Top 5 Things To Do Once You're Engaged
Congratulations on that holiday engagement! Now that the decorations have been put away and it’s back to work, no doubt you’re still on cloud nine, but probably a little overwhelmed too. Stop. Take a deep breath. Adjust that shiny new ring on your left hand and take note of our latest top five. We got you!
Photo credit: Jacklyn Dickens Photography
MAKE YOUR GUEST LIST
The guest list will dictate your budget and what venues will work best for a group your size. Food and alcohol are the biggest expense of most weddings, so the cost of your wedding depends greatly on head count. If parents are contributing financially, ask them who they’d like on the guest list so you have a clear understanding of their expectations.
2. PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET
This goes hand in hand with making your guest list. Research typical costs in your area for a wedding of your size for venues, caterers, photography, florals, entertainment, etc. Decide as a couple what means most to you, where you don’t want to compromise and where you’re willing to concede a little. Also, do your research and factor in all the “hidden” expenses that add up - gratuities, delivery fees and set up and break down charges for certain vendors. Again, you’ll want to have a clear understanding of numbers with your parents if they’re contributing financially. It’s often uncomfortable to tackle #1 and #2 but once you do, you’re free to focus on the fun stuff!
3. RESEARCH VENUES
It’s a good idea to choose your venue first and work from there. Some venues have insurance requirements and a list of vendors (caterer, lighting, etc) you have to choose from, so it makes sense to start here. Another thing to consider is hotel accommodations for your guests convenient to your venue. Unless you choose a hotel or resort, you’ll want your out of town guests to have a place to stay nearby with reliable transportation (shuttle bus, access to Uber, etc.) if they don’t have a car. At ARJ we’ve worked with many venues in Virginia, DC and Maryland and have developed relationships with the staff. Hiring us as your planner will make this process smoother and much less stressful for you.
4. LOCK IN THE MOST IN DEMAND VENDORS
In the DC area, good planners, photographers, entertainers and florists book quickly and often a year or more in advance. See our previous blog entries on hiring DJ’s and photographers for tips to help you through the process. Once again, with so many to choose from it can be overwhelming and we are happy to help you find the right fit for your personality and budget.
5. MAKE A TIMELINE
Sit down together and lay out a timeline of events for your whole wedding weekend and have a look at what tasks need to be completed before the big date and during. Decide which tasks you each will be responsible for and assign any to friends and family you can trust that want to help. Putting it on paper (or screen) will give you a sense of the big picture and alleviate a lot of stress.
Sounds like a lot? Well, it is. But it’s do-able! And we’re here to help if you’d like us to! With ARJ, you’ll have access to our Aisle Planner, amazing software that we can set up and show you how to navigate. You’ll have a private log in (sharable with who you choose to) where you can create a timeline, a guest list in spreadsheet form, a budget, a to-scale layout of your reception with moveable seating, a place to store contacts and more. We hope this list helps get you on your way and that you choose to work with us in 2020!