From Engaged to Planning
As the Holiday Season ends and new engagement rings are dazzlingly sparkling off of the fingers of a new set of brides-to-be, many of the newly engaged are left looking at each other saying, "Now what?". For all those newly engaged here's how to get started on planning your wedding.
First of all, before any planning takes place, take the time to just enjoy being engaged. If not all of your friends and family are in the know, your next step will be to boldly announce to all, your newly engaged status.
While print announcements in the paper are a time-honored tradition, the electronic age has inspired a new set of announcements through email or social networking sites. Use a graphic-based program to create an email containing a picture of the proposal, the ring, or simply of yourselves as a newly engaged couple. Another tech-savy idea is to announce you wedding through the creation of a Wedding Website.
If you plan on having a long engagement this is not something that needs to be set until at least a year in advance, although if you have a number of people that will need to travel, giving them as much lead time (more than a year if possible), increases the chances that they will be able to attend.
This is also where "Save The Date" cards or announcements can come in handy. A small notice sent to future guests to let them know in advance of your upcoming nuptials "Save the Date" cards" while an additional expense, gives your guests enough of an advance warning, without you having to have all of your wedding details.
The next step is deciding what kind of wedding you want. Including: how large you want your wedding to be, how formal or casual and how traditional or offbeat. Setting some of those ideas down on paper, can give you both an idea of what kind of budget you many be looking at.
Then comes the budget. This is the time to sit down with all involved and decide on how much each will contribute. This is also a good time to sit down and decide how much input those who are contributing financially will be allowed. The time honored tradition that says "he who pays, has the say" may mean that you might not have the control you wish for. Getting all of this out and in the open at the start, makes for a much more harmonious planning in the future.
Once a budget has been arrived at the next stage involves everything. To keep all of your "everything" organized and on track, you may want to purchase a planning booklet to help you keep everything straight, or again for the more tech savy, invest in some inexpensive wedding planning software.
Above all, enjoy your newly engaged status and every moment of your wedding planning. It is a special time in your life, be sure to have fun with it. Congratulations! Let the fun begin.
©2008 Weddingstar Inc.
