning:
ANNOUNCEMENT
Make sure to inform your immediate family about your engagement before you post on social media.
SET A DATE
It’s time to get to business. It's very important to set your date first. We always suggest having three dates available (depending on the length of your engagement) because some venues book 2-3 years out.
BUDGET
This is the time to gather all those individuals that will be helping to contribute financially to the wedding. That amount along with what you and your fiancé discuss becomes your bridal budget.
TYPE OF WEDDING
Discuss the type of wedding you want with your fiancé. This is very important and will help with selecting a venue. It could be at a church, hotel, banquet hall or outdoor venue. Also decide if you want your wedding and reception in separate locations.
HIRE A PLANNER
The next step would be to hire a wedding planner, which has several advantages. Professional wedding planners help you save time and money by researching vendors within your budget and negotiating discounts. Planners are great with helping clients stay within their budget. Their job is to make sure your day goes as planned and therefore create a detailed itinerary for all the vendors involved. They also act as the go-to person the day of. Because they have planned countless weddings, planners know exactly what works and what doesn’t, so they can offer valuable advice and handle any unforeseen circumstances that may arise.
Planners make sure your dreams become reality. Typically the cost to hire a wedding planner is much lower than the amount you save with our discounts. Brides usually don’t consider this important, but with hiring a planner you can have a worry-free and stress free day!
Lorna Marshall is a Michigan-based wedding planner who runs It's Your Day, a premier solution-oriented event planning company. She may be contacted at [email protected] and at www.itsyourdayservices.com.
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