The moment he gets down on one knee and says those four little words (Will you marry me?) is absolutely magical, and you'll want to remember it forever. But the truth is, soon as you respond Yes!!!!! time will fly by so fast all these moments leading up to your I DOs can become a blur.  So keep the following tips in mind, and remember the journey is just as important as the destination so cherish being engaged just as you would being married.

I said Yes! on August 24, 2013

Take a trip
Even if it's a simple one-day getaway or a whole weekend, just hit the road.  He loves you with all his heart and knows soon as a date is set, you'll disappear in all the wedding planning madness. So give him your undivided attention, he deserves it!

We took off to New Orleans the weekend following the proposal, and it was perfect.  It gave us the opportunity to reflect on our 3+ years of dating, plus get the inside scoop on all the details leading up to my proposal, including how he asked my parents in the Valley for my hand in marriage in his broken Spanish!

Newly-engaged trip to New Orleans

Forget your wedding plans 
Not forever, obviously, but for a few days or weeks and E-N-J-O-Y being engaged.  Flaunt your ring, get a manicure, meet up with your girlfriends, especially if they're engaged too, and soak in all the excitement that comes with this new chapter in your life.

Coming up in September 2014, future Mrs. Key

Get off Pinterest
I actually got off that same day and didn't log back on until a month ago.  Pinterest is amazing, BUT it can also be overwhelming.  There will be a gazillion things you'll want to Pin from color combinations to dresses to centerpieces and much more.  But for now, focus on the present, your recent engagement.

AVOID! Temporarily

Continue to date your fiance!
Yes you will be spending everyday with him for the rest of your life, but that doesn't mean you stop dating him in the meantime!  With all the wedding planning to be done, he's going to feel a bit left out.  He may not voice it for fear of getting assigned a wedding task, but I'm sure he misses spending good quality time with you where flowers, music, decorations, and catering aren't part of the conversation.  So go on a date with him and leave the wedding talk at home!

My date tonight, my forever tomorrow.

Add a comment »

As an engaged couple, one of the first decisions you make is choosing a venue for your nuptials.  Where, oh where, will you and your beloved exchange 'I DO's?  This is an important decision so you can save the date, kick off the rest of your planning and set a theme for how your day will pan out.  Will it be an outdoor wedding? Indoor? Destination?

Selecting venue, I'll tell you right now, may be one of the biggest expenses, if not the biggest, of your wedding.  However, FLEXIBILITY will play a huge role in saving you thousands of dollars.

More restrictions, more money
A lot of venues we visited made us feel that if we even blinked, we'd be breaking a rule.  Read those contracts carefully.  You'd be amazed as to how many restrictions most venues have from forcing you to use select catering, certain DJs and even getting your cake through them.  Why do they do this?  Because that way they'll force you to pay top dollar for everything.  Just to give you an example, many venues we visited charged us about $8-10 per person, per hour for alcohol.  On a 100 guests for 4 hours, that's $3,200 at minimum!  And I have aunts and uncles who don't even drink a drop! So be careful, very careful.

Don't fear Friday or Sunday
Who said Saturdays are official wedding days?  Ummm no one! Yes, they are perhaps the most convenient BUT it does not guarantee 100% attendance.  My fiance and I have, unfortunately, missed Saturday, summer weddings. You'd think it's the most perfect date but life happens.  And regardless of what day you select, the truth of the matter is some of your guests may still not make it.

Do your research
Before settling on any venue, compared at least 3 - 5 other venues in the immediate area to see what others charge for set up, service fees, deposits, etc... If you're anything like us, you'll compare with it nearly a dozen to make sure you're getting the best for your buck.

Beware: Hidden fees and fine prints!
My oh my do wedding venues have hidden fees.  You will run into kitchen fees, service fees, staffing fees, corkage fees, cake-cutting fees and the list goes on.  Will they tell you up front?  Ehhhh not really.  It's up to you to read the contract carefully which most of us overlook.  Why should you be forced to pay $400 for kitchen fee if you never even set foot in it?  Or why pay cake-cutting fees of $3 per person when you've set up self-serve cupcakes?   See where I'm going with this???  Ask questions - take control.

As for us, we secured our venue last fall after an exhaustive search.  We'll be marrying up in the mountains in a beautiful, historic mansion - and yes, without breaking the bank! Details soon.

1 Comment »