If you haven’t read about what to do when you first get engaged, then read this first!
Once you have all those initial things taken care of, you can move on to this blog post!
Inform out-of-town guests.
If you have family traveling from out-of-town, give them as much notice as possible once your wedding date is set. This is usually accomplished with a save-the-date card. You can choose to send a save-the-date card to all your guests or just those who will have to travel. You should choose a hotel and reserve a block of rooms at this time, too.
Think about your wedding attire.
I’m quite sure you’ve started looking at wedding dresses, tuxedos, or suits already! Now is the time to make a list of shops to look at. Most places will require an appointment nowadays, so call them up and ask. Spread a few shops out over several weekends so this isn’t an overwhelming task. Don’t forget about your accessories!
Before these few months are over, you will also want to think about attire for your wedding party.
Begin an exercise routine.
Most people wish to get in better shape before the big day, so now is the time to start an exercise routine. If you’re self-motivated, set a gym schedule yourself, but if you aren’t, you may have to hire a trainer.
It’s time to talk to vendors.
Florist & Decorator: Do you know what type of floral design or type of flowers you want at your wedding? If not, start a Pinterest board with styles and colors that you like. If you already know what you want, it’s time to find the perfect florist.
When looking for the perfect florist, start with their website or Instagram. You should be able to determine if their style matches yours by looking at their past work. Try to narrow it down to about three florists. Call them up and make an appointment! Once you speak to each florist and get their price points, you can hopefully narrow it down to just one.
If you want decor other than flowers, look into that at this point, also.
Caterer: Is food included with your venue? If not, you should schedule a time to speak with local caterers and see what they have to offer. You won’t make any final food decisions at this point, but you do need to secure your caterer.
Photographer & Videographer: There are many different styles of photography and videography. Do you want light & airy photos? Or dark & moody? This will determine which photographers you want to meet with.
DJ & Musicians: The DJ & reception music sets the tone for the party! Make sure you really click with your DJ.
Officiant: Find someone who meshes with your wedding style and book them!
Consider wedding insurance.
More and more venues are requiring wedding insurance nowadays. If you’ve booked your venue already, check with them and see if it is required. Even if it isn’t, you might want to get it anyway. In the grand scheme of your wedding budget, wedding insurance isn’t that expensive and it can really save the day if the unthinkable happens.
Check back for more wedding planning tips. If you’re in the Detroit or Ann Arbor areas, contact me for help!
I realized wedding planning was my passion when, after working a 12-hour wedding day, I came home and was so energized that I couldn’t go to sleep. I had just worked an entire day, on my feet, and was ready to plan the next event instead of heading to bed! In former careers, an 8-hour shift would leave me exhausted. This new-found energy around my work was very welcomed! Now I plan weddings all around the Metro Detroit & Ann Arbor areas.