You know a proposal is on the cards at some point but – being the serial organiser that you are – you’re just desperate to get one step ahead and start planning the wedding of your dreams. Well, while him physically getting down on one knee is a little out of your hands, there are still some preparations you can make for your big day before the engagement is strictly ‘official’!
The Budget
Much like any other substantial life investments, ascertaining a realistic budget is a critical starting point for wedding-planning as this will dictate a number of choices you make down the road. Since you’re already aware of the proposal in the pipeline, you and your partner have no doubt had many a deep, meaningful conversation about what the future holds for you both; so by all means continue these talks from a financial point of view and also reach out to your family to discover what funds might be available for your special day.
The Guest List
Disclaimer: in no way are we suggesting that you send out invitations to your wedding before your significant other has even popped the question. That would be asking for trouble! But there is certainly no harm in beginning to draw up a vague guest list to give you a rough idea of numbers and a sense of just how big your big day will be!
Beyond this, you should consider how mobile your guests are as this will significantly impact your choice of location. For instance, if a number of your loved ones are elderly or have little ones, you might want to think twice about that far-flung destination wedding!
The Venue
Unfortunately the most sought-after wedding venues can get booked up as many as 3 years in advance, particularly during the in-demand summer season. So if you do have a fairy-tale venue in mind, it would certainly be advisable to make contact sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment in the long run.
The Dress
You may well have had this part of your wedding sewn up since you were a Disney-loving little girl dreaming of her fairy-tale wedding to Prince Charming. But even if that’s not the case, it’s more than acceptable to browse bridal brochures galore without a ring on your finger to figure out what kind of wedding dress you might like. After all, this is the most important style item you will ever buy so it’s absolutely crucial you get it just right. Maybe just hold off on trying any dresses on at this point as that is a little premature, not to mention unlucky!
We hope this helps with the preparations! For any more advice, drop us an email at info@theoneromance.com.
Lucy, The One Romance
Photo credits: Petr Kratochvil, Buzzfeed, Charlie Kingsland-Barrow and burnettsboards.com
