Just Engaged? Here’s what to do first.

CONGRATULATIONS! One of the things I absolutely love about the holidays here is that love is always in the AIR. If you are just engaged and starting to plan your wedding for 2022 or 2023, I have a few tips for jumping in (slowly) to the wild world of wedding planning in Edmonton. I truly believe that wedding planning is as fun as you make it, so try to enjoy the process as much as you can. If you are looking for an Edmonton wedding photographer, make sure to click here to find out about my wedding photography packages. I would LOVE to connect with you (being an extrovert in a virtual world is ROUGH) and learn more about what you are envisioning for your day.

Enjoy Being Engaged

Whether you have been engaged a while and are just finally getting around to wedding planning, or you are sporting a shiny new addition on your finger, being engaged is nothing to snooze through. Seriously. I WISH someone had told me to enjoy my own engagement period a little more because it really does go so, so fast. Once you tell all your friends and family the exciting news (and post a cute announcement on social media – obviously), make sure to carve out time for just the two of you to really bask in the awesomeness of taking that next step in your relationship. Forever sounds pretty great, right?

Dream up your wedding vision

Are you dreaming of something classic and romantic like the Hotel MacDonald? Or are one of the many rustic barns just outside the city more your style? Will you stick to a classic wedding color palette (like blush, white, and greenery), or are you wanting something more unique and bold? NOW is the time to get on Pinterest and start dreaming about your wedding day vision.

ALSO – think about more than just aesthetics! Are you dreaming of a laidback, casual feel or do you prefer something more formal? Do you want a grand affair or are you drooling over micro weddings? This is YOUR wedding day and truly, you can make it into whatever you want it to be.

Make a budget & guest list

Now that you are hopefully a little clearer on what you do want (and don’t want), it’s time to figure out the logistics. As a starting point, you are going to need to create your wedding day budget and guest list. It’s up to you what one should come first, but really they go hand in hand. In general, more guests = more money.

I know this is the part you are going to want to skip over. When you started dreaming about your wedding day, I can guess that budget or cutting guests and their plus one’s was likely not what you dreamed about. But please hear me out: it’s so important. Before you have a final guest list, don’t book a venue. You don’t want to book something too large or too small. The same goes for your wedding day budget. You don’t want to fall in love with a wedding venue, justify the price tag #becauselove , only to find out you’ve blown your budget for the other things you love (like photography, videography, florals, cake – whatever is important to you!).

And listen, if you are one of the lucky ones who DOES have a more flexible budget, I still encourage you to consider what would be “nice to spend” and what your “absolute max” is before moving on to the next step.

Find your venue

I told you the fun part was coming! This is often one of the first times you’ll be parting with your hard-earned cash, and it’s also one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Your wedding venue dictates A LOT of things, okay? Don’t be afraid to tour multiple venues, ask lots of questions, and hey, even build a spreadsheet to compare if that’s your thing! Once you’ve found a venue, you are ready to put down a deposit and SAVE THE DATE!!

Book your photographer (and engagement photos!)

Once you have saved the date, you are ready to start booking your vendors! And one of the first, if I do say so myself, is your wedding photographer! Every photographer is different, but personally one of the first things I love to do when a couple books me is talk about their engagement photos!! I know couples usually want these done fairly quickly to send out save the dates, and honestly, I just love connecting with my couples before their wedding day. Truly, the sooner the better. Reach out here if you are ready to connect. Or, for engagement photo inspiration, check out this post here!

Enjoy the wedding planning process!!

Yes, you need to book the rest of your vendors and finalize any number of additional wedding day details. But it doesn’t have to be AS hard as the wedding industry makes it seem. There are numerous apps and checklists to download so your options are literally endless if you want to immerse yourself in the planning. Or, pick just one and stick to it. Either way, you’ll have a beautiful wedding. Assuming you’ve hired professional wedding vendors, we are often more than happy to help guide you along the way too! For example, as a wedding photographer, I often help my couples with their wedding day timeline. Just relax and let yourself trust the vendors you’ve hired!

Shameless plug: if you are looking for an Edmonton wedding photographer, you can learn more about my wedding photography packages here. I also share a TON of wedding planning tips on the blog (new posts come out every Monday!) so make sure to stay tuned for a little extra guidance on your wedding day.