And 3,2,1….Get ready for all the questions from your friends, family and co-workers. When’s the date? Where’s your venue? Were you surprised? Can I see your ring? When are you planning on having kids!?

Don’t allow the pressure of family and friends questions to add stress to your journey. We know it can become repetitive. Just remember, this is a time in your life that you CAN brag about the glory, the enjoyment and the emotions you feel.

Of course you aren’t going to have all the questions answered right away, but with these 8 tips you will soon enough! Congratulations again and happy planning!

Insure / Size Your Ring

Diamonds are a major investment for most couples. You’ll first need to have your ring appraised to evaluate it’s worth. They will evaluate the 4 C’s of a diamond: color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. To give you an idea, the cost of insurance on a $10,000 ring is roughly $200 annually. Your insurance can just be added to your homeowners / renters policy. While having your ring appraised, consider getting it sized as well. You’ll feel a bit naked and sad giving up your beautiful new ring, but when you get it back it’s like you just got engaged all over again! Jewelers can take up to a couple weeks to get your ring resized, so make sure to plan this around your engagement pictures/family visits so you don’t miss the opportunity to show it off!

Share Your News

Spread the love and announce your latest news! Share your pics and the special moments captured. If you had a videographer record your marriage proposal, you may want to post it on social media so your friends and family can witness your emotions and see how joyful your engagement day was.

Don’t forget to change your Facebook status to engaged! *cheesy but you know you want to*

And you’ll want to start thinking of hashtags if you haven’t already!! #soontobeagoone

Choose Where

Ok so now begins the long standing debate of the destination vs local wedding! Some travel agents coordinate with hotels/venue/room blocks for destination weddings. There are also event planners specializing in destination weddings. Couples that decide on a destination wedding tend to deal with the event coordinator at the venue they choose. Just be aware that some venues and coordinators are subject to “island time” and responses may take longer than you’d expect. Think about some of the pros and cons of a local wedding vs destination.

Once you have where figured out, the real fun begins!

Con: Legalities
Con: You Aren’t In Full Control
Con: People You Care About Might Not Make It
Con: Your Family Is on Your Honeymoon

Pro: Smaller Guest List Means Less Expensive Reception
Pro: Honeymoon at Your Dream Location
Pro: Activities
Pro: Backdrop

Figure Out Your Budget & Make Your Guest List

Before you start planning anything you’ll need to figure out your budget. It’s time to talk with your family on who will help pay for what. It may be awkward, but the conversation has to happen and the sooner you have the answers the sooner you can start planning! Don’t expect your family to pay for anything. Receive their gesture as a blessing.

Before you pick a venue you need to figure out how many people there will be. Be realistic about the number of guests you’re inviting to avoid stress later on.

Get Some Guidance

The Knot just made life a lot easier. Nearly every vendor in your area is listed by location, distance, style, and price range. Videographers, Florists, Jewelers, Venues, DJ’s, Beauty, etc. are all on this website where you can effortlessly keep track of all correspondence.

If you don’t have the time or don’t want to DIY you should consider hiring an event planner. A few of our favorites in the St. Louis area are Saving Grace Occasions, Allyssa Elaine, Events, Hillary J Events and K.Hart Events.

Create A Pinterest

Time to start pinning if you haven’t started already! Make a private board on Pinterest so friends that follow you won’t see your pins. There are sooo many options to look at; centerpieces, dresses, beauty tips, color schemes, dessert ideas, hair styles, and so much more. Creating these boards will help when it comes time to meet with vendors. You will certainly have a picture or five ready to show the bakery the style cake you want or to show the florist what type of flowers you’re going with. This website should help you get organized, but don’t be overwhelmed by the amount of information. Remember, this is YOUR wedding and it doesn’t have to look like all the pictures online.

Start Envisioning

Pickup a magazine from Saint Louis Bride and start creating your vision board! Get inspired! These visuals make everything more exciting. The articles share about planning, real wedding stories and local vendors. STL Bride will keep you in the loop about everything going on in the St. Louis area and of course all the latest trends.

*Planning Tip* We’ve heard it helps to make a new email address for your wedding planning correspondence with vendors. This way the messages won’t fill up your personal email and you can share access with your partner, parents or whoever else is involved with the process!

Wedding Shows

Get out and actually meet those that will be a part of your big day. You most likely won’t find all of your vendors through a wedding show, but it might be nice to see what all is available in your community. Search for vendors that invite you into their office. This is (one of) the most important day(s) of your life. Work with people that appreciate and understand that. Always meet your vendors face to face. It will help put you at ease.

A few upcoming shows in the St. Louis area are

Credit: http://www.perfectweddingguide.com, pinterest.com, traveler.marriott.com/weddings, the knot,

11 qUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR WEDDING DJ (1).jpg

1. How far in advance should we book entertainment?

First and foremost make sure they have your date available!
Most couples start booking 9-12 months before their wedding. Obviously your venue should be the first on your list, but quality DJs tend to book up, so give yourself enough time to research.

2. How many weddings have you done?

You'll want someone with quite a bit experience. While working with a friend of a friend might seem more cost effective, it could end up costing you more in the long run. It's probably not a great idea to use Uncle Joe and his Ipod playlist for your special day.
Going with a larger entertainment company could really save you some stress. We've heard horror stories of friends-of-friends DJ's canceling within days of a wedding and the bride and groom must frantically search for a replacement.

3. Do you offer other services such as lighting design & decor, videography, or photo booth?

The average wedding couple deals with 12 vendors. What if one company could be your Event Planner and handle everything from your Venue, DJ, Band, Caterer, Decor & Design, Photographer, Videographer, Photo Booth, Florists, Dessert Options, Bar Services, etc? Those are the type of organizations you'll want to work with for a stress-free wedding day. If you aren't already on the knot it's a great resource for planning.

4. Have you done parties at my ceremony/reception location before? If not, will you check out the power and best location to set up beforehand?

Your vendors should always plan a site visit with you. While most venues have ample power, making sure your floor plan is thoughtfully planned out will ensure vendors have the access to power they need. Don't leave anything to chance on your wedding day.

5. How do you motivate a shy crowd to get on the dance floor?

There's nothing that motivates a shy crowd to get on the dance floor more than the bride and groom themselves getting on the dance floor. If the guests are there to celebrate you, they will feed off your energy. If you have high energy entertainment, great music, and a bride and groom on the dance floor, your wedding will be an energy packed, fun experience for kids and adults alike.
Consider having an MC at your event in addition to your DJ. This allows your DJ the ability to focus on music and read your crowd while your MC makes announcements, engages and interacts with your guests. When interviewing MC's always ask about their dancing ability. A fun crowd always loves an emcee that can spin on their head!

6. Do you have liability insurance?

Accidents happen. Make sure you cover your a$$.

7. How extensive is your music library? Are you able to offer the genre we're looking for?

Music changes very rapidly. Your entertainment company should meet with you months prior to your wedding and then again before your wedding to make sure your music taste, timeline, and structure of your event hasn't changed.

8. How do you handle song requests?

An option is to submit a poll to your guests on songs they'd like to hear on the dance floor prior to your wedding. The last thing you want is for your DJ to get distracted with guests constantly going up to the booth.

9. What sets you apart from your competition?

Make sure the company you go with makes your event feel special and not just another number. Ask how their company differs from others.

10. If we choose to have a "surprise choreographed wedding dance" are you able to assist us with music ideas and/or dance routine?

Entertainment companies may have dancers that help choreograph a fun dance for those brides and grooms wanting to show off some skills!
Work with a company that is able to help you plan your wedding from beginning to perfect ending.

11. What are your payment options?

Work with an organization that is conducive to your budget, whether that be a payment plan or quarterly installments. Find out when deposits are due and don't forget to budget in tips for certain vendors.

Newly Engaged? Congrats! Here's Where To Begin…