Hello beautiful people!! Picture this: You’ve been dating your honey for several years, you’ve gotten closer with each other and you’ve met his family and he’s met yours. You talk about your hopes and dreams and biggest fears as well as plans for the future. You know it’s coming but you don’t know when. But just when you least expected it he gets down on one knee and pops the big question!

And you said YES!!!

So now what do you do? There are several wedding checklists out there all across the web and I will highlight a few at the end of this post. However, before you start sending out invitations and picking out colors please take a look at my first things first list:

1. Call your parents and family members as well as close friends. Before you change your Facebook status and post your ring let these people know from you. Hopefully they will be the ones to help you get prepared for your big day over the next few months.
2. Go get a manicure. No seriously. Over the next few weeks people will be looking at your left hand constantly, the last thing you want is for them to be giving you the side eye because your nails are a mess. Now I’m not saying you have to do this every week, as that could get rather expensive but at least have a fresh coat of polish.
3. Discuss your budget. This is about the most important thing for you to do. But wait weddings are supposed to be all about picking out peonies and dress shopping right? All things going forward will depend on how much you and your honey are willing to spend.  This can be a difficult conversation to have however, it must be done. Pick a number and stick to it, discuss how you will save. Will you each put money aside weekly? Will family and friends assist as well? Sit down and discuss.
4. Discuss wedding date or season. You don’t have to necessarily pick a date just yet but get a general idea of when you’d like to get married. Are you going to wait a year so you can save? Have you always wanted a fall wedding?
5. Where do you want to get married? And I don’t mean the exact venue but the location. Are you going to get married where you currently live or would you be willing to get married back in your hometown.  Take into consideration how you might plan a wedding long distance and time and money it might cost to go home a few times to check on things. Or do you want a destination wedding?
6. Get inspired!! Ok now comes the fun part. Pick up a few wedding magazines, subscribe to weddings blogs. (hopefully you’ve subscribed to Chic Brown Bride already.) Join Pinterest as well as attend a few wedding shows. This will help you to create a vision for your day.
7. Seek out and set up marriage counseling. This is important. Why? Because the best time to iron out major issues is BEFORE you get married. This doesn’t mean you won’t encounter any while married but it does help.
8. Lastly, enjoy this time. This is one of the most exciting times in your life. Breath. Live in the moment for a few. You’re going to be pulled in all different kinds of directions remember to stay true to you and what you and your fiancé wants.

Check out these links for your wedding checklist:

http://wedding.weddingchannel.com/planning/checklist/12-10months.asp

http://apaperproposal.com/2011-8-18

http://blackbridalbliss.com/wedding-timeline-checklist/

Hope this lists helps.

Xoxo,

Danielle