CONGRATULATIONS — You’re engaged!!!
He finally asked, and you screamed YES! You call your family, and then your friends to tell them the good news, you snap a picture of that gorgeous rock and share it on Facebook for all the world to see.
Your head is swarming with ideas of engagement parties and wedding gowns, what girlfriends will be your bridesmaids and where you will go for your honeymoon.
And then it hits you ... Wow, there is a lot to do. Well, fear not you glowing bride-to-be, here are a few tips to help you plan and keep you sane:
Don’t get overwhelmed
If you were to ever go on The Knot and start their wedding checklist you just may cry and hyperventilate in fear when you see the mile long checklist of things to do before your big day.
My advice to you, don’t get overwhelmed. Your time as a newly engaged couple is the absolute best time of your life.
Slow down, take a breath and enjoy it.
Get together a group of friends and go over ideas, call that longtime best friend of yours and ask them to be your maid of honor. Don’t feel that this is all on you. You will have many great friends and family members just dying to jump in and help when you need it.
Let them.
This time in your life is all about making memories and as overwhelming as planning a wedding can be, you will look back and miss every moment of it once it’s over. So, enjoy it.
What type of wedding is best for you?
Being a wedding planner, I can definitely say with certainty that no two weddings are just alike.
Everyone has different wants, needs, budgets and styles. My advice to you is to decide what type of wedding best suits you and your fiance.
While an over-the-top ballroom reception covered in bling and crystal may be the wedding of your dreams, a simple laid back family ceremony on Destin's gorgeous white beaches may be just your style.
Your wedding is all about you.
Take a moment to discuss and decide just the two of you what best represents your style and go with it. The best thing about the gorgeous Emerald Coast is that there are wedding venues for every type of wedding style.
Cherish the moment
I can promise you both as a newlywed and as a planner that your wedding day will absolutely fly by. Be sure to cherish every second and take it all in.
Allow a minute after you say, “I Do” to have a private moment with your new spouse and bask in the glow of being Newlyweds.
It won’t be long until your being drug off for pictures, dancing, dinner and more. Your wedding planner will be the one to ensure you get this moment.
Oh, and you know that fancy, mouth watering, meal that you had tastings for and fell in love with?
Chances are, you won’t get to eat much. You will try with little success to sneak in bites in between the hugs, congratulations, and pictures during your reception.
Word to the wise, ask in advance for a pre-made to go box from your caterer so at the end of the night when you’re married, happy, and completely famished you get to dive in to that tasty food you dreamed about for months.
Be web-friendly
The web is your friend.
We have all grown to love Pinterest and The Knot for its endless amounts of inspiration but did you know that there are sites that can actually save you money for your big day?
Michael's now carries a line of invitations designed by Brides magazine that are available in multiple styles, colors, and are all around $40 or less for a box. Don’t forget there are weekly coupons offered at Michael's Crafts as well! This is an excellent way to get stylish invitations for a low price.
Also, Save-On-Crafts.com is a great site for the DIY bride and they carry everything you can think of for a stylish ceremony and reception.
Often buying your own items is much less expensive than renting them. Money well saved, money well spent!
Be budget conscious
Know your budget and know how to save.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we were all a Kardashian and had endless amounts of money to spend on our wedding day? Well, unless you are fabulously wealthy you are probably stressing over how much your dream wedding will cost. Here is a tip for you.
Research your vendors.
If there is one thing I tell all of my clients, it’s that for every vendor that is out there charging $4,000, I can list a number of vendors who do as good of a job (if not better) for half of that price.
Point being, shop around.
This is also where a wedding planner is a great tool. With a planner's connections and knowing the local market they are the ones who can point you in the direction of fabulous vendors who do great work and are more in line with your budget.
We also have an understanding with vendors we work with often and tend to get our clients a better deal than if you were to just call a vendor on your own.
Trust me, it really saves.
Just know, choosing the right vendors can literally save you thousands on your big day.
When you look at how much using a planner with their preferred vendors can save you, it’s like getting a planner almost for free not to mention it takes the stress out of your big day, so you can enjoy it.
Take it from me, you can have the wedding of your dreams and still be on a budget.
Kristi Martin Purvis can be contacted at 850-376-8272. For more information on Kiss the Bride Wedding & Event Planning visit their website at www.KisstheBrideDestin.com or their Facebook page at KisstheBrideWeddingsDestin.
Wedding planners interested in giving tips for EmeraldCoast.com should email amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com.
