Newly engaged

Hi everyone:
I just recently got engaged (on the 5th), however, given my plans to apply to b-schools this fall, we're thinking of getting married 3 years from now. That leaves me a lot of time to plan things, is there anything I should/could be doing now to help things run smoother in the future?
Thanks all.
Alina

Welcome! I got engaged 2 years ago now (getting married this October) and we booked the reception hall right away and then we waited and waited. The following year we booked the big things, photog, and DJ and then waited. The year we got married, I did everything else. Honestly, the time went fast and I had a lot of time to plan everything, less stress for me!

Hope this helps, good luck...everyone on this board has great advice.

Stacey

Congratulations!!

If you are 3 years out, I would say just start thinking about what sort of wedding you want and saving $$$.

I wouldn't suggest starting to book or buy anything for at least another year because your preferences may change as you see wedding mags and read these boards. Once you hit the 2 year to go mark, then you can start booking the big ticket items like the church, hall, photographer & band. Then at a year to go do all the smaller stuff like buy your dress, pick attire out for everyone else, etc..

Congrats!!!! One word SAVE. Have fun with the planning. Start looking at magazines and start looking at what things you would like to have at your wedding and start eliminating other things.

Enjoy and COngrats!!!!

Congratulations!

I had a 2 year engagement (getting married next July) and the first thing we did was to book our church and hall. After that, you can relax a bit and save money.

I would then book the photographer and DJ/band next.

Good luck with your planning.

Congrats on your engagement! I am having a year & a half engagement-getting married in a lil less than 10 months now--it goes by..i agree with sonicstef....and SAVE away!!!!!!
Good Luck!

I agree with everyone else, but just wanted to say Congrats and welcome! I wish I had that long to save more $$$$

Congrats! Welcome to the board
We got engaged in March and we are not getting married until June '04. I have all the important things booked, reception, mucis, video and photographer. I did this because I wanted to make sure I booked those I really wanted. You could wait if you want but you don't have to.
Happy Planning

Hi, congratulations. If you are three years off, you really dont need to anything right away. Like the other girls said, save up some money and maybe shop around some halls and see what you like and what you think you will be able to afford.

Congratulations on your engagement!!! I just graduated from b-schoool in May 2002 , and I got engaged in March 2002. I actually did not start looking at hall until June since I was so busy with final group projects and finals. Actually, I graduated with quite a few girls who planned their weddings while in b-school and it's a little stressful. It's gets a little difficult to manage your time b/c b-school is all about team projects so you spend alot of time outside of the classroom meeting with various groups. In addition to meeting with different vendors for your wedding. Since you have 3 years, you would probably still have a year to plan after b-school. My advice to you is to do as much as you can before you start school, like the church and hall. Best wishes in b-school and happy planning.

Septbride

Septbride:
Thanks for your advice. I actually am just applying to schools this year, so I expect the wedding to be a few months after graduation, if I get in. I'll be applying to Columbia and NYU and Wharton, w/Columbia being the early decision school, so I have just started my essays for Oct. deadline. I was thinking of waiting till decisions came out to actually set a wedding date. How have you managed to plan a wedding so quickly in such short amount of time? The few people who I know have planned weddings said it took them at least a year.
How have the new brides dealth with job search and wedding planning in the last year? Its something that I haven't thought about, but really should before setting a date. Did you go to a school in the same city as the wedding?

Thank you for your help..
Alina

Alina,

I'm not getting married until September 2003, so by the time I get married I would have been engaged for about a year and a half. So far I have the hall, church and dress(I just happen to find it at a trunk sale). That's all for now.

I went to school in NYC, I moved to Brooklyn to be closer to school. I grew up on Long Island, where I will be getting married. Right now I am working as an Marketing Consultant but I am also looking for a full time position so I have not had much time to plan. This site is great, it really helped me narrow down what halls to go and visit. I plan to focus on finding a full time position and then I can focus on the wedding planning. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy to help.

Septbride

Hi and congrats! Welcome aboard. I got engaged less tahn a year ago and am getting married this oct. This year has gone so fast! I kinda wish we had a 2 year engagement, especially snce we are down to making the last details. I agree with everyone.....SAVE! Also decide on where you want to live. If you are thinking of a house, you will also need to save for the downpayment and start looking at areas you like. It also doesn't hurt to start looking at halls to see what you and your FH likes and the prices of them. Whatever you decide to do right now, my biggest suggestion is to have FUN since it does go fast. I am looking foward to my wedding day, but at the same time I miss the newly engaged feeling. Cherish this as it is the only time you will do this.

best of luck.
Kelly

I just wanted to thank everyone about your advice. I'll try my best to save money this year, as I'll have 0 coming in when I am in school... We are also having a mini-engagement/housewarming party this saturday, so I am busy with these preparations.