Congratulations!

5 Things to Do Now You’re Engaged

Let the fun commence!

The excitement of getting engaged can lead to a flurry of activity resulting in questions about what to do and when. Here we have put together a guide of the first 5 things you should do once your engaged to help you on the path to planning success…

1. Pop A Cork!

Celebrate! You’re engaged and thats fabulous. So make sure you take some time to celebrate before you head off into the planning wonderland. Whether it’s a quiet meal for two, or a full blown P-A-R-T-Y, it’s your time to relax and celebrate the start of an exciting adventure together. There may be tears, there may be tantrums, there will be highs and there may be some lows, but first there should always be bubbles! Cheers!

2. Pick Your Team!

Weddings, as well as the planning and preparation that goes into them, can be tiring. So you need to make sure you have a team around you that you can rely on. No divas required (well, perhaps one..).

You may want to undertake all of the planning and preparation yourself, or feel awkward asking for help. However most people would love to be asked to help with the planning or preparation of a wedding. So don’t be afraid to ask. It can even make people feel more of a part of the wedding.

Choose your team carefully and choose people who you know you can rely on. If you are choosing Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Best Man, Maid of Honour etc, then make sure you have decided what you want their responsibilities to be, along with anything they would have to pay for. That way they can accept or politely decline, being fully informed without any embarrassment later down the line. Finances can be a difficult subject for some people so try to avoid putting anyone in an awkward position where they have to pay for something they can’t really afford.

3. Crunch The Numbers

Ok, so before you unleash your inner ‘zilla’, make sure you know what money you have to play with. You can honestly have the most fabulous wedding on a tiny budget, but of you set out with unrealistic expectations then you’re only heading for disappointment.

Try to pick a time where the two of you can sit down with no interruptions or distractions and go through sensibly what you can afford and what you are prepared to invest into the wedding. Be cautious, starting married life in debt because of the wedding could put an unnecessary strain on any relationship.

Things to consider:

• What you can afford right now
• How long before you can afford what you want (this could be how long an engagement you might want)
• Any other sources of investment for the wedding (e.g. family who want to contribute, second incomes, money from a sale etc)

Have a conversation with your family if you are in a fortunate position to do so. Some may want to pay for specific items such as the outfits, flowers or band etc. Whilst others may wish to contribute a lump sum. Always be clear if there are any expectations with the money, such as the right to invite some of their friends to the wedding, or choosing the band /flowers etc themselves. It is definitely worth being clear before accepting the money! As before though, always ensure you never put anyone in an awkward position.

If you do find yourself coming up short on the finances, then there are a number of things you can consider which may help:

• A longer engagement period – giving you more time to save
• Having an ‘out of season’ wedding – you can save A LOT of money here. For example, winter weddings are usually cheaper as most take place in the Spring or Summer . Better still, Christmas weddings come with the added benefit of the venues usually already being decorated for the festive period, therefore saving you money on decorations. Bonus!
• Revisit your wedding vision – see if there is anything you could remove, without changing the overall wedding for you.
• Have your wedding now and your reception in a years time to celebrate your 1 year anniversary.

Before going down the route of taking out a loan or similar to pay for your wedding, think carefully. You’re getting married because you love each other. That’s the most important thing in all of this. Try to avoid starting married life in debt and instead see if there is something you can change or compromise on. If it is unavoidable then be really clear on how much you can comfortably afford and when you will be able to pay it back.

4. Location, Location, Location!

After setting your budget and high level vision for your wedding, finding the venue perfect for you both should be next high up on the agenda. Popular wedding venues can get booked years in advance. Therefore if you have a venue and date in mind, it’s wise to visit sooner rather than later.

Make sure you visit more than one venue before you finally decide. Be wary of any venues pushing you to pay a deposit on your first visit. Always make sure you read the venues booking terms and conditions carefully before you sign. Finally, when you find ‘The One’ make sure you are comfortable with their deposit policy (do you get anything back if you need to move the date or cancel?).

5. Wedding Insurance

Things happen and circumstances can change, therefore it’s sensible to take out some wedding insurance to help give you peace of mind and ensure you don’t lose a lot of money.

As with most things, make sure you shop around and compare the different policies out there before you decide on one. You’ll find that coverage can vary from provider to provider and not all may meet your needs.

Happy Planning! ♥