Congratulations! You’re engaged! We’re SO happy for you.
And now that you’ve got the bling, we’re sure you want to begin planning immediately.
So… what’s first? Well, you have to set a budget.
First, determine the total dollar amount you or our parents are willing to spend and then break it down even more by how you are planning to spend it. Our budgeting tool can help with that! (And don’t forget to discuss the honeymoon and rehearsal dinner bugets, too, with your fiancé!)
HINT: You’ll want to spend the largest portions on the things that are most important to you. Photography, for example, is one of the only things that lasts long after the big day. You’ll likely want to spend enough to ensure you have wedding photos you’ll cherish for years to come. The venues, the flowers/decor, and don’t forget the gown—all of these are tops on most brides’ lists. But, this is YOUR day. How do you want to spend your wedding funds?
And no matter what your total budget is, be sure to research ways to save money. There are so many ways to save without compromising the look you want. The following Arkansas Bride articles are full of ideas:
- 8 Tips to Create Custom Wedding Invites on the Cheap
- Arkansas Wedding Cakes on a Budget: 3 Easy Ways to Save
- 5 Ways to Save Your Bridesmaids Money
- Wedding Catering Guidelines for Every Budget
- 6 Ways to Recession Proof Your Wedding
You should also go ahead and…
- Announce your engagement. We feature engagement announcements on our blog daily, and we’ll gladly feature yours too! Send an engagement photo (or two or three) using our easy, online Engagement Submissions Form.
- Research photography. All wedding photos are not created equally. Determine the type of wedding photos that you want by getting inspired in our galleries of Photographer Favorites and Real Weddings.
- LIKE us on Facebook and Pinterest – and follow us on Twitter and Instagram! We’ll keep you in the loop about all things weddings in Arkansas, and keep you inspired with great ideas, expert advice, trends, and more!
For the coming months: