Ok, I got engaged, now what?!?!

You fell in love, you got engaged, now what?!?!

If you're feeling like you have too many thoughts running through your head after your engagement about what the next step should be in planning your wedding, you're very normal.

Here's the order that most brides and grooms do things in:

1.The dress

2.The site

3.The accomodations

4.The transportation

5.The invitations

6.The photographer

7.The flowers

8.The caterer

9.The music

10.The hair and makeup

11.The videographer

12.The wedding consultant

This doesn't include everything, but it gives you an idea of what typically happens. Right after being engaged it's so exciting that the bride tends to run out and try on gowns with Mom and her best friends or maids and matrons. That's great and all, but without knowing your budget first of all, this can be the first and biggest mistake you make.

Here's a better example of what a bride and groom should do:

1.The wedding consultant

2.Set a budget

3.Find a venue

4.Set the date

5.Set a rough timeline with your consultant

6.Hire a wedding officiant

7.Set up accomodations and transportation

8.Make a wedding website to annouce this information

9.Send save the dates, get them through the same stationer who will do your invites, get those ordered too

10.Find the gown

11.Do a hair and makeup trial run to hire the right artist

12.Buy your accessories

13.Find the wedding party and Groom attire to match the gown and location and feel

14.Find a caterer

15.Book your photographer

16.Book your videographer

17.Book your floral designer

18.Book your music

19.Book your desserts

20.Do your site visit and timeline meeting

21.Work on decor with consultant

22.Book your rentals

23.Book your lighting and draping and rigging

24.Work on small decore touches and favors

25.Send your invitations so they are in your guests' hands no later than a month and a half out

26.Do your wrap up meeting with your consultant

27.Rehearsal

28.Wedding day

This also doesn't include everything and isn't meant to be your planning schedule, a planning schedule of when to do what, and hire who, should be created by you and your wedding consultant together, and be customized to your needs. The main reason I show you this is that it isn't what brides and grooms are doing today. The biggest reason? They aren't hiring their wedding consultant first like they should.

Why should I hire a wedding consultant first?:

1.They can help you start out on the right foot by setting a realistic budget

2.They can bring you on tours of venues that suit your needs

3.They can negotiate contracts for you with the venues

4.They can hand carry you to the best wedding professionals to fit your needs

5.They can negotiate each of your wedding professional contracts for you, and give you access to their discounts

6.They can author your site layouts and timeline document set that communicates all details to your wedding professionals

7.They can make sure to finalize your plans with your wedding professionals

8.They can be there to make sure rehearsal runs smoothly

9.They can manage your wedding professionals on the wedding day as well as set up your personal items, coordinate the day, and clean up everything at the end of the day so you can be a guest at your own wedding

One of the biggest reasons to hire a wedding consultant right after being engaged is that you are basically getting help with the whole project. By hiring a wedding consultant you are bringing on a person who does weddings every day of their lives, they can be your point of contact for realistic advice and resources that can make your job of planning the wedding more fun, and easier. They don't take away from your fun of planning, they simply suppliment your planning and support you along the way.

A lot of brides and grooms don't think of hiring a wedding consultant first because they think it's not in their budget, but the truth is, they can't afford not to have a wedding consultant. We know the industry, we have insider information to help our couple's make the most of their budget, we are the key to the wedding industry lock. With a consultant by your side,  you'll save every penny you spend on their services plus more.

All wedding consultants offer a complimentary initial consultation before you book, so you have nothing to lose! So, be ahead of the couple pack and do it the right way! Hire your wedding consultant first!

Happy planning!

Nicole