Engaged? Here are 5 Important Tasks you Need to Prioritize
Congratulations! You got engaged! You’ve been showered with cards, gifts, and well wishes, and you’re feeling the love. We know this is an exciting and overwhelming time for you and your partner. But, before you get too far into the bliss of your new engagement, there are a few things you should discuss with your partner.
While the whirlwind of engagement can get a bit hectic, take a moment to sit down with your spouse-to-be and talk about the coming months. Naturally, there are a few tasks you must prioritize if you’re going to enjoy your engagement and make the most of your impending nuptials. We’ve compiled a list of the most critical wedding planning tasks you should tackle ASAP. Completing these five to-do’s will help you reduce your stress and ensure you’re on you’re well on your way to wedding day.
Recently engaged in 2021? Check out our Engagement Season: 7 Things You Need To Know.
psst: if you are reading this article and already feeling the wedding overwhelm, DON’T PANIC. Consider reaching out to a wedding planner to help alleviate some of the stress you are feeling.
1. Make Sure Your Engagement Ring Fits & Insure It
Once you have that beautiful diamond on your finger, make sure it’s the right size. If the ring fits, great! If not, it’s time to go to your jeweler to size it. A loose ring can easily fall off, especially for women who work with their hands, so a tight fit is essential. Resizing takes time, so get that done right away, so you don’t have to wait to show off your new ring. We know, we know—it’s not exactly the most romantic or exciting thing in the world, but it could wind up saving your butt in the long run.
Also, if you were planning on insuring your engagement ring, contact your insurance company and begin the process right away. Some companies require an appraisal before they insure anything, which can take a few weeks. Starting this step sooner rather than later will help you avoid any last-minute stress down the road. When added as an extension to your homeowner or renter’s insurance policy, insuring your ring can be surprisingly inexpensive.
Finally, take time to get a manicure. You’ll want to look incredible when you are showing off your new ring!
2. Determine Your Budget
Money talks, but unfortunately, no one likes to talk about money.
It can be, well, awkward. Plus, it can be easy to get swept up in the excitement of being engaged and planning a wedding. However, you must discuss a budget shortly after getting engaged before moving forward with your wedding plans. It’s essential to determine how much you can afford to spend before making any firm commitments. Whether this conversation is between you and your future spouse, or the parents, this step is important.
If you’re paying for your own wedding, consider how you will pay for it. Will you use cash? Take out a loan? Use credit cards? Once you know your budget, make sure that you stick with it! Our advice is that the wedding couple chooses three aspects of the wedding to build the budget around. Then, use these as your anchor when all the shiny objects of wedding planning threaten to bust the budget. Furthermore, budgeting and planning for your wedding are great ways for you and your partner to work together to accomplish a goal.
Interested in adding engagement photos to your budget? Check out our post on Engagement Photo Outfits: How To Look & Feel Your Best to ensure you get the most out of your engagement shoot.
3. Determine The Size Of Your Wedding
Do you want a large celebration or a more intimate affair? Your budget will have a lot to do with this decision, but so will your vision for your day. Establishing the size of your wedding will help you narrow down venues, vendors, and other resources you’ll need along the way. Remember to get your family’s input if it matters to either of you or if they’ll be footing the bill.
You don’t have to commit to a guest list yet, but having an estimate is important. It’s also a great time to discuss whether you will have kids at your wedding. Knowing this far in advance will allow people to find babysitters and prevent any hurt feelings. No matter who you decide to invite, make sure this is something you do early on so that when it comes time to book venues and vendors, you can plan accordingly.
Now that you’ve agreed on a guest count and budget, you can commit to a venue.
4. Pick Your Wedding Date & Venue
Plan on picking a date soon if you want to wed in the next year or two. Of course, the most desirable wedding dates and venues are booked far in advance. Additionally, since numerous 2020 & 2021 weddings were postponed to 2022, finding available dates and venues might be more challenging than usual. Don’t brush off the idea of having a Friday or Sunday wedding! Most of the time, these dates are cheaper and can save you tons of money. You can then put those savings towards something else (like a Bora Bora honeymoon!). Find out what works for both your families and determine any potential conflicts.
Additionally, you and your partner should talk about timelines shortly after becoming engaged. For example, suppose you want to follow a typical timeline (i.e., having your wedding 12 to 18 months after the proposal). In that case, it’s time to start planning ASAP. Align on a timeline and work from there—it’s the most pragmatic starting point of wedding planning.
If you are thinking of a Destination Wedding, reach out to a destination wedding planner (here’s our consultation form). We know that wedding planning can be daunting enough. Still, it can get downright overwhelming when you add a foreign location to the mix. For example, you may be wondering, ‘What are the most important things to consider when planning a destination wedding?’. If you are thinking of Mexico, check out the ultimate guide to having a destination wedding in Mexico for all the details you’ll need to know. While there are many details to consider when planning a destination wedding, it’s possible to have a stress-free experience.
5. Set Up Your Wedding Registry & Website
It’s never too early to register after you get engaged. Not only does a registry help ensure you get something you like and need, but it also makes shopping easier for friends and family. Creating a registry is doubly important if you plan on having an engagement party. Even if you don’t register for everything right away, try to decide on a few things for your list.
Try to limit your registry to three places (ideally, at two national stores and one local). This way, guests will have an abundance of choices without being overwhelmed. Another aspect to consider when choosing where to register is registry perks. Many stores offer registry incentives such as free items, discounts, or bonuses when reaching a certain spending point for one brand.
Additionally, we highly recommend Zola, where you can create a wedding website, registry, invites, and collect RSVPs all in one place. Plus, anything left on your registry is 20% off for up to 6 months!
At Esprit Errant we love to help engaged couples have the weddings of their dreams! We have been there before and would love to bring your wedding to life and make your wedding planning journey a stress free and enjoyable one! Let’s talk!
Engaged and confused? Check out the following posts!
Engagement Photo Outfits: How To Look & Feel Your Best | Engagement Season: 7 Things You Need To Know | How to Start Planning Your Destination Wedding
Updated on February 19th, 2022
