I’m Engaged! What Next?

If you’re reading this CONGRATULATIONS!

The few weeks after your engagement are such a special time.

Getting used to the weight of a ring on your finger.

Emphatically telling your proposal story to anyone who will listen.

Telling your family and friends the exciting news.

Getting caught off guard by the sparkle on your finger when the sun hits it right.

My sister-in-law decided to prolong her newly-engaged phase as long as possible. She didn't send out a big group text or hop on facetime calls. She waited to tell each of her loved ones the news in person. There was just something about the combined look of shock, joy, and excitement on their faces. She wanted to experience it as long and as fully as possible. It ended up taking about 3 months…

I’m not saying take it to that extreme! How you share the news is a very personal decision.

But do savor every moment of this beautiful experience.

Many brides aren’t sure what the first steps in planning a wedding should be. Here’s a quick guide to help you figure out the best way to start planning the perfect Chattanooga wedding:

1. Determine Your Budget

It’s time to crunch some numbers. This is the least exciting part of the planning process. But doing this, in the beginning, will make the rest of your plans so much easier.

It's all too common that a bride will fall in LOVE with the perfect venue or the perfect dress... only to be heartbroken when she realizes it's too expensive. It's a tough moment to come back from. Every other option will pale in comparison to the one that's just-out-of-reach.

Wedding planning can get emotional (for many reasons!). Let’s make all the tears, tears of joy instead of tears of disappointment. Setting a specific budget will go a long way toward achieving your goal.

2. How to Pick Your Wedding Venue

Your venue determines everything. Date, guest count, colors...everything. You’ll learn a lot about what’s important to you when touring venues. Here are some questions to consider before making appointments:

Do you need wheelchair accessibility?
Is it a reasonable driving distance?
What’s the rain plan?
Do you want the wedding party to stay on-site?
Are tables and chairs included?
How long do you have access to the venue with the rental?

Go into your venue tours with a general idea of when you want to get married and how many guests will be attending. Chattanooga is called the Scenic City for a reason... It's gorgeous. This makes it a destination wedding hotspot. That means you have so many venue options at your disposal. To be exact, there are 121 venues in Chattanooga. And that’s not counting the beautiful Chattanooga surrounding area! It’s easy to waste your time touring venues that won't work for your vision. Having these things figured out ahead of time is a quick way to filter out venues that aren't a good fit.

3. How to Pick A Wedding Date

It’s easy! What’s your favorite season? If you know you want a Chattanooga wedding venue that highlights fall colors you can narrow it down to October and November. Once you’ve fallen in love with a venue, choose from the dates they have available in these months. Keep in mind that Saturday weddings are usually priced higher than Friday or Sunday events.

4. Hire a Wedding Planner

Once you have your venue and date set, things really start to get rolling. Contracts are involved. Timelines are established. Aesthetic decisions need to be made. This is when your plans start to get a little complex. If you’re busy like most of us are, hiring a wedding planner takes so much stress out of the logistics. It's just as important to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience as it is to pick out your decor.

5. Guest List

It’s time to sit down with your fiance and figure out who will be attending your wedding. Don’t try to please everyone. I see a lot of brides submit to guest list pressure from family. In a perfect scenario, everyone could be invited. And you would get meaningful time with each guest. But that’s rarely the case. If you're having trouble setting boundaries, ask yourself these question:

Do you want to use your wedding as a unique opportunity for EVERYONE you know and love to be in the same place? Are you ok with the fact you may not get to spend much time with any of them?

Or would you rather be able to spend quality time with fewer people?

Think deeply about this. It’s no small decision. No matter what, you won’t be able to please everyone. So it’s a good idea to think about what you want. What will make you happy on your wedding day?

6. Save the Dates

Once you have your date, venue, and guest list the next natural step is sending out Save the Dates.

But here’s a tip:

Save the dates aren’t necessary.

If you know you want to send them out… that’s fantastic! Save the dates are a very thoughtful way to announce your engagement. And they're always a good idea if you know your guests have busy schedules.

But they are not required.

Actually, during COVID-19 I’m advising brides against it. Times are volatile. If your plans need to change, you’ll have fewer questions to answer if you don’t send out Save the Dates. Not sending out save the dates means more wiggle room if plans (or budget!) changes.

If you’re a budget bride, you can save some pennies here. Save the dates are usually a few hundred dollars when printed on nice cardstock. Postage can also be over $100, depending on how many guests you have.

7. Choosing Vendors

Here are the major vendor categories you’ll need for your wedding:

Photographer
Food
Cake
Flowers
Music
Alcohol (if applicable)
Transportation (if applicable)
Officiant
Decor

Pick at least 3 vendors in each category to compare prices and availability. Be sure to ask your wedding planner if the quotes you’re receiving are reasonable.

Also ask your wedding planner for creative vendor ideas. The list above is a standard vendor category list. But the real magic happens when you get creative! I once hired a breakdancer to make an appearance at a client’s wedding. I also once hired a saxophonist alongside a DJ. The saxophonist would jump into dance circles and accompany the DJ's hype music live. Adding a live performer is a super fun way to get your guests excited to dance. Weddings are more fun when guests are actively involved in the celebration.

Not sure where to look for ideas? Check out Gig Salad! It also feels good to use your wedding to support local artists.

8. Picking Your Wedding Party

This step is SO MUCH FUN. Gather your homies close. Do something special for them to ask them to be part of your big day.

After you "propose" to your maid of honor give her a few ideas for your bachelorette party. Make sure it will feel like you. Then step aside and have fun!

Schedule your dress appointments. Make a day of it and brunch together beforehand!

Take a Deep Breath

Remember to enjoy the experience! This guide should get you through the first 4 months of your planning process. Have questions about what to do next? Drop me a line! I’d love to hear from you.