for all of you long engagement girls...

My only suggestion is be careful what you do book because your tastes WILL change with certain things and your opinions will change. Hall, Church, DJ, Photo are safe bets for really far in advance, but you might come across a dress (for you or the girls) that you like in your YEARS of travels or change your mind on your color scheme 10 times before the decision really matters etc. I tried to do a lot at first and found I was spinning my wheels and not really accomplishing anything. You're having a long engagement, ENJOY IT. You DO have time.

sorry not trying to sound preachy, but I kinda wish I had someone tell me that at first.

I have a long engagement as well. I thought it would be the best thing as far as finaces and all but you are right you second guess everything. Thats why i have the panic attacks becuase i feel like i am not doing something right. Everything will look great no worries.. isnt that what the girls tell me on here. A LI bride from here told me this 'dont second guess what you have chosen because you picked it for a reason' so true so i am trying to keep this in mind.

EVERTYHING IS GOING TO BE GREAT!!!

take it from a girl who's got 20 months down and 4 months to go----TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!!!

when we were engaged in march 2005--we were so excited, that we booked certain things...and just about a month ago--we realized we weren't happy with our vendors. we had to cancel contracts and wound up losing several hundred dollars! NOW i am very happy with everything--but not that i lost money

i didn't discover this site until about oct. 2005...and to be honest if i had known about LIW i would've made better choices to begin with. you have an advantage by being on here already!!

just make sure you are truly happy with your vendors and such if you book early. look at their reputations...how long have they been in business? are they in danger of closing their doors by 2008??

remember that you will always second guess things--because that is what brides do! no matter how happy you are with something--you'll think 'i could've done it THIS way'. but try your best to just be satisifed and enjoy the planning process, cause trust me when i say that it goes FAST!

My best piece of advice is
DON'T LET OTHER PEOPLE GET TO YOU!!!!

Everytime I went to book something, my Mom would say, 'Isn't it a little earrrrrrrly to do that?'

Due to THAT, I lost the date I wanted at Fox Hollow (I originally wanted the Sat after Thanksgiving, had to take the Friday) - lost out on the hair and makeup I originally had my eye on (although I'm very happy with the vendor i booked)- etc.

Do what YOU want. I love having a long engagement - it allows plenty of time for us to save and pay things off. If we had a short engagement, we'd have to lay out all those deposits at once, and honestly, it would've been too much to handle.

I love taking my time. I'm booking 1 vendor every few months. I have other things going on in life (I work f/t, and a f/t student), so I like some leisurely research.

In a few months, I'll be done booking, and I can just focus on paying them off and little personal details.

Girls,

I will be engaged over two years prior to my wedding date. There are some days when I wished that I had my wedding earlier and other times, I am a realist and say, I probably wouldn't have the money or time to do it earlier.

I love the advice on the posts but I believe it is better to take your time, try to enjoy every moment of the planning. Plus, it gives you more time to do research on your vendors. Trust me, I am always second guessing myself and unsure of the decisions that I am making but that is just all part of the wedding process..

---

Posted by MJDoc12

when we were engaged in march 2005--we were so excited, that we booked certain things...and just about a month ago--we realized we weren't happy with our vendors. we had to cancel contracts and wound up losing several hundred dollars!

---

Soooooooooo true!!!! I SO regretted my photographer choice because I booked quick and I DIDN'T cancel now I'm disappointed! You DO have to book things, though because if it's a popular vendor they may already be booked on your day!!

---

Posted by kittythestray

Soooooooooo true!!!! I SO regretted my photographer choice because I booked quick and I DIDN'T cancel now I'm disappointed! You DO have to book things, though because if it's a popular vendor they may already be booked on your day!!

---

wow kitty!!! that's EXACTLY what happened to us. hated our photographer---and had to change. (i'm in love with our photog now...she did ChrissynRicky's wedding)....but once we cancelled photo in our all inclusive contract--we had to cancel our flowers and limos too! what a headache!

BUT i'm happy with our vendors now! YIPEE!

---

Posted by Shorty McBride

My best piece of advice is
DON'T LET OTHER PEOPLE GET TO YOU!!!!

Everytime I went to book something, my Mom would say, 'Isn't it a little earrrrrrrly to do that?'

Due to THAT, I lost the date I wanted at Fox Hollow (I originally wanted the Sat after Thanksgiving, had to take the Friday) - lost out on the hair and makeup I originally had my eye on (although I'm very happy with the vendor i booked)- etc.

Do what YOU want. I love having a long engagement - it allows plenty of time for us to save and pay things off. If we had a short engagement, we'd have to lay out all those deposits at once, and honestly, it would've been too much to handle.

I love taking my time. I'm booking 1 vendor every few months. I have other things going on in life (I work f/t, and a f/t student), so I like some leisurely research.

In a few months, I'll be done booking, and I can just focus on paying them off and little personal details.

---

i totally agree!!!

total: our engagement was like 2 and a half years! and it was hard-- and a lot of people laughed in my face when i told them my date (and i got used to it) so i was like, no biggie, i have time, etc.. until just recently when i told someone my date and they go--- oh boy, right around the corner! less than a year and i almost crapped my pants hahah!! trust me-- it goes by SO fast your head will spin...

not to mention, we are only two months away from xmas-- AND 07 girls are already sending out their invites!! girls getting married in early january are sending out their freaking invites!!! so that just goes to show you how fast it is going by! but i agree with nic, i love having a long engagement for so many reasons-- and i didn't listen to people and booked very early so i got a lot of great vendors i think i would have missed out on if i had waited.

I'm a lurker too LOL
I always felt like I had sooo much time to plan, not to mention that during the first year of my engagement everyone would criticize me if i wanted to look at/book any vendor. it was always........'oh you're doing that now? but you have so much time.' now that i have 7 months to go people are saying......i can't believe you don't have your bridesmaid dress or whatever else. you can't win. i don't have any magical advice but i hear you!

---

Posted by STBMrsDaniRella

---

Posted by Shorty McBride

My best piece of advice is
DON'T LET OTHER PEOPLE GET TO YOU!!!!

Everytime I went to book something, my Mom would say, 'Isn't it a little earrrrrrrly to do that?'

Due to THAT, I lost the date I wanted at Fox Hollow (I originally wanted the Sat after Thanksgiving, had to take the Friday) - lost out on the hair and makeup I originally had my eye on (although I'm very happy with the vendor i booked)- etc.

Do what YOU want. I love having a long engagement - it allows plenty of time for us to save and pay things off. If we had a short engagement, we'd have to lay out all those deposits at once, and honestly, it would've been too much to handle.

I love taking my time. I'm booking 1 vendor every few months. I have other things going on in life (I work f/t, and a f/t student), so I like some leisurely research.

In a few months, I'll be done booking, and I can just focus on paying them off and little personal details.

---

i totally agree!!!

total: our engagement was like 2 and a half years! and it was hard-- and a lot of people laughed in my face when i told them my date (and i got used to it) so i was like, no biggie, i have time, etc.. until just recently when i told someone my date and they go--- oh boy, right around the corner! less than a year and i almost crapped my pants hahah!! trust me-- it goes by SO fast your head will spin...

not to mention, we are only two months away from xmas-- AND 07 girls are already sending out their invites!! girls getting married in early january are sending out their freaking invites!!! so that just goes to show you how fast it is going by! but i agree with nic, i love having a long engagement for so many reasons-- and i didn't listen to people and booked very early so i got a lot of great vendors i think i would have missed out on if i had waited.

---

totally agree! with both these girls....dont let anoyone get to u....i will be engaged for two yrs by the time we're married and at times i did wish that we just did it already but i knew we needed the money and i wanted to have enough time to do everything and not be stressed and i have to admit i havent really been stressed out at all....at times i get nervous or anxious thinking of things....overwhelmed that theres sooooo much ahead of me but everything got done and will get done....and dont let others say ohhhhhhhh its much too early or god 2yrs thats a ridiculous amount of time bc i used to say well WOULD U LIKE TO PAY FOR IT BC THEN WE'LL HAVE THE WEDDING THIS YR JUST FOR U! calm down take a breath and everything will be fine!!!!! ENJOY THIS TIME!!!!!!