Whether it happens surrounded by family on Turkey Day, under the lights of a Christmas tree, as the clock strikes midnight on 1/31, or during a romantic dinner on February 14, one thing is clear: 'tis the season for marriage proposals. In fact,
according to The Knot, 40 percent of couples get engaged between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day.
So the ring has been presented, the recipient says yes, the lovers embrace and then...what? Well, the number one thing is to enjoy the moment, at least for a little while.
Then, here are five other things to do next that will help alleviate some of the stress that often comes with planning a wedding. 1. Set a budget. If you know what your budget is before you start planning, it will make things easier because you can automatically rule out certain venues and other big-ticket expenses before you look at them and fall in love.
2. Consider hiring a wedding planner. It might sound like a luxury, but think of it as an investment -- and one that could save you time (and your sanity) throughout the whole process.
Glamour Magazine has a good article on 4 Great Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner.
3. Create a wedding website or blog. Thanks to the digital age, it's easier than ever to make sure all of your family and friends are "in" on the good news...and connected to all the details (like where you're registered).
The Knot specializes in making the whole process a breeze -- and it offers lots of additional tools to help in the planning.
4. Register. This doesn't have to be a chore -- remember, it's supposed to be fun. Here's a good article on
how to set up a wedding registry and tips to keep in mind.
5. Do something fun as a couple. This might mean taking ballroom dancing lessons. Or tasting wedding cakes together. Or spending a few hours brainstorming honeymoon ideas. While these might not seem like "essential" we-must-do-these-right-now sorts of items, the point is they're low-stress FUN things that allow for much-needed couple time (which is the whole reason you got engaged in the first place, right?).
So when should you book your wedding transportation? At
Accent, we see everything from a year before the big date to a month before. While those are the extremes, we recommend booking four to five months out, especially if your wedding date is scheduled during busy times (which includes summer, but also months like October, which some people don't realize).
Our
wedding specialist will guide you on what you need to know and will help customize a package that works for you. If you or someone you know just got engaged, be sure to keep this newsletter handy (or forward it to a friend) and then contact us when you're ready to talk wedding limousines.