What to do after getting engaged?

Question

I got engaged this weekend. We have set a date for 8 months from now. What is a list of things we need to do? What's first?
Thanks!

To answer Samm's questions...

1. We aren’t going to take marriage classes, neither of us is religious and have lived together for 2 years, neither of us have anything else to hide.

2. Like I said, we’ve lived together for 2 years (on our own)

3. No kids till we are older than 27. It’s one or none.

4. I will stay home with the kid when the time comes.

5. His family is like my family. We are very close and vise versa.

6. His friends are my friends and vice versa, we were friends before we started dating and were in the same group of friends too.

7. No, he isn’t a sports freak, he does play guitar. I support him with that because it’s his passion.

8. Neither of us have ever been religious.

9. We have a joint account and it has worked great for years.

10. I do most of the billing online, he makes sure we’ve paid the things that we cannot pay online. (Rent, PUD)

11. We’re pretty good with controlling the money and making sure we have money for bills before play.
12. Thanks
13 & 14. Our parents are paying for our wedding.

Also, we already have our honeymoon booked and paid for.

Answer 1

Get a Marriage License

Get Engagement pictures taken

Find a Pastor who will marry you

Find the place you want to get married and book it

Find your wedding dresses and Bridesmaids and grooms tuxes

Pick your colors


Pick your flowers

pick your wedding party

find a cater

find a cake you want

Find your honeymoon spot.

Find gifts for your Bridesmaids and groomsmen

pick the song you and your Fiance are going to dance to.

Answer 2

Congrats! First- tell your parents and tell your friends. Give your fiance a kiss. ENJOY!

Since you've already set the date, the first thing you should do before anything else, is talk to your parents (BOTH sets) and figure out a budget. Once you've got a budget, work on a list of guests. These two things will really set boundaries for everything else you need to do (place, food, cake, flowers, etc.).

There are lots of great websites out there with tools and checklists for the other stuff (theknot.com, weddingchannel.com, etc.), but remember that they are not tailored to you and you do not need to be limited by them or do everything they say to do. The most important thing you can do for your own sanity (an everyone else's) is to remember that your wedding is a celebration of your love and commitment to each other- everything else is extra.

Answer 3

First of all Congratulations on your engagement!!

First things first, reserve the church, chapel, or otherwise where you will have your ceremony. Reserve the reception hall. Reserve the music whether is be a live band or a DJ, make sure you have it done.

Pick your wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc). This way you know who you can count on to help you with the wedding stuff.

Everything else will follow and there's a lot of work to do, but I think I gave you a fairly good starting point and I'm sure others will give you more ideas.

Answer 4

Wow! Congrats! 8 months will come up on you fast. The first thing you should do is find a location for your wedding/reception and someone to marry you, those are usually the things to be booked first. Then focus on the things that are most important to you, (i.e. if you want your areas "hot" photographer or caterer, DJ, etc, book that next.) Don't wait more than 6 months to get your dress, mine took 5 months to come in. It just depends on the designer and the place you get your dress. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Congratulations! I just set mine for 11 months from now! But since you have a short engagement, you better start thinking fast! Remember, most places/people require you to book 6 months in advance.

~Reserve a place to have the wedding and reception! Most places require at least 6 months notice, some up to a year. Make your guest list so you know approx. how many ppl. Don't reserve a small place for 500 ppl or a huge place for 20 ppl.
~Start dress shopping. If you need to order a dress, it will take 3-6 months to get it in, depending on the store and designer. Plus you'll still need time for alterations.
~Decide who you want in your wedding party and ask them. Start looking for their clothing.
~Start thinking about a caterer. Taste test different catering businesses. Book them at least 6 months in advance.
~Start looking at decorations/invitations/cakes/etc.
~Start thinking about a DJ.
~Start planning a honeymoon.
~Ring shopping!!!!

Have a blast! Try out ideas you didn't think you'd like. You might be surprised. Ask advice from friends. I found a GREAT idea from my bridesmaid. She suggested Jones Soda with our picture on it.....which is perfect since we'll be Mr & Mrs Jones!

Answer 6

First, create a budget. Decide how much can be spent where. Then determine what the most important part of your wedding will be to you and Mr. Right. For example, if it's the reception begin looking for a hall that suits your needs and is within your budget. If it's the ceremony begin looking for the right church or chapel. if it's the food look for the right caterer. You get the picture. if you budget correctly everything will fall into place.

Answer 7

I think you have everything covered. You seem to have done or are doing everything that I was going to suggest. One thing I would think about is a pre-nup agreement. Both of you should get lawyers and draw one up that you can agree on. I know no one goes into a marriage expecting to get divorced, but with a 50% divorce rate in this country, it doesn't hurt to be pragmatic. It's like insurance, and it will protect both of you should things not work out.

Answer 8

Since you'll be having a very small wedding, just find a jp to do the ceremony, and plan a meal at your home for family and close friends.
Find some way to get mature and independent, you need to save to pay for your own wedding. Oh, your parents are paying for your wedding? Well, how silly - since the two of you have been on your own for two years, right...

Answer 9

First go through marriage classes with a church or where ever you can find them. You want to know each other "TOTALLY" before spending all of that money on a wedding.

Do you both have good jobs and plan to work?

What are both of your preferences on having children and when?

Who will stay home to raise them? THEY DO NOT RAISE THEMSELVES. Please know before you have children they are EXPENSIVE, and will be in your home for 18 to 21 years, being supported by you.

How do you feel about each others families? Do they live close, do you like them?

How do you feel about each others closest friends?

Is he a sports freak? Can you tollerate it? (My husband was watching football (first game of the season) when I was in labor and delivery of our daughter.

Are you of the same faith? Is church important to ONLY one of you? That can be a problem.

Are you both in control of your spending? Or is one wasteful
and the other frugal. Be certain to be clear on finances.

Who likes to handle the bills and will take care of them?

My husband and I have been married 40 years and we have seperate checking and savings accounts. He pays the big bills and I take care of my car, my medical, all groceries, our clothing and household necessities and the small things.
This has worked for us since we both like to control our own money.

This is a small list of things to be clear on before even starting to plan a wedding.

Once you are comfortable with your comprehension of one another, then you can begin with a Wedding budget and stick to it as you plan.

A Budget is URGENT to keep you out of financial trouble, anything you put on credit has interest and has to be paid back. So live within your income, to avoid many ugly problems between each other.

Good Luck. Be sure your committed first.

Answer 10

Book a reception hall, band (or DJ), get a dress, photographer and videographer, pick out colors for wedding party, etc.