You just got engaged (cue the happy tears, champagne toasts, and ring selfies), and now you’re wondering… where the heck do we even start planning this thing?!

First of all: breathe. Wedding planning can feel like a lot, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you're dreaming of an elegant estate celebration, a desert-chic soirée, or a black-tie ballroom moment, I’ve got you covered.

So… where do you begin?
You already know what I’m going to say—it depends. On your budget, your priorities, your guest count, and the kind of experience you want. But don’t worry, I’ll walk you through the first key steps below.

✨ Step 1: Have the Big Conversations First

Before you book anything, you and your partner (and maybe key family members) need to be on the same page about:

💸 Budget: Who’s contributing? What’s your overall spend limit? Are you saving up or paying in stages?
🎯 Priorities: Is the vibe the most important thing? Do you care more about the food or the flowers? Is a live band non-negotiable?
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Guest Count: Are we talking 50 people or 250? The headcount affects everything—venue options, catering, rentals, budget, and more.
🕊️ Location + Vibe: Do you want to stay local, go destination, or find a venue with built-in views and character?

These conversations lay the foundation for everything else. Skipping them = stress later.

🏛️ Step 2: Choose a Planning Route

Are you hiring a full-service planner (hi 👋), doing it yourself, or somewhere in between?

Full-Service Planner: Start here if you want a true partner to design, plan, and manage it all with you.
Partial Planning or Coordination: Great if you’ve started but need help tying it all together.
DIY All the Way: Totally doable—just know it’s a LOT of hours and decision-making. You’ll want a checklist and timeline ASAP.

✨ At Emerald Grace, we help you figure out what level of support is best based on your goals—not just your to-do list.

🏛️ Step 3: Secure the Venue

Once you know your budget, guest count, and overall vision, venue shopping comes next.

Why? Because:

It locks in your date
Determines your vendor availability
Sets the tone for the overall style of your wedding

Hot tip: Book your venue 9–15 months in advance if possible. Especially if you're eyeing a popular space or a peak season date.

Inquire Here

🎨 Step 4: Build Your Dream Vendor Team

Next up: your wedding MVPs.

Start with your top 3:

Planner or Coordinator
Venue
Photographer or Videographer

Then layer in:

Caterer
Florist
Entertainment (DJ/Band)
Hair + Makeup
Rentals + Décor
Stationer
Officiant

✨ Pro Tip: Book your high-demand vendors first, then work down your list based on priority and availability.

🪞 Step 5: Create Your Vision

This is the fun part! Start a mood board (Pinterest, Google Drive, Canva—whatever floats your creative boat). Think about:

Colors + textures
Ceremony and reception flow
Style keywords (classic, boho, editorial, romantic, modern)
Signature details that reflect YOU

But don’t get stuck in inspo-land. A wedding planner will help you turn ideas into actual plans—with intention and clarity.

📆 Step 6: Build a Planning Timeline

Spoiler alert: wedding planning is a marathon, not a sprint.

You don’t have to do everything at once. A solid planning timeline helps break it down into manageable, month-by-month tasks—so you're not panicking 3 months out.

✨ Need one? I’ll happily share a custom timeline with all my couples (and yep, I include buffer time and sanity breaks!).

💬 Final Thoughts: You Don't Have to Do It Alone

Planning your wedding is a big deal—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start with the foundational pieces: budget, priorities, guest count, location, and planning support. From there, the rest will start to fall into place.

And remember: as always, it depends. Your wedding is unique. Your planning path should be too.

💌 Ready to Begin?

If you’re recently engaged and wondering where to start, I’d love to be a part of that journey. Whether you’re looking for design guidance, vendor magic, or full planning support, Emerald Grace is here to help you build a wedding day that feels like you—only elevated.

✨ Let’s plan something stunning together. Inquire here or connect with me via [email/contact] and let’s start with step one, together.