So you just got engaged to the love of your life, and now you’re thinking “We just got engaged, now what?!” First and foremost, congratulations! Getting engaged is such a huge step in any relationship, and it’s so exciting! As a Michigan wedding photographer and soon-to-be bride myself, I know the first steps to start with! This is why I’ve created my top 5 things to do after you get engaged so you don’t have to stress about what the next steps are! So don’t worry, I’ve gotchu!

Michigan Couples + Wedding Photographer | “We Just got Engaged Now What?!”

Step 1 – Celebrate and Take it All In!

The first step is to celebrate! You just got freaking engaged to your favorite person (AHHH!)! Take some time to soak in this moment with your future spouse (or your family and friends!). This is such a precious season of life that you are stepping into, and it will go SO FAST! Enjoy every bit of it as much as possible! Try not to stress about wedding planning immediately. Host a fun engagement party with friends and family to share your exciting news, or get a cute mani and do an Instagram announcement!

Step 2 – Create an Email Specifically for Your Wedding!

Let me tell you that creating an email specifically for wedding communication is a GAME CHANGER! It makes the wedding planning process so much easier. This was something that I did for my own 2023 wedding, and it was really helpful. Use this email specifically for anything wedding related. Anytime you are inquiring with a vendor, use this email. I then organized my email with different folders for each vendor we booked. I also had other specific folders for all invoices, contracts, and payments! When organizing this way, nothing will get lost in your other email (you know, with alllll the coupons and junk mail you are getting!) This will save you so much unnecessary stress, I promise you!

Step 3 – Create a Budget and Vision for Your Wedding!

This is super important. You and your person need to be on the same page about your wedding budget. Talk with your families and see if they will be contributing, or if you will be covering most of the wedding by yourself. Know your numbers. Then allocate a majority of your budget towards what is important to you. If you want to make sure your guests have a great time at the reception and you already know they will be out on the dance floor, allocate more of your budget to a DJ. Or, if you are a foodie and want to make sure you have incredible food at your wedding from your favorite restaurant, allocate more of the budget towards catering.

It is so important to figure out what the priorities are for both you and your person. Start thinking about what you want your wedding to feel like, what the colors will be, and if you have a specific location in mind. Obviously, this can all change after the fact as you continue with wedding planning, but having somewhat of a vision can help you with figuring out where you want your wedding to actually take place.

Step 4 – Secure Your Date!

Touring venues and locations where you can see yourself getting married is the next step. Things to consider as you are touring places are: What does the space look and feel like? Does it fit the vision you just started thinking about? Do they accommodate you and your needs? For my fiance and I, we really wanted to include our dog, Tenor, in our wedding ceremony and for some photos. It was important to us to make sure our venue was pet friendly. Once you find one that you absolutely love, make it official and lock in your date!

Step 5 – Book Your Vendors

The last step is to book the vendors that are most important to you! Now that you have your date, start reaching out to your dream team of vendors. Remember when we talked about what vendors are most important to you as a couple? Reach out to those people first! If there is a specific vendor that you absolutely 10000% want on your wedding team, reach out to them ASAP. We book up quickly and it truly breaks our hearts when we have to turn a couple away because we are already booked or unavailable for their wedding date.

It’s important to hire people that you connect with, that you trust, and that you can see fulfilling your vision of your wedding day. There are perfect vendors out there for every budget, style, and person. And if you are needing any recommendations, just ask! I’m happy to send over a list of vendors that I trust!

And lastly, don’t stress about the small stuff! Being both a 2023 bride and wedding photographer, I have seen both sides of the industry. There will be hiccups and things won’t go according to plan, but be flexible and create a plan B! At the end of the day, you are marrying your best friend, and nothing can mess that up!

Ready to Book A Wedding Photographer For Your Special Day?

Ready to book a wedding photographer to capture your special day? It would be such an honor to be your wedding photographer! I absolutely adore helping my clients bring their wedding visions to life, and being a part of your special day means so much to me! You can find more about me here, and if you think we’d be a great match, then inquire with me here! I can’t wait to get to know you and your partner more.

In the meantime, you might find these resources on my blog like “6 Wedding Day Timelines for a Fun, Seamless, and Perfect Day” and “Top 5 Wedding Timeline Tips For a Seamless & Fun Wedding” helpful in your wedding planning journey! Can’t wait to chat with you soon!