I’m Engaged! Now What?
Congratulations on your engagement! It’s arguably the most exciting time of your life, but it can also come with perfectly natural overwhelming feelings. Now that you’re engaged, here are five things that will help you get on the right track!
Celebrate Your Engagement
Take time to celebrate. You just took a huge step so the first thing to do is celebrate and enjoy the moment and each other. Next, share your exciting news with family and friends. Make the phone or FaceTime calls to the most important people in your life. Next, consider hosting a small engagement party or dinner to celebrate this special milestone with the people who matter most to you.
Announce Your Engagement Publicly
Tell the world! Now that you’ve informed your closest loved ones of your big news, it’s a good time to share your engagement publicly. If you had someone secretly record the proposal or take pictures from a hiding spot – post those on social media and watch the excitement and congratulations roll in. If you’re a more private couple, then just let people find out organically. Do what feels most natural to you.
Discuss Wedding Expectations
Schedule a coffee shop date and have a conversation about each of your wedding priorities and expectations. Be sure to discuss both of your visions for the wedding day. Go over the size, style, and location of the wedding. Be open and honest about specific elements you want included in the wedding that are important to you. Establish your priorities early on to help guide the planning process and ensure that you’re both on the same page with your expectations.
Set a Tentative Budget
Set the budget. Before you dive into the wedding planning, it’s imperative to have a general idea of the budget. Discuss with your partner and both families about how much everyone is comfortable contributing. Get on the same page. Establishing a budget early on will help you make informed decisions as you start the planning process.
Choose a General Timeframe
Decide if you’re having a short, average or long engagement. The average engagement period is about 12-18 months. It’s helpful to decide on a general timeframe before you start securing vendors. Remember, this is just an average and not an absolute, if you’re considering a shorter engagement head over here to learn some of the benefits. Choose the season or month you’d prefer to get married, but be sure to take into account any significant dates or events in your lives that are coming up. This helps give you a starting point for planning and helps when discussing potential dates with venues and vendors.
Decide on a date, book your wedding venue and then send out your save the dates.
Mint Springs Farm is an all inclusive wedding venue and was the first venue in the Nashville area designed and built to be an all day, full service venue. With our innovative concept of having a bridal suite and groom’s loft, a ceremony pavilion and a reception barn all on one property, our couples and their families can spend the day together all in one place! Contact us to book your date or get more info.
Take Your Engagement Photos
These amazing engagement photos were taken at The Noelle and in downtown Nashville by Samantha Harrell Photography. Read on to learn more about Samantha and see Crissy and Mitch’s wedding here. Samantha Harrell is a full-time wedding photographer who focuses on documenting love stories as they are. She’s been capturing weddings for six years and have over 200 weddings under their belt. Be sure to follow @samanthaharrellphoto on Instagram.
As a photographer who has photographed weddings all over the country, one of my absolute favorite venues to photograph is Mint Springs. My team and I love it here because it is such a unique and stunning place. Everywhere you turn, there’s a beautiful backdrop which makes our job so much easier! The bridal suite is HUGE and has tons of natural light. From the ceremony spot to the reception barn, everything is just beautiful and so elegant. The owners are incredibly nice and truly care about their brides and vendors! My team and I can’t wait to be back several times in 2024!
Enjoy yourselves! Remember that each engagement is unique, and the most important thing is to have fun with the process and savor this special time with your partner. Happy wedding planning!
Love the look of a white dress for your engagement photos or your bridesmaids? Check out 10 Little White Dresses Under $300 and these bridesmaid dresses.
