How to Get Started: My Two Cents

Shout out to the friends of mine who have gotten engaged in the last two weeks, it's going to be a great time! 

"You got engaged! Congratulations, now tell me absolutely everything about your wedding plans this second or I will bug you until you do."  I have to admit that I get as caught up as anyone else when people get engaged and I want to hear all about their plans. As a newly engaged couple, learn to exercise your right to not say anything in this early stage. You have no idea what will happen between now and then, what kind of wedding you will have, what your budget is-- so just be vague! Thank them for their interest and try to distract them with your shiny new bling!

The average engagement in the US is between 9 and 12 months, and though there are many things to work on, you will never get this time back. This time of being a couple, planning your lives together, feeling all the love from family and friends, it's amazing. I know all the bridal "experts" say that you have to hit the ground running, you're probably already behind and are likely getting married at McDonalds with disposable cameras unless you book things tomorrow. I live in DC, there are so many venue options I don't know how people pick just one, it seems like having 1/2 the venues knocked out of contention could actually be a blessing!

 My advice: Try not to spend more than five hours a week over the first few weeks doing actual "planning."  Have dinner with your parents, meet his parents (if you haven't), show off the ring, have a conversation about budget and who will pay for what, find out about important dates you need to worry about (e.g., your sister will be giving birth in June, but you want her to be your bridesmaid, so maybe try to do it before May or a few months AFTER she has the baby). Kick around ideas about traditions that you want to continue or start, about bridal party members, but do not commit to anything.

So that's it.  If you have more than 6 months to plan your wedding, DO NOT MAKE ANY COMMITMENTS FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS. You just agreed to make an awfully big one, leave it at that for a few days, then you can go as nuts as you like!

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