how soon is too soon to start planning?!?!

AmandaLeigh1014 · February 2011

My fiancee and I have been engaged for a little over a month and a half now, and I am totally ready to start planning! I am going to Florida in March and wanted to start to start looking at venues and vendors as soon as i get back! I guess you could say I'm a little anxious, but its more of, i HATE waiting for the last minute to do things. I dont think we will be tying the knot until 2013 considering we are looking into buying a house within the next year, but i just want everything to be perfect! And i dont want to be running around at the last minute trying to make sure things are done (which will probably happen anyway) lol. Which brings me to my second question, does anyone suggest buying a house before or after we get married. I kind of think buying a house and saving for a wedding would be a lot considering we will be paying for most of it on our own, but it would also be nice to have a place of our own to be able to start our lives together, it almost seems silly to come home from the honeymoon and go to moms. I know I kind of just rambled, but this has been running through my mind for a couple of weeks now and i needed to get it off my chest! ANY and ALL feedback would be appreciated. Thanksss!

jmorta04 · February 2011

I got engaged in December '08 and am getting married this July. We started planning right away and it's been great to space out the planning. As far as the house buying goes, you and your FI are the only ones who can decide that. My FI already owned a house that I moved into so it wasn't an issue for us.

MaryLaura13 · February 2011

Congrats first of all! We got engaged August '10 and started planning right away for our June '12 wedding. I have everything booked by October. You wouldn't believe how vendors bend over backwards for you when you book early, you aren't only saving yourself alot of stress, but saving the vendors alot of stress as well when you are organized and planned early.

About buying a house, my FI and I live in an inlaw apt. below his parents, what we decided to do was save for the wedding while staying here and going to rent an apt for a few months befoe the wedding (i don't want to come back here after my honeymoon either) then the plan is to use the money that we recieve as gifts from the wedding towards a down payment on a house.

But like jmorta said, its all what you and your FI decide is best ofr you!

Good Luck!

RoyalOrient · February 2011

Congrats and welcome to the board! I am all for a long engagement as I felt it gave us plenty of time to research and plan things properly. We were able to save for a new home which we purchased in April (closing was in June) and we were able to space out payments too. We didn't really plan on buying a house at first but with the tax incentive at the time plus the great opportunity we had in our hands, it was too good to pass up. If you have a certain vision in mind, tons of creative projects and such, it is never too early to start planning and developing ideas. Taking the time to do your research now will save time and money too. G.L

RIFallBride · February 2011

Personally I don't think it is ever too soon to start planning, for me it is what I am looking forward to. We got engaged December 2010 and our wedding date is October 2012, we have already booked several vendors and hope to finalize the remaining by summer. I hope it will allow me to enjoy the planning process more.

We purchased a home in December 2010 and while I do have some stress about saving for a wedding while renovating our house there were just too many pluses for us. The market right now is a buyers' market and interest rates are at all time lows, maybe we won't go out as much as we used to but for us the positives outweighed the negatives and we are willing to make those sacrifices. You have to be comfortable as a couple with the house costs as well as the wedding savings requirements to decide what is best for you. Good luck!

futuremalyuta · February 2011

We are looking for houses right now and plan on (hopefully) finding our house and buying as soon as possible. We are also planning a 2013 wedding! I think it is a good idea because we will be used to having to pay for the house by the time the wedding gets closer and we need to start making final payments. We will also still be saving, and won't need to go out as much if we can just be together in our new house! Good luck!!

AmandaLeigh1014 · February 2011

Thanks soooo much for all the advice. I definitely want to start planning ASAP in hopes that it will eleviate some stress emotionally and financially..

MaryLaura- His mom had the same idea with using the wedding gift money as a down payment for a house, but i dont think i want to wait that long (im very impatient) lol however i dont want to rush anything either. We currently live together at my Grandmothers house, and she is in no rush to get rid of us so i think we'll hang out for a while and build up some more savings..

So much to think about and decide on! ahh! hopefully itll all fall together in its own good time.

DansBride52911 · February 2011

Hi and congrats! We got engaged March 2009 and are getting married May 29 this year. The time has gone by so quickly, we've been able to save and make payments over the last 2 years, and we had our choice of the best vendors available back in 09! We actually just closed on our house Friday

We think it's perfect timing...we'll be moving in hopefully by end of March after renovations. It's been worth the wait and everything is falling into place perfectly

jcorvese · February 2011

Congrats on your engagement!
I was engaged in June of 10' and we aren't getting married until Aug 11'.

I took a month or two to "take it all in" and started planning in August/September.

I booked my venue in October because prices were rising for Nov 10'

I think planning early is really nice- it gives you a ton of time, and you can space out payments to the vendors.
We have booked out reception venue, chapel, and DJ so far, and I am booking my photog at the end of this month (wiating for FI's tax returns to come in lol)...

Spacing it out is also helpful with the payment but also, we locked in 2010 prices on my DJ, and Reception Site, and my photogrpaher- all of their rates increased for 2011 by $100+ dollars, so we have already saved ourselves around $300 bucks... just by planning early.

It also gives you a lot of time to DIY! so if you are into that, you can start now to plan on dIY invites etc and work on them in a relaxed way without rushing them at the end. You can always do envelopes, work on monograms, etc early-- those things won't really change, then print out invites at a later time.

I also suggest pulling together a primlinary guest list now- so when you look at venues you have a rough idea of who and how many people you expect.

I know this might sound weird or rude-- but also, relationships change over time--so some people that were on my list in june 2010 might not be on my list in December when I send out STDS-- things happen. life happens and relationships change-- and its easier now to look at the list and just highlight those people I haven't talked to in year and par it down-- or add people that are now important in my life, now that I have a "basic list"

AmandaLeigh1014 · February 2011

JCorvese, all of your recommendations are wonderful! I am definitly going to do my planning early, I want this to be as stressfree and enjoyable as possible. hopefully the FI and I can agree on most things to avoid any confrontations, but hes really good and supportive so i dont see that happening much, (knock on wood) lol and since we plan on saving for a house of our own as well, the spacing of the payments will be very covenient. But im all about possibly having most of it paid within the next year then nesting money from there on out lol.

bells24412 · February 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_rhode-island_soon-soon-start-planning?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:122Discussion:0f71b584-3222-487e-9247-860a95ce9ea0Post:6ab1064e-2982-4289-8932-1b278c25ea40">Re: how soon is too soon to start planning?!?!</a>:
[QUOTE]Congrats first of all! We got engaged August '10 and started planning right away for our June '12 wedding. I have everything booked by October. You wouldn't believe how vendors bend over backwards for you when you book early, you aren't only saving yourself alot of stress, but saving the vendors alot of stress as well when you are organized and planned early. About buying a house, my FI and I live in an inlaw apt. below his parents, what we decided to do was save for the wedding while staying here and going to rent an apt for a few months befoe the wedding (i don't want to come back here after my honeymoon either) then the plan is to use the money that we recieve as gifts from the wedding towards a down payment on a house. But like jmorta said, its all what you and your FI decide is best ofr you! Good Luck!
Posted by MaryLaura13[/QUOTE]

I got engaged in July '10 and i have everything pretty much booked. The vendors actually seemed more relaxed when we talked to them considering we booked so far in advanced. I am glad we did we are getting married July 2012 and we know things can get booked fairly quickly for a summer wedding.

As for buying a house, I totally agree with MaryLaura and everyone else you have to do what is best for you and your FH. My FH and I are also waiting unitl after the wedding to buy a house to put in a better down payment. We currently live in my family's 2nd floor apt.

Like i said before, you have to do what is best for you and your FH. Goodluck with all your planning! :)

Rbproductions · February 2011

I suggest the earlier the better for booking...you would be amazed how quick dates fill up with everything from venues to florists. If you start early, you will get a better deal and can make sure you get the place you want.

I run RB Productions, we do event production and wedding planning. When you do get going if there is anything you need or that we can help you with, please let me know.

Best of luck!

Ryan

www.rbeventproductions.com

how soon is too soon to start planning?!?!

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