Congratulations, getting engaged is an exciting and major life milestone!! If you’re wondering where to start in your wedding planning journey, this expert-approved guide breaks down the first steps for newly engaged couples, from setting budgets and guest lists to finding the right wedding vendors. These wedding planning tips are designed to keep couples feel confident, informed, organized, and inspired as they begin planning their dream wedding.

Follow along for the top tips for what newly engaged couples need to know, directly from our preferred wedding planners and our head event liaison. If you (or someone you know) just got engaged, take time to enjoy the moment! These resources are here to help when you’re in planning-mode.

Here’s the key list of what to handle first, recommended by Head Event Liaison Savanna!

1. Take time to soak it in with your fiancé/fiancée. This is such a fun and exciting new chapter in your life!
2. Discuss finances and set a max budget + an ideal budget
3. Create a separate email for wedding planning & research
4. Find the general area you’d like to host your wedding festivities
5. Determine what time of year is best for both of your schedules, think about traveling at that time, weather, etc.
6. Talk through both of your dreams & top 3 priorities 
7. Create a must-have and would-like-to-have guest list to estimate your guest count
8. Start researching ceremony + reception venues, think about after-party locations, just in case your venue closes early
9. Look into recommended pre-vetted vendors from the venue’s preferred list  
10. Lock in your wedding planner (either month-of, partial, or full-service)
11. Start creating your wedding dream board and wedding website
12. Most importantly – have fun! And do exactly what you and your fiancé want to do, no matter how silly, unexpected, or different it may be. This is your special day, and it’s all about the two of you!

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Six Tips for Newly Engaged Couples,
Directly from Top Wedding Planners:

Prioritize 3: “Sit down with your partner and write down your top 3 priorities for the wedding. You only have so much budget, time and emotional bandwidth, so you want to feel aligned with your vision, and when you feel lost or overwhelmed in the planning process, you go back to those three things!” – Allie of Pop the Champagne @popthechampagne

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Focus on Feel: “When you start wedding planning, don’t worry so much about how you want things to LOOK, but focus on how you want things to FEEL. Maybe it’s like an intimate dinner party, maybe it’s a wild dance club – either way, when you focus on guest experience, you will create something people really remember!” – Allie of Pop the Champagne @popthechampagne

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Love Your Venue: “Your venue creates the backdrop for so many meaningful moments, shaping everything from the guest experience to the overall feel of the day. When couples choose a space they truly love and plan with intention, the journey feels just as special as the celebration.” – Sarah of My Wedding Songbird @myweddingsongbird

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Rental Decor: “When deciding between venues, the more expensive option may be more cost effective if the venue itself compliments your wedding vision. Rather than pay for elements like pipe and drape to hide the venue, getting to embrace your venue reduces the need for more spend.” – Maria of Modest Magnolia @modestmagnolia

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Find Your Crew: Your vendor team sets the tone for the entire wedding. When you invest in experienced professionals who align with your vision and have worked at your venue before, the planning process becomes seamless and the day unfolds effortlessly.” – Amrita of Amrita Events @AmritaEvents

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“Assign someone to feed you. You will forget otherwise” – Maria of Modest Magnolia @modestmagnolia

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Expert Advice to Carry with You: The most memorable weddings aren’t defined by one single detail, but by the thoughtful and personal decisions made together by the couple before the wedding. When you choose vendors that support you and your vision, the planning process becomes less stressful and more meaningful. We hope the above insights help you to create your dream wedding, and we are here to help with anything you may need, from your venue to your food/bar catering to your rentals to vendor recommendations.

“Go indulge in a bridal magazine. Cozy up with it, even if it’s just you and your cup of coffee. Do not read too much into your partner’s level of interest in planning; you’re engaged and that’s one of the most important parts of the journey! Often times, there is one party who is more interested in the details of wedding planning, and that is both normal and perfectly okay! Different roles in relationships are another secret to success in a healthy lifelong partnership; everybody has their strength!” – Executive Chef & CEO Meg Walker

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