You’re engaged – now what?

You’re engaged – now what?

If you are here – you are more than likely recently engaged. Let us start by saying a big congratulations to saying “I do” to the love of your life! This is one of the happiest times in your life, take a moment to soak it all in.

When you share this news with family and friends you will find one of their first questions is “have you set a date yet?” For the newly engaged couple – this can be a daunting question and not one that you have to answer straight away! It takes time to plan the day of your dreams and with so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. 

We have worked with the Head Planner and wedding day extraordinaire Natalia Roldan at Punta Cana Weddings to put together this guide to help you plan what to do next after getting engaged and how to actually start planning your wedding day. 

Take time to soak up being engaged

This is one of the most important and joyous moments in your life. Make sure both you and your partner take time to soak it all in and enjoy the celebrations. You will feel wrapped in love by your family and friends at this time, it’s not a time to rush, take time to relax and enjoy this moment.

Choose the destination

One of the most exciting yet big decisions to make is where you will get married. It can be helpful for both you and your partner to write down a list of “dream destinations” where you’ve always wanted to get married. Once you’ve decided on the destination – you can then start to research the venues that are available. 

Pick a wedding month/date

Before you start researching and reaching out to venues, it’s important to pick a month or date that works for both you and your partner. We say month as well as date because the date you are after isn’t always available so it’s good to have a back-up option. Our general rule of thumb is to give yourself at least one year to plan your wedding. While it sounds like a long time – you will be surprised at how long it takes to pull all of the details together and you don’t want to feel rushed.

Making a wedding budget

Ah, the B-word – budget! While making a wedding budget might sound boring to some – it’s a super useful tool to ensure that you stay within your financial means and the wedding doesn’t become a financial burden. Having a budget ready prior to planning the wedding means that you know what you can and can’t afford. Depending on the prices and quotes you receive from your venue and vendors – you may decide to spend less in one area and more on another – depending on what part of the wedding means the most to you. Just remember that your dream wedding can be achieved on any budget with the right wedding planner and team!

Draft your wedding guest list

Having a rough estimate of your guest list will help you choose the right venue for your big day. Create a guest list of who you would like to participate in the day and who you would like to witness the union of your love. It’s important to invite people who you know are going to enhance your day and celebrate both you and your partner.

Start researching and enquire at your dream wedding venue

Once all of the above details are in place – it’s time to start researching and enquiring with venues (the fun part!) Most venues will have a website with an enquiry form that you can fill out and a team member will be in touch with you. Start by contacting your top 3 venues to compare their packages and prices. Pro tip: It’s just as important to love your venue as it is to connect with the people who work there. Always have an initial consultation with the venue and get to know the team you will be working with up until and on the big day. It’s important that your wedding team and venue match you and your partner’s energy and you feel like they are going to support you right from the very start. Once you’ve picked your venue, met with the team and signed your contract/paid a deposit you can start thinking about the style and decor of the day.

Look for wedding inspiration and refine your style

Pinterest is a great place to start! Start by creating a mood board where you can save wedding inspiration and ideas too. A Pinterest board is a great tool as not only can you and your partner add to it and view it separately – you can share this board with your wedding planner. This allows them to get an understanding of the aesthetic and mood that you like. Ideas to add to your Pinterest board include everything from the wedding dress, florals, ceremony and reception set ups, styling and decor ideas  and whatever else grabs your eye. The more ideas = the better!

You can view the Punta Cana Wedding Pinterest board here.

Research and hire the rest of your wedding vendors

Once you have secured the venue and paid your deposit – it’s time to start thinking about the other vendors who you would like to have involved in your wedding day. This includes everyone from photographers, videographers, celebrants, makeup and hair stylists and musicians for example. Natalia Roldan has over 16 years of experience planning weddings and has strong relationships with local vendors in the Punta Cana region. While Punta Cana Weddings offers an in-house wedding coordination and planning service they work hand in hand with other vendors and all vendors are welcome at the venue.

Relax and have fun!

Once planning is in full swing – make sure you and your partner take time away from the planning process otherwise it can become all-consuming! Make sure you have a date night where you do an activity not related to the wedding and enjoy each other’s company. At the end of the day – the most important part of your wedding is the person you are marrying. 

To find out more about destination weddings at Punta Cana Wedding by Natalia Roldan visit the website here. For more wedding inspiration and wedding tips to help you plan the day of your dreams – follow us on Instagram here.