You’re engaged! Now what?
Congratulations! You’re getting married! We are SO excited for you. As many brides and grooms will tell you, this is the happiest time in your life (so far).
Some might say it’s also the most stressful. But it doesn’t have to be!
Stick with The Villa, and we’ll show you how. This year on the blog, we’ll walk you through a different part of the wedding planning process each month, showing you the ins and outs, the dos and don’ts, and the secrets of the industry you need to know…but that no one is going to tell you – except us!
That might already sound like a lot, but take a deep breath – we’re here for you! First up: the very beginning…
Step 1: Enjoy Your Engagement
Bask in the glow of your love. Stare at your ring. Take some mental pictures of the moment you got engaged. Take some actual pictures of you, your fiance, and your ring. Savor this time in your lives because soon you’ll be in the planning stages!
Step 2: Share Your Happy News
By this point, you’ve probably shared your engagement with all your closest friends and family. Great news – you’re already a step ahead!
But if you haven’t (or if you still need to spread the word far and wide), don’t sweat the small stuff. Post on your social media, send an email, or call your great aunt to deliver your news. You might even consider an engagement announcement in your local newspaper. And remember – as they say, good news travels fast, so your friends and family will do a lot of the work for you!
Step 3: Set A Date
So you’ve told your family and friends, and now everyone wants to know: when is the big day?!
Start with a season – spring, summer, fall, or winter? Is there a month that’s special to you? A specific date? Once you’ve got a season, you can start to narrow down a month and day.
But remember – you may need a date and a backup date, depending on how far in advance you’re planning. Having a backup date is always a good idea. Worst case scenario – you won’t need it!
Step 4: Outline Your Aesthetic
Some people have this planned out by the time they’re twelve years old. Some dread this moment. Like many things in the wedding planning process, it’s simpler than it seems.
You’ve got your date, so you’ve got your season. Now all you need is one basic idea. Think about how you want your wedding to feel. Start browsing the internet (Pinterest can be a great resource) for inspiration for your color palette, venue type, and overall style.
For example, if you know you want a June wedding at an indoor/outdoor combination venue, start looking for photos from other summer weddings at these types of venues. You’ll find examples of color palettes, decor, and dresses that will provide even more inspiration to work off of.
Remember: picking just one thing you like will open up doors to many more ideas!
Step 5: Draft Your Budget
That’s right, we said draft.
The one constant in life is change. Look at your budget with this in mind.
During your first draft, leave some room. When you’re trying on dresses, you may decide you prefer lace over crepe and realize that means you need a larger dress budget. When you’re tasting menus, you or your fiance may try the prime rib and decide you HAVE to have it at your reception. If you leave yourself some room for change, you’ll thank yourself later.
And that’s it! Five steps to get you started. Once these basics are settled, everything else will start to fall into place.
Check back in next month for more planning tips and tricks, and in the meantime, visit https://thevillareservations.com/ to find out more about what The Villa has to offer.
