He popped the question and you said “yes”! It is time to start planning your wedding! We have your list of the 10 things you need to do as soon as you get engaged…
1. Spread the news & celebrate!
Planning can wait, so the first thing you need to do is celebrate! But before you tell anyone, allow yourself to spend some time with your fiancé just the two of you. Have a glass of champagne and a romantic dinner, toast to your future life together and then you start spreading the news and planning an engagement party.
Read our article: Five Ways To Announce Your Engagement
2. Insure your engagement ring
Have your engagement ring valued by a certified gemologist and then talk to an insurance agent to find out what are your options for insuring the ring as it can be lost, stolen, or damaged. Or you can just add a jewellery rider to your existing homeowner's policy, but if not, simply set up a separate policy for your ring.
Read our article: How To Insure Your Engagement Ring
3. Set your wedding budget
The first step in wedding planning is determining your budget. From your wedding date to venues, vendors and your wedding dress, all of the choices depend on the budget, so you should start thinking about how much you want to spend on your big day as soon as you get engaged. Speak with both your families to see if they will be contributing as this may change when or where you have your wedding.
Read our article: Wedding Budget Tips: Where To Splurge
4. Choose a wedding date
Once you determine your wedding budget, you can start thinking about dates. At this early stage, you don’t have to set the date, but choose when you want to have wedding and pick a few wedding dates that are suitable. If you are on a tight budget, then picking a date outside the peak season could save you both a lot of money.
Read our article: How To Set Your Wedding Date
5. Start making a wedding guest list
This is also a good time for you to think about who you would like invite to your wedding. Once you’ve set up your budget, you can create a draft of your guest list. Start with a longer list and then cut the number later if you feel that is necessary.
6. Pick a theme
This first stage of wedding planning is fun because you can start dreaming about your celebration and get creative with themes and colours. Do you want a rustic country or vineyard wedding, a bohemian beach soiree, a glam ballroom affair or a vintage tea party? Delve into the latest wedding trends and enjoy browsing through magazines and websites to get inspired. Visiting bridal fairs will also help you dream up your big day.
Read our article: 10 Unique Wedding Themes
7. Make a list of preferred venues
Once you have a general idea of the style of wedding you want, you can start searching for the perfect venue. Make a list of your favourite venues by searching our Wedding Services Directory and adding the ones you love to your favourites (simply click the heart icon at the top right of each directory). Find out when the venues have open days because this will help you get a good picture of what the space will look like on your wedding day. Request more inforamtion from the venue in one click by simply clicking the envelope at the top right of their directory!
Find your reception venue by searching our Wedding Services Directory
8. Start looking for unique vendors
It may seem early to start looking for your florist and photographer, but it is important to at least start thinking about wedding vendors. Many popular photographers, florists, stylists and wedding planners can be booked out for a year in advance, so make sure to contact the most important ones and ask them if they are free on your wedding date. You can add your favourite vendors to your My Bride's Diary account by simply clicking the heart located at the top right of all directory listings.
Find unique vendors by searching our Wedding Services Directory
9. Choose your wedding party
If you are wondering when is the perfect time to pop the question to your bridesmaids and groomsmen, remember that the earlier you ask them, the sooner they can help you both with the rest of the plannin.
Read our article: The Who's Who Of Wedding Tasks
10. Begin wedding dress shopping
It is never too early to start shopping for your wedding dress as it may take time to find the “right one”. A lot of couturiers and boutiques are appointment only and popular times like weekends fill up fast. Once you finally find your dream dress it can take months for it to be made and delivered, and after that, you will need a few fittings to make sure it looks perfect on you and you may need to have it altered so it fits just right.
Read our article: Tips For Buying Your Wedding Gown
Browse our Directory of
Visit our
View our Current
