5 Tips for Newly Engaged Couples

I’ve been engaged for almost six months now, and the wedding planning process has been exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Planning a wedding is no small task! I’ve learned so much in this short amount of time, so I wanted to share a few things that I feel will be helpful for those who may have recently gotten engaged or who are thinking about getting married.1. Get help immediately!It’s important to have help when planning your wedding. Hire a coordinator, planner and/or director who can assist you on that special day and the months leading up to it. Coordinators and directors are an essential part of the wedding planning process. They help you secure vendors for your wedding while helping to carry out the overall vision you have for your day.2. Set a date and secure a venue.Getting engaged is an exciting time, so live in the moment! After all, experiences like this don’t happen too often. Shortly after, however, maybe a few days or a few weeks, start to zero in on the date that’s best for you and your fiancé. If you’re like me and you already had/have a date in mind, go ahead and share it with your immediate family and close friends to make sure everyone’s schedules are clear. Also, you’ll want to know your date when visiting different venues. It’s important to make sure that the venue you want is available for your special day. Venues get booked fast, sometimes over a year out, so have all the venues you’re considering hold your date until you make your final decision.3. Be decisive.It’s so important to know what you want when it comes to your wedding, and that means all aspects. Things get checked off the list much faster when you have an idea of what you want. Think about how many people you want at your wedding, what you want your theme to be, what type of chairs and linens you want, other décor, attire, hair, makeup, etc. Believe me, the list goes on and on! I struggled when it came time to select a venue. I researched online, but only went to see three. One I was certain I didn’t want but I was torn between the last two. I just couldn’t decide for quite some time. This caused stress and delayed the process (to a certain extent) of getting some things done. Fortunately, after much prayer, I was able to make a decision that I’m 100% happy with. Since then, things have been smooth sailing!4. Want to get in shape? Start ASAP!I don’t know a single woman who doesn’t want to loose a few pounds before they walk down the aisle. Take my advice and start early! Give yourself ample time to get in shape. Oftentimes, starting is the hardest part. I know the struggle has been real for me, as I’ve started and fallen off the bandwagon a few times. Fortunately, I have just under a year left until I get married, so all hope is not lost for me to get rid of some of this fat and get in the best shape possible!5. Save! Save! Save!We all know that weddings can be very expensive. Figure out what your budget is and try your best to stick to it. It’s important to cut out any unnecessary spending. I’ve cut out a lot of shopping this year to help keep more money in my pockets. I love eating out, but it’s expensive, so I’m really trying to improve in that area as well. Everything wedding related adds up, so it’s best to save as much money as you can.Can you think of any more tips that may be helpful for newly engaged couples? Let me know in the comments below!