Getting engaged is one of the most exciting moments of your life—and once the ring is on your finger, the questions start rolling in fast. What’s the first thing we should do? Where do we even begin? Wedding planning can feel overwhelming before it ever feels fun, which is why knowing the right first steps makes all the difference. Before you dive into decisions and details, here’s a simple, stress-free roadmap to help you start planning with confidence.

Step 1: Take it all in

Before you jump into the Pinterest boards, to do lists and research make sure you enjoy the moment! This is such an exciting time and you truly deserve to bask in the love and joy that you are surrounded by. This is such a special season of your life and one that you will want to remember forever. So pop the champagne and feel all the feels!!

Step 2: Dollars before details

We know this is not the most exciting part of the wedding process, but it is one of the most important. Every great wedding starts with a budget. Having this conversation early on will save you stress and headaches down the road. So sit down with your partner and/or anyone else who will be contributing to your wedding financially and talk about the numbers.

Step 3: Who makes the cut?

While it doesn’t need to be set in stone, creating a rough guest list early on will make the initial steps of planning so much smoother. Start by listing the people you have to invite and those you would like to invite. This will give you a rough guest count as you begin planning and touring venues. While a “have to” and “would like” list may sound a bit cutthroat, it will make downsizing much easier if needed for budget or other logistical reasons.

Step 4: Where in the world is your wedding?

Now that you have a rough budget and headcount, where are we headed? Are you thinking of staying local to you, a destination wedding in the United States, or heading overseas? For some, this may be an easy answer, and for others, it may take a bit more thinking and research. Look into what feels the most you and where you see your perfect day happening. We hear the Smoky Mountains are a pretty stunning place to get married. 😉

Step 5: Finding your wedding team

It’s time to build the dream team! Once you have the who, where, and when, start those venue tours and reach out to other vendors! The date, venue, and rough guest count will be important in getting contracts for catering and bar, so the venue is a great first thing to secure. Then you can contact other vendors such as music, photography, videography, florist, dessert, officiant, hair, makeup, rentals, etc. If you’d rather sip champagne than send vendor emails, our planning team is ready when you are.

Engaged This Season? Here’s What To Do First!