Getting engaged has got to be one of the most special moments in our lives, but a lot of the time we get so caught up in the excitement that we find ourselves asking…. What’s next?
Once you’ve admired that ring, taken a selfie, and told the world on social media, it’s time to start planning for the biggest day of your life! We’ve listed the top 5 things that every engaged couple needs to do as soon as possible to prepare for the wedding of their dreams.
Read our article for couples who just got newly engaged for a more in-depth look.
First things first – the date. While it’s not a must that you pick your wedding date straight after getting engaged, it’s crucial that you start considering when you want to say ‘I do!’. This could be as simple as locking in a timeline of 12-18 months, or a time of year that you’ve always dreamed of – did someone say Winter Wonderland wedding? This is a great place to start and will help to narrow down your venue choices too!
Read more in our wedding planning checklist.
Between the dream dress or suit, the beautiful blooms and the free-flowing cocktails and the location a wedding can certainly add up quickly and without you realising. Sitting down together at the beginning of your wedding planning and discussing a realistic budget will be one of the most important parts of your journey, even if it’s not the most fun conversation to have. This is where you can highlight where your priorities lie, e.g. what are the top 3 most important things you want to splurge on for your wedding, and where can you cut back? And if you’re like us and you struggle to make decisions like these, that’s where a wedding planning package like the amazing ones offered by Nudo can come in handy! Nudo packages bring together an experienced (& fabulous) wedding planner, world-class suppliers and the venue of your dreams to create the most stress-free, organised day of your life without you having to lift a finger!
Before you can go any further in your planning, it’s important that you and your fiancé get on the same page about the size of your wedding. The length of the guest list is going to impact which venue you ultimately choose, and it’s always good to start ironing out these details early. There’s no worse feeling than falling in love with a venue that can only hold 100 guests when your guest list is pushing a non-negotiable 200, so begin by deciding if you are looking at an intimate celebration with just your nearest and dearest, or are wanting to dance the night away with guests aplenty! This is also a good time to decide your stance on plus ones, children, and those family members you may not have seen in years.
Now for the fun part – the venue! This is ultimately one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as an engaged couple, and you want to ensure that your dream venue ticks all of the boxes. A great place to start is by deciding what your ideal vibe and aesthetic for your day is, as there’s truly a venue to suit them all! Perhaps you’re looking for a modern, blank canvas venue you can make your own (Hello, The Wool Mill!), or you’re wanting something more romantic, rustic and warm (cue Gather & Tailor). It’s all about choosing a venue that aligns with your vision for the day and will allow all of your Pinterest dreams to come true! We may be biased, but the team at Nudo have created 4 of the most magical venues in Melbourne , ready to cater to all of your wedding day needs.
You’ll then want to consider other factors such as the location, capacity, and wheelchair accessibility to ensure all of your guests have the smoothest experience possible. Take some time to go through all of the venue inclusions too, finding out whether they allow for external catering or have a preferred in house caterer, if they provide tables, chairs and linens, and take into account any minimum spends that may need to be met.
After countless hours of research, creating excel spreadsheets that have made you cross-eyed, exploring venues, and emailing vendors, it’s now time to lock in your dream venue! With the biggest part of your day decided and a date locked in, this means you can finally sit down, take a breather and maybe pop a bottle of bubbly to celebrate- you did it! It’s time to focus on the fun stuff now, like saying yes to a dress, tasting mountains of wedding cake to find the perfect flavour, and creating Pinterest boards that capture your dream floral vision! Through it all, just remember that your wedding day is all about making your dreams come true, no one else’s. Enjoy the ride of being engaged and get excited to get hitched to the love of your life!!
Nudo is a wedding planning service based in Melbourne that looks at weddings a little differently. With a complete collection of the best vendors in Melbourne under their roof, they offer thoughtfully crafted, complete wedding packages for couples who love the creative, but hate the logistics. From a wedding planner, to design team, florist, photographer, celebrant, cake, DJ and even transport – Nudo offers everything you need for an incredible wedding, without the stress. Completely customisable, couples can add or remove as many of the vendors as they need.
If you’re looking for a wedding planner in Melbourne and would love a team of dreamers and doers on your side to guide you through the journey step by step, drinking glasses of bubbles, and making wedding planning fun, then contact us to learn more.
