Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Beginner December 2019

Engaged and Overwhelmed..

Jordan, on May 31, 2018 at 1:17 AM Posted in Planning 0 14

Saved

Flag
Hide content

My boyfriend just proposed to me the day after my birthday and of course I said yes since we've been together for almost 6 years now..
But it's such an overwhelming time in my life that I have no clue what to do! All I've ever wanted was to have a wedding and plan it myself.. I thought I would be able to plan it and have all of the money by the end of 2019.. I was thinking October of next year. Anyways.. I found the perfect venue but apparently they're almost all booked already.
Well I just got engaged like a week ago so it's way too soon to set a date. That's too overwhelming. But.. The venue is going up in price and amount of people needing to attend by the year 2020. So if I want this venue with this great price which includes almost everything.. Then I have to book it immediately.. Im not sure what to do because we were planning on moving out next May.. We live with roomates now and I definitely don't want to be married and living with roomates. I can't move AND have a wedding all in the same year. I am 24 years old and am not able to get any financial help from family so I'm doing all of this myself and I'm just panicking. We've already been together for 6 years.. I don't want to wait 6 more until I can finally get married.. Any advice helps..

Flag
Hide content

14 Comments

Latest activity by Cassandra, on May 31, 2018 at 4:14 PM

Super December 2018
Alyssa · on May 31, 2018 at 1:22 AM
Flag

Hide content
First, take a deep breath. You can move and get married in the same year but it will take work. Before booking a venue you need to look at what you can realistically save to pay for the wedding in the timeframe you’re looking at and make a draft of the guest list. The number of guests greatly impacts cost so its important. Once you do that, then look at deciding on a venue.
- Reply
Beginner December 2019
Jordan · on May 31, 2018 at 1:24 AM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
This venue includes almost everything needed for a wedding for only 4800$..
I think this is the cheapest that I'm going to find and possibly be able to afford for the type of wedding I want to have.. I don't want to settle but I also can't afford to hire tons and tons of vendors.. The all inclusive venue is perfect.
- Reply
Expert January 2019
Kayla · on May 31, 2018 at 1:46 AM
Flag

Hide content
I agree with Alyssa first things first congratulations! Take a deep breath and relax because you totally got this and everything is going to work out in the end! I do agree settle your guest list and see how much all that will take then start to make a time frame, maybe even put a tentative date into the WW app and see where there timeline falls nd all that you would have to get done! Everything is going to work out! Enjoy being engaged to your sweetheart for a bit and things will clear up!
- Reply
Super December 2018
Alyssa · on May 31, 2018 at 1:48 AM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
That sounds amazing! If it is doable financially then go for it but I think budget and guest list are the most important places to start to make sure it is
- Reply
Beginner December 2019
Jordan · on May 31, 2018 at 1:49 AM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
Thank you so much.. You are exactly right. It's just an overwhelming thing to think about.. Also thinking that this is the only venue in my price range.. Im sure there are many more that I haven't found yet. This one just seemed perfect.
- Reply
Savvy March 2025
DLovesA · on May 31, 2018 at 1:53 AM
Flag

Hide content
I feel like your home life is more important than a wedding. Get that together first. However, you can move and get married in the same year. I've done it and while stressful, it's possible. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help.

Yes, you don't want to wait years to get married, but if your marriage will be healthier in the long run, by being more settled in a place of your own, it's worth it.

It's also very easy to get sucked into planning, but as long as you have plenty to eat and drink, decent music and your groom shows up, that's all that matters.

Also a word of caution: those package deals sometimes aren't the most cost effective options, so shop around.
- Reply
Beginner December 2019
Jordan · on May 31, 2018 at 1:55 AM
Flag

Hide content
View Quoted Comment
What do you mean? Is it cheaper to hire my own vendors and make my own decor? I don't know much about weddings. I've only ever been to one so I'm learning as I go.
- Reply
Savvy March 2025
DLovesA · on May 31, 2018 at 2:00 AM
Flag

Hide content
Yes, sometimes the price in the package is more expensive than if you supplied your own. It depends on the time of year, day of the week, etc.

You definitely should figure out a rough estimate of guests and budget before even considering and booking a venue. You may find that even before the price jump, it's way out of your reach, money wise.
- Reply
April 2018
GoodMOB · on May 31, 2018 at 6:11 AM
Flag

Hide content
If you keep your wedding smaller, like fewer guests, it will cost less. Your wedding only needs to be as fancy or complicated as you want it to be.
- Reply
0000
Mim · on May 31, 2018 at 6:46 AM
Flag

Hide content
Moving and getting married in the same general time frame is pretty normal. Don't over think it. As far as using the all inclusive venue, I'm a fan of them provided you can do some adjustments as you see fit. If they provide a photographer and you don't like their work, can you hire an outsider? If the centerpieces they provide aren't your taste, can you provide your own? If you have a favorite baker can you use them? Things like that are important to know before signing anything.

We used a venue for my daughter's reception that included many things. It made planning quite simple. They provided good catering, bar, tables/chairs, linens, place settings, other odds and ends. We didn't use their centerpieces, and needed to provided our own photographer, cake, and music. We could have hired out everything other than catering and bar, but saw no reason to do so.
- Reply
Dedicated July 2018
Christina · on May 31, 2018 at 9:44 AM
Flag

Hide content
One thing I've learned while planning a wedding is this: There's your Pinterest Perfect wedding where your Wedding board on Pinterest is full of all these beautiful decorations and unique touches to your dream wedding & then there's the wedding you're actually planning - it's still beautiful and personal but it's more affordable and realistic.
Like everyone's said already, start with a budget & guest list first before booking anything! Use the budget tool on this site to see everything you'll need to plan for. If you need to have a two year engagement in order to make ends meet then do it! It's very normal to do so Good luck!
- Reply
VIP May 2018
PBiazinha · on May 31, 2018 at 10:47 AM
Flag

Hide content
You seem to be excited besides overwhelmed and rushing to make a decision (the venue seem to be putting some pressure too). There are MANY venues around and a lot of them are inclusive.
Before you go booking a venue you have to sit down, figure out the guest number and a budget, from there you can start looking at options (not one, many) and see what makes sense financially for you.
Like PPs said, sometimes all inclusive are not for us, you have to have a vision of what you need first, then make that decision. Pricing other vendors is also important so you can see if the all inclusive will be giving you the best for your money as well.
Good luck!
- Reply
Legend July 2019
MrsD · on May 31, 2018 at 2:09 PM
Flag

Hide content
We picked a date within 2 weeks of being engaged. We picked the month we wanted, and had 2 options from there. The first 2 months of our engagement, we toured 5 venues and requested online information from about 30 venues. We booked after 3 months of being engaged! Our whole engagement is 18 months long. So I don't think deciding on a date now is crazy.
- Reply

Dedicated September 2019
Cassandra · on May 31, 2018 at 4:14 PM
Flag

Hide content
I'm with everybody else, take a breath. Step back. You're engaged!
You won't have to wait 6 more years to get married. Make the guestlist, look at venues although it sounds like you have one decided, set a realistic budget. Go from there.
I'm 28 I'm not a whole ton older than you. My FH and I live together and we are paying for the entire wedding so we are not getting married until the end of next year. Everybody seems to have an opinion about how much sooner we need to get married. I keep trying to remind myself it's not their wedding, it's not their debt if I do too much too quick, and it's what works for my fiance and I. Find what works for you.
- Reply