Congratulation’s on your engagement. I am SO excited you found my corner of the internet. You’re Engaged, now what? This is probably a statement that is running through your mind in this situation. Planning a wedding can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. You should be having fun and enjoying this season of life. Below you will find a few steps to follow first. This isn’t a required approach, but it is what I find to be the most useful approach to tackling those first to do’s.

I believe in more than just being your wedding photographer. I am here to help with a wedding timeline, vendor recommendations, and just a person you can vent to about the stresses of wedding planning. I have been in your shoes before and have photographed countless weddings. I am happy to share my insite to help you.

You’re Engaged, Now What

1 | Create a Budget and figure out a date with at least one back up date : You’re engaged and this season is supposed to be fun, but one of the hardest things and most important step is to create a budget. When doing this you will also want to categorize what is most important to least important to you and your fiancé. When choosing your date, you want to find your date that you would love to have your wedding on. It is smart to choose a second date as a backup. This is in case your venue doesn’t have your date open.

Keep in mind, the longer you wait to reach out to vendors, the less chance you will have booking them for your ideal date.

2 | Book your wedding planner/coordinator and venue: I think booking your wedding planner/coordinator and venue are a dual step. You want to secure your venue, because this ensures your wedding date. Most vendors will ask for your wedding date when you reach out. This is so they can also tell you if they can move forward with working with you on your date or if they are already booked.

Finding a wedding planner or day of coordinator is not in everyone’s budget, but if it is something you can fit, it is highly beneficial. They can help with finding the best vendors to match your vision, as well as take on small tasks so you are free to enjoy this time. If you are in Northern California, I highly recommend working with 530 Bride. They are amazing and can help you with full wedding planning or just working with you for day of coordination.

Top three venues I recommend in Chico area are Irongate Garden Inn, The White Ranch, and Patrick’s Ranch.

3 | Book your photographer and videographer: YES!! You are reading this correctly. This may be an unpopular opinion, but you shouldn’t book your wedding photographer and videographer first. As you can see from above, there are a couple important steps you should complete first. We are going to want to know when and where. This is important information in helping move forward in working with you on your big day.

4 | Now book the rest of your vendors. This will consist of vendors such as florist, DJ, rentals, etc. As a photographer I provide my clients with a preferred vendor list to help you find the best vendors that will match your vision.

As I mentioned above, you’re engaged and should celebrate. Try not to let all the stress of wedding planning bring you down. Each of your vendors are here to help. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.

Are you still looking for your wedding photographer? I am happy to help you and would love to learn more about your big day. You can find more about the HAP wedding experience here. If you’re ready to reach out, I would love to chat with you and you can contact me here! See a previous wedding at the Irongate Garden Inn in Chico by reading my blog post here.