How can I start planning a wedding without being able to set the date yet?

Question

I became engaged to my boyfriend of 2 and a half years a few months ago. However we are both in college and my fiance wont set a date until he is sure when we are graduating. (we have about 2 years left.) I am excited and want to start planning anything and everything. I just am not sure what I can do besides dream and work towards graduation. If anyone has any ideas Id appreciate them....

I became engaged to my boyfriend of 2 and a half years a few months ago. However we are both in college and my fiance wont set a date until he is sure when we are graduating. (we have about 2 years left.) I understand with where he is coming from and agree that we should wait until we are graduated. I am just excited and want to start planning for it. I just am not sure what I can do besides dream and work towards graduation. If anyone has any ideas Id appreciate them....

Answer 1

There's nothing wrong with planning early; that way, when it comes time to book your venues and get everything together, you'll have a good idea of what you want and may even have the whole thing planned out - the only thing left to do will be the deposit. And, if you're fiancee is anything like mine, he'll appreciate it!

To get started planning, think of where you would like to have the ceremony and reception (I'm having both at a restaurant in our city). Go in and ask to see their banquet rooms and ask for prices - just keep in mind that they may change in 2 years (I suggest fibbing about the date and telling them you're getting married in a year. They may not want to disclose prices otherwise). At least you'll have an idea of what the rates are and of how much to save up.

You can also plan out what favors you'll be handing out, who you'll want to invite, ect.

My wedding isn't for another year and a half, and I've already spoken to a few sites, decided where the ceremony and reception will be, where we're getting the invitations from (VistaPrint.com) and I've even ordered my dress (it was on clearance at illuna-fashion.com). That's the best part about planning ahead - you can catch some good sales.

Don't forget - if you'd rather not talk to a site or caterer in person, there's always email. I made inquiries about a few dresses this way using dessy.com and alfredsungdresses.com.

Answer 2

Hello!!
My fiance and I got engaged a couple weeks into our second semester of college. We figured taking 4 years would put us at graduating this coming may. So we set our date for this coming July. That'll be 3 and a half years after we got engaged b/c like your fiance mine wanted to finish school first. We've both worked really had to be done by may so we didn't have to move our date. I finshed a semester early and he fit his 5 year program into 4 years. We've been planning all along. Start with simple things at first. Do you what want a theme? What colors are you going to use? Do you want a large wedding or a small one? Are you going to have it locally or elsewhere? What time of day would you like? Look up dresses for you and your bridesmaids online. Research venues in the area you decide on so when time comes to visit them and book one you have an idea of what ones you want to go see. Check out websites for photographers in your area~this really helped to narrow down which ones to visit. This about favors and centerpieces. Make a rough guest list to give you an idea of how many people you'll be inviting. You can look at invitations online.
So, even though you don't have a definate date there is alot of stuff you can start looking into.

Answer 3

Oh no, honey, don't start planning yet. That's a long ways off, and things might change a lot by then (like your budget, for example). Think a little bit about what you'd like, but for now just focus on your studies and getting through THIS stage of your life before devoting all your energy to your wedding. Besides, there's not too much you can do now. Just enjoy being engaged! It's a great time, and not many couples fully enjoy it before moving into total planning mode.

But I do have one bit of advice. DO NOT, and I repeat, DO NOT, ask anyone to be in the bridal party yet! It is highly likely that the people who are close to you now will not be your ideal choices in two years, but then it will be too late to take back the invitation to stand up in your wedding. Of all the changes you will go through as you finish college, the people in your life will be one of the biggest.

Answer 4

It's great to be excited, but it is even greater to be practical.

Although you won't be able to book the hall until you have a firm date, you can definitely decide on colors you may like! You can always start checking out bridal magazines for possible dress styles for you and your wedding party. How about looking at different cake or flower ideas? Having as many things decided upon makes the actual planning and paying part much easier.

You can also start looking at how much things will cost--this will help you budget for when you actually set that date.

Answer 5

So, you had a lapse in judgment and forgot to make your date completely prevalent to all people, it occurs. considering you have already placed money, non refundable at that, down on an area and your wedding ceremony making plans is lots greater stepped forward then this different couple, you're interior the wonderful. you do no longer could cancel YOUR plans for somebody else who seems to have despatched the "save the date" card on a whim and a wish that her engagement will bring about a marriage. it style of feels like it fairly is being thrown mutually awful without postpone to be hassle-free. in case you and your Fiance stand company in protecting your date mutually, then each thing could artwork out purely effective. save going including your making plans, it is going to artwork out the way you elect it. If the different couple makes a decision to stay company too and have their wedding ceremony on that date besides....you will purely have much less drama/value at your wedding ceremony and interior the long term, the fewer people you have interfering on your existence, the greater efficient. confident, it will harm to have specific people no longer attend your wedding ceremony, yet those people probably are not well worth having on your existence besides. Be stable, do no longer go into opposite, you're interior the wonderful! Congratulations on your up coming wedding ceremony!!

Answer 6

Go to web sites or get wedding planner books/magazines. Then, start following the "timeline" just at a little slower pace. You will be surprised how much time it actually takes to plan a wedding with the least amount of stress. I almost wish I had taken two years to plan. Just a note, whatever you do, DON'T SKIMP ON PHOTOGRAPHY! This is really the only memory you will have of your big day, because when it gets here, it's all a blur that is over way too fast. CONGRATULATIONS!

Answer 7

You can start planning on what kind of wedding you want - garden, banquet hall, ballroom, small reception, big reception, religious, non-religious.

Plan on the number of people attending, 100+, 200+ etc

I religious, check out what requirements need to be met, many times it takes a while (to convert if needed).

Local or destination wedding?

You can check out some vendors but prices go up at least $1000 each year.

You can also start by getting a joint savings account you both can deposit money into, so by the time you do have a date you have money available for deposits and more.

**Dont pick the color or bridal party - you might change ur mind

Answer 8

There is plenty you can do! Believe me, my wedding is just under 3 months away and there is a ton to do!

Start by figuring out your budget... who will be contributing to your wedding? Start a guest list... you can't do anything without it. When it is time to book a reception hall you need to make sure it can fit your number of guest and fit your budget..

Start thinking of colors, flowers, do you want a photographer/videographer, etc. And start researching these vendors... by being able to take your time and REALLY research well, you may save some big bucks.

I highly suggest you join http://www.theknot.com They will set you up with a great planner, as well as a checklist, guestlist etc. You can look at dresses, honeymoons, just about anything and save things you like it your online notebook. I have found it to be REALLY helpful!

Good luck and if you ever need any help just send me a message.

Answer 9

You can go to websites like www.weddingchannel.com or www.theknot.com and get ideas for decor, flower arrangements, etc but you can't book anything without a date...just relax and take a deep breath!! No need to rush everything! You'll be fine once the time comes...just know that most places won't book more than 1 year in advance, so you have PLENTY of time!

Answer 10

there really isnt anything to plan if he wants to graduate first. everything might change in the next couple years: prices, graduation dates (you never know what may happen), pregnancy (hey, it could happen). id say wait until about a year before then start getting everything in order. and thats a year before the wedding not a year before graduating. you cant really do anything without a date. flowers may not be in season, the material of your dress may change (you'l want a lighter dress material for summer and a heavier one for winter (my mom works as a bridal consultant. i know what im taking about, lol). bridesmaid dresses also may depend on the weather. take your time. being engaged a coulple more years wont hurt anything about your wedding day. i know its exciting. i just got engaged in june on my 2 year anniversary of being together. our wedding is planned for August next year and i just started getting things in order in september this year.