New To This Wedding Stuff

Congratulations on your engagement! If you found a venue you love that has your date open, I would book them ASAP (or at least ask them to put a soft hold on your date if you're not ready to book just yet)! Same thing for other vendors (photographer, DJ, etc). For your dress, look to purchase it somewhere between 10-12 months before your wedding. WeddingWire and The Knot both have checklists that can help guide you through the rest of the planning process as well.

View Quoted Comment I Never Knew Planning A Wedding Would Be This Much Work Lol

View Quoted Comment Lol, I hear you on that! I never knew how much went into planning a wedding (and how many decisions I'd have to make, and details I'd have to care about) until I got engaged. Take it one step at a time, and try to focus on the biggest things first.

First, figure out your budget and estimated guest count. You mentioned that you have your eye on a venue - can they hold at least the number of guests that you'd like to invite, and are they within your budget? If so, I would either ask them to put a soft hold on your date or just book them if you're confident that it's the right venue for you.

From there, look into any other vendors that you may want, and book them as well. You've got some time, so no need to rush, but with all the engagements that occured over the holidays, many people will likely be looking at venues and vendors for next summer. The earlier you lock in your date, the higher chance that the vendors you want will be available.

Then move on to the smaller details. Ask your wedding party around 10-12 months before your wedding, as relationships can sometimes change. Centerpieces, decor, bridesmaids dresses, etc can all wait until after the venue and vendors are booked. I would also suggest waiting to shop for your wedding dress until you have your venue, just so you can make sure your dress pairs well with the venue.

Also, always feel free to post questions on these forums - everyone here is happy to help!

Happy wedding planning!

Congratulations on your engagement!

Being in the beginning stages of wedding planning, something that was helpful for me was to have multiple days to consider when booking a venue. My fiancé and and I had a conversation where we each brought three dates we had in mind, over the span of time we'd want to get married (between June-August). From conversations with parents/family, our schedules, and our venue, we were able to narrow our date down to two days. One is our primary date (which so far is working out!), and the other is a backup.

Also, reach out and ask for quotes if you have vendors that you like! Prices could change between now and next year, but it never hurts to compare vendors to see what fits in your budget. There is zero pressure to go with the first vendor you find. You have options!

Congrats Kiara!! I'd definitely get your wedding venue locked down first, then you can really start planning!

Here are a few helpful guides to help you get started:

Just Got Engaged? The 8 Things You Need to Do First

How to Plan a Wedding Step by Step

7 Things Couples Should Agree on Before Wedding Planning

Since a lot of weddings have been pushed off due to Covid, I imagine 2023 will start to book up as When I visited my venue back in September dates for 2022 were already very booked. I would get your venue asap and then immediately start on your vendors and start sending out emails and booking people. Be wary that with deposits that can be a lot to do at once but if you have vendors you like you won’t want to miss out. Wedding planning can definitely be stressful and a lot to deal with