You Just Got Engaged - Now What? 8 Wedding Planning Tasks You Must Do Right Now
June 23, 2020
Pop the champagne - you just got engaged to the love of your life! Now, time to embark on the initial stages of wedding planning...
If you just said "yes" to a lifetime with your partner or even popped the question yourself, reality is probably starting to sink in that planning a wedding during the coronavirus pandemic might come with a few difficulties. The impact of COVID-19 on the wedding industry has been huge - from wedding venues shutting down completely to limited appointment availability at your favorite boutiques - we understand that it can feel daunting tackling the wedding of your dreams at a time that feels totally uncertain.
But there's no need to stress - we've rounded up a short list of tasks that you can easily complete from the comfort of your home because we want to make sure that not even the coronavirus can keep your dream wedding at a standstill.
1. Decide on the type of wedding you want to have.
Traditional, micro wedding, minimony - the options are plentiful and a great first step you can take to planning your wedding is deciding how you want it to function. If you're looking to throw your wedding celebration ASAP, consider having a micro wedding with a smaller guest list or a minimony that allows you to say your "I do"s now and a large celebration with everyone you love later. If you don't mind waiting out the storm that is COVID-19, now is a great time to begin planning your large-scale traditional ceremony since there will be a lot of ground for you to cover. Once you know the size and structure of your wedding, you'll be in good shape to take on the other tasks in this list.
2. Create your guest list.
Once you've decided on the size of your wedding, you can begin planning out your guest list. Take it slow and make sure you include everyone that you want to see you tie the knot, and if you want to be extra careful, double-check your Facebook friends to make sure you haven't forgotten to add someone to your guest list. Don't want any drama with your 2nd cousin twice removed now, do we?
3. Start filling up your inspo board.
Half the fun of planning a wedding is getting to look at other gorgeous ceremonies for inspiration! Start browsing Pinterest for ideas now so that you have a good understanding of what to plan for in the future. If you're a beach bride, pin all those flowy wedding dresses and bright floral arrangements, and if you're a city bride with a large-scale event on the mind, start going after seating arrangements and altar decor.
4. Hire a wedding planner.
If it's in your budget, consider hiring a wedding planner to help you navigate planning your event from home. This is a great time to get really thorough with your search since you have extra time on your hands. Interview a few that you've had your eyes on, and don't be afraid to be picky about what you're looking for! Finding a wedding planner that understands your vision and is passionate about seeing it through is truly priceless.
5. Get to work on your invitations.
Whether you want to take a stab at creating your own or looking to hire someone to make them handmade, getting a head-start on your invitations will ease up the weight of the wedding planning stress. There are tons of different designers on Etsy looking to create the handwritten invitations you've always adored, so start browsing and make sure to favorite whatever catches your eye! Or if you're going the non-traditional route, you can always look to hire someone to make e-vites that feel just as special as the real deal.
6. Build your wedding website.
Wedding websites are the new norm, especially during COVID-19. They're the easiest way to make sure your guests stay up to date on the details of your event, even if there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the date and time. It's also just a cute way to get excited about your "I do" moment that's soon to come!
7. Fill up your registry.
Noticed that you've been missing a cozy pair of house shoes with all this extra time at home? Or did you realize that you don't have a dutch oven for all of those fancy recipes you've been dying to try out? Add it all to your registry! If the coronavirus gave us one thing, it's that there's plenty of time for online shopping.
8. Check in with each other.
The most important task of all - take care of each other! The coronavirus is proving to be an especially stressful time for couples getting married and to top it off with the added strain of wedding planning can create an emotional storm. Practice self-care and spend quality time with each other, whether that means planning out at-home date nights or doing little things like taking the time to go on walks together. As long as you and your partner have each other's backs, you'll make it through this.