you're engaged! here's what to do next...

Congratulations, you're engaged! Now, here's what to do next....

Just got engaged? Congratulations! We show you what you should do next....

1. Save the date

When do you dream of holding your wedding? Will any guests need to travel from overseas to be there? Consider the season and public holidays. Once you have found an approximate date that sounds good, begin looking at ceremony and reception venues. It's much easier to find a florist to fit in with your wedding date than it is to find another reception centre like the one you've set your heart on. Once you have locked it in, send a save-the-date, the earlier the better – especially if your wedding involves overseas travel for anyone. 

2.Take a headcount

You'll need to have a rough idea of how many guests are to be invited before you set your budget and subsequently book your reception venue, order stationery, arrange catering and more. To be fair, an equal number of guests should be invited from both families. But if one family is bigger than the other, if one has more interstate members or one side is shouldering most or all of the costs, there will have to be some give and take. Generally, if one family would like to invite more people than the other family, they should be prepared to pay for the extra guests. Make sure you sit down with both sets of parents to ensure that no important family friends are forgotten in all the excitement! 

3. Choose a theme

It's easier to plan your wedding if you have a particular style in mind. The best way to create a theme is to match your cake, flowers, decorations and stationery. 

Consider the following: 

• Colour For example, use a green and ice pink theme for your bridesmaids' dresses, bouquets, floral decorations, wedding cake, bomboniere and more. 

• Traditional Think classic white wedding – princess dress and veil, roses, horse and carriage, church ceremony and a sit-down reception. 

• Nostalgic 1950s' rockabilly, Roaring 1940s' á la The Great Gatsby, Art Deco with feathers and crystal chandelier-drop lamps, vintage vibe, etc. 

• Personal This may invoke where the couple first met, celebrate their favourite hobbies or be appropriate to their lifestyles – from military to a casual beach wedding. 

• Cocktail Hire a funky bistro or cocktail lounge for a sophisticated champagne and canapé reception. 

• Cultural Suitable for multicultural couples or anyone with a different faith or background (think Greek plate smashing, Scottish kilts and bagpipes, or a lavish Bollywood-style Indian banquet). 

• Destination Get married at an exotic location with a few friends and family present, then begin your honeymoon straightaway! 

4. Keep your cool

Don't be surprised to find yourself juggling tricky inter-family tensions right from the start. It's no picnic posing for happy family photographs when both sets of parents are divorced and remarried, and everybody is on bad terms. Strategise early and agree on the position you and your partner will take, together, when conflicts arise – don't try and deal with tensions the week before the wedding. Talk to key people within your family, particularly someone respected, who can help resolve issues. Finally, sit down one-on-one with the people you are most concerned about, and let them know what you need from them. Be prepared to compromise and ask them questions such as, ‘Where would you feel most comfortable sitting at the wedding?' Try not to let difficult family members get you down. It's a rare family that doesn't have some dramas. In fact, it's almost expected! Accept that it's part of the landscape of organising a family celebration. 

5. Start gown hunting

While you shouldn't be too eager to make final decisions about what you're going to wear, it may take you a long time to find the dress of your dreams, so now is the time to do a little research. Look through magazines, particularly bridal magazines with stylish fashion shoots (like Bride to Be, of course!) and mark any dresses or design details that catch your eye. Remember to keep an open mind early on as you just never know what will suit you. You'll begin to see a pattern emerge in the style of dress you prefer and it's a great idea to make that your starting point. Once preliminary research is conducted, start making appointments at bridal boutiques and let the gown-hunting games begin!

Credit: Corrie Bond.

http://www.bridetobe.com.au/Article/Planning/Your-Wedding-Day/Wedding-etiquette/Youre-engaged-Heres-what-to-do-next