5 Things to Do Early On in Your Engagement

You just got engaged! Congratulations! While you may be itching to jump right into wedding planning mode, there are a few things it's important to do early on in your engagement that will set you (and your future spouse!) up for success. Read on for 5 things to do within the first few months of being engaged.

1. Get to know each other's financial situation.

This is an important conversation to have early on, as it will lay the groundwork for making future financial decisions together. Do you have student loans? Credit card debt? What's your credit score? How much savings do you have? Talk about your individual financial situations openly and honestly with each other so that there are no surprises down the road. Knowing what your financial situation is like will help answer some critical questions regarding your budget for your wedding.

2. Set some ground rules for wedding planning.

It's important to be on the same page from the get-go when it comes to wedding planning. Will you be DIY-ing everything or hiring out all of the vendors? How involved do you want your families to be in the process? Do you want a small intimate wedding or are you inviting every friend you’ve ever had? Do you want to have a wedding locally or a destination wedding? Answering these questions early on will save a lot of headache later.

3. Figure out your budget.

Wedding costs can quickly add up, so it's crucial to identify how much you're comfortable spending early on in the process. Once you have a number in mind, you can start looking at venues, caterers, and other vendors that fit within your budget. This will save a lot of time (and heartache!) later down the road when you're not falling in love with venues that are way out of your price range.

4. Decide on a date (or at least a season).

If you're set on getting married at a specific venue or during a certain time of year, then it's important to lock down a date as soon as possible so that you don't miss out on your dream location. If you're not as concerned about the specifics, then deciding on a season (winter, spring, summer, fall) is still helpful so that you have a general idea of what kind of dresses/tuxes/flowers you'll need and can start looking at potential dates that work with everyone's schedules.

5. Start thinking about guest list logistics.

Do you want a small intimate affair or a huge party with 200+ people? Knowing approximately how many guests you'll be inviting will help immensely when booking venues and ordering food/drinks. It's also helpful to start thinking about who will be invited from each side of the family so that no one feels left out or insulted down the road. Having this conversation early ensures that everyone is on the same page and helps avoid any hurt feelings further down the line.

There are definitely more than 5 things couples should do once they get engaged but these 5 items are a great place to start! Getting conversations around finances and wedding planning out of the way early will help set expectations for both partners and ensure that everyone is happy and excited for the big day!

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