Congrats, you are engaged! What now? As a Baltimore wedding photographer, I understand that there are so many decisions to make once engaged. And at times, that can be overwhelming. So I am going to break it down to the first wedding planning decisions that will set the tone for the rest of the planning process.

Set Your Date

First things first, you are going to want to set your date! Typically your exact wedding date will depend a lot on your wedding venues availability. However, you should have an idea of when you want to get married. Whether it is a specific month, or simply a season.

Keep in mind any other big events coming up in you and your partners lives. As well as your most important guests lives. If you parents have a trip planned, your bridesmaid is having a baby or any other planned out events.

Set Your Budget

Setting your budget may be your least favorite of all the wedding planning decisions. But trust me when I say that it is so worth it! When you set your budget before you start making decisions, you will save yourself so much stress and uneasiness later on. You will have a clear expectation on what you are comfortable spending and how to prioritize vendors.

Book Your Venue

The first wedding vendor you will want to officially book is your venue. This will set your official wedding date, making it a lot easier to book out other vendors. Many wedding vendors won’t even book you until your have your venue date set!

Form Your Guest List

Now that you have your venue booked, consider your guest list. My advice is always to organize your family and friends in tiers. Who is top tier? Your parents, siblings, wedding party. After that, who takes priority? Your mutual friends, co-workers, extended family, etc. This helps you to decide on who to invite a bit more easily.

Remember to consider if you will allow your guests a plus one and how that will contribute to your overall budget and plan.

Book Your Baltimore Wedding Photographer

Of all the decisions to make when planning, this may be my favorite! Once your budget is set and your venue is booked it’s time to find to your preferred wedding photographer. Wedding photographers tend to book out fast! Some even book up to a year in advance. So as soon as you have your date, reach out to your preferred wedding photographer to see if they are available too!

Ready to book your Baltimore wedding photographer, reach out!