I am planning my wedding and I am not engaged yet.

I had ideas of venues that I wanted. They seem to fill up quicker and quicker, so I had a few picked out that when we got engaged, I set up appointments and we got first dibs. I just wouldn't suggest actually putting money down on things yet.

Hmmm, I'd been looking at dresses and venues online.

We started planning pre-engagement also. Even went and looked at our venue, chose a date. Even started talking flowers and caterer before he finally got down on one knee. Lol.

I'd say browsing venues and photographers are good starts. They book the farthest in advance I think so they tend to book up quickly.

Looking at dresses is always fun too.

I'm in the same boat. We're Catholic, and since I'm waiting for my annulment to be approved (his already was), FH won't officially propose. However, I want everything planned out as much as possible so that when it's time to go, I can just kick it into high gear and hit the ground running.

That really depends on how far off you are from actually being engaged. I say sit back and relax! Why rush everything so much? As a vendor who works closely with other vendors I can tell you that everything is going to still be there by the time you get engaged.

Lol oh wow!! That's what I've been doing looking at Venues, photography, dresses, and budgeting. We both have. I think we have a more solid idea on who we will be using for our photography. I was also trying to finalize a photographer for engagement pics.

Getting familiar with what is out there is a good idea, there were tons of things I looked at before and thought i would decide on it and most of the ideas are not even the ones now. The self discovery part has been very new to me. There are millions of things that look pretty and makes us all indecisive but eventually you would figure out what defines you and your FH. Cheers.

Only thing I did was book the photographer because she was raising her rates in the new year. We'd already discussed getting married, and month we'd prefer. I knew he'd bought the ring and was just waiting til he found the right moment

The rest I wanted to save. My biggest thing has been learning to enjoy the moment I'm in. So I wanted to enjoy dating, then enjoy being engaged and planning. Trying not to jump the gun too much on the next stage of life.

I think the biggest thing I did early on (and I think I could have done more!) was to prepare the wedding budget. Figure out how much can you spend on the big day - if you happen to know whether you and FH are paying for everything or if you may have some help from family. I also think its good to start to decide what your biggest priorities are and what things are less important to you, as that will help in mocking up a budget. That way when you start looking at venues and menus, dresses, photography etc., you will be able to say confidently "That's in my budget" or "I love it but we can't afford it."

U guys are awesome!!! Great advice! I see budgeting and enjoying the moment are the most important

We looked at some venues and got ideas.

Depends on how quickly you are looking to get married. If you thinking a 6month engagement do everything you can asap. If you thinking closer to a year or over that I'd say just start putting together ideas for everything, visit venues, etc.

We started looking and researching places before we were officially engaged. The main thing we did was to come up with a budget. Then we figured out ok we'll need x amount of time to beable to afford this.

Most venues have their prices online or will email a brochure with their prices. So what I would do is if I loved a venue I'd get the prices, figure out how much it would cost and if it was around our price range we'd contact them for a proposal.

Good luck

Not a darn thing. I never saw my proposal coming.

I didn't t see my proposal coming either. So right after it happened I started planning.

Make a list of the things you want like for your ceremony, reception and BP gifts. Start looking for the best prices and writing them down. What you want, where it is and how much. Then you have a plan in mind. I started with little things that cost twenty or thirty here and there, buying something with every paycheck. Leave the bigger items like flowers, dress and deposit on venue and food when you are officialy engaged because it will be closer to the big day and yall can decide together.

Depends on when you are going to become officially engaged. Looking at venues too soon can backfire if you are ready to put down a deposit. I would just get a couple of bridal magazines, search online for ideas and open up a wedding savings account.

I just want to add that there's something to pacing yourself. It's fun to think about getting engaged, imagining the wedding, picturing being married to FH. Don't rush that phase. Kind of take each phase as it comes rather than speeding right through them. In other words, live in the moment :-)

It's not my intentions to rush. Reason Iwe are planning now is for financial purposes. All our friends had headaches planning their weddings. They were unorganized and rushed. We know we are getting married, so we are just preparing financially

I'm not officially engaged, we are waiting for his annulment to come through, he's not catholic but I am. I have opened up a savings account and started browsing websites. We've talked through a few things wedding party, budget, location and I picked out a ring but haven't gotten it yet. Some people tell me to back off since I don't have a ring but that's not my nature. I'm working the extra shifts to put away money and trying to figure out what I want so I how much I should save. The more I do now the more I get to sit back and enjoy being engaged. Besides he thinks I'm adorable for being so eager to marry him.

I just gathered ideas; the style I wanted, dresses I liked, venues I liked in the area and got an overall idea of what the cost would be for the wedding I wanted.

I have a friend who is not engaged yet, and has told me since February she'd be married by August. First, she was getting married the weekend after us, then she moved it to July, last I heard it was mid-august, but considering I haven't heard anything and they still aren't officially "engaged" I don't think it's happening yet.

IMO, if you're planning, you're engaged, whether or not you have a ring.