The love of your life has popped the question – and so begins a whirlwind of joy, love, and congratulations. But what happens next? Before throwing yourself headlong into perfect centerpieces and seating charts, take a minute. Now breathe.

Here are a few pieces of unsolicited advice (don’t worry, there’s plenty more coming from everyone you know) for our newly engaged couples out there:

1)    Enjoy your engagement – what’s the rush? Enjoy the journey to the altar as much as the actual day of the wedding. Love, like life, happens in its own time and in its own way. Be patient and be present in the process.

2)    Set a budget and mean it – know what you’re willing to spend and prioritize. What’s most important to you? Food? Photos? Music? Focus your budget on the aspects that are significant for you and your soon-to-be spouse. There are a lot of little things that all add up, so consider creating a budget spreadsheet to help visualize your spending.

3)    Make choices that speak to you – try to remember that you can’t please everyone, so make sure you and your partner are happy with your choices. Forget tradition (or not), and all of those details that you are agonizing over? Be assured that they do matter. The wedding day should be a celebration of the love you share with your fiancé and not about impressing your friends or one-upping that always critical cousin.

4)    Think about your guest list – small and intimate? Everyone you know and then some? Ultimately that choice is up to you and your fiancé, but choose wisely – the number of guests directly effects your budget (the higher the head count, the higher the price tag).

5)    Consider hiring a planner – Not many people go into planning their wedding knowing exactly what to do, and that’s where a good planner can step in! Spend your time celebrating instead of stressing and allow someone else to help guide you through the wedding planning process. If you don’t want assistance in the planning process, you can also consider a day-of coordinator to manage your vendors and such so you don’t have to! Keep your focus where it belongs – on enjoying time with family and friends in celebration of your love and commitment to another person.

6)    Stay Organized – If a wedding planner is not part of the budget, make sure you stay organized with to do lists detailing what needs your attention and any important deadlines. You might want to consider an app like Asana that keeps your to-do list,  and allows you to assign due dates and deadlines to keep things on track.

7)    Find vendors you trust – and listen to them. Experienced vendors have a lot of insight and can help you navigate tricky situations on everything from budget to selecting other vendors. They’re there to help make your wedding everything you and your partner are hoping for, and most are happy to offer suggestions or guidance when asked.

8)    Don’t procrastinate – people book up early, so allow enough time to make sure you get the venue and vendors you love. Photographers can be booked up for popular dates well over a year in advance, so if you see someone whose work makes you swoon, book early!

9)    Communication is key! Don’t forget a wedding is for two people, and it isn’t just YOUR wedding. So please don’t forget to keep on nurturing the love you two have built together. Weddings are beautiful and wonderful and amazing events, but with that comes a surprising amount of responsibility, time consuming tasks, and stress. Which leads me to #10…

10) Be present – take time every chance you get to be truly present with your soon-to-be-spouse (sans wedding planning pressure). Remember to celebrate each other, even in small ways, to keep the romance blooming. Stress can bring out the absolute worst in people, so be kind to each other, and work together to build a beautiful wedding and a bright future together.

Wishing you happy wedding planning, peace, and a lifetime of love and happiness in your partner.

Interested in working with Brian Anthony Photography for your wedding day? Click the link below to contact us today!