Engagement is a wonderful time in your life. Before diving into wedding planning, take time to celebrate with friends and family.

2. OPEN A JOINT BANK ACCOUNT.

Start saving! Open a joint bank account for wedding-related expenses to keep track of contributions and expenses.

3. INSURE YOUR RING.

This is a responsible thing to do =)

4. START PINNING AND CREATE AN INSPIRATION BOARD.

You’ve probably been waiting for this for years! Start looking for inspiration on Pinterest to figure out what style you want for your wedding.

There are so many styles, colors, and options for every single aspect of your wedding. After spending some time pinning, take a moment to narrow down everything you’ve pinned and create an inspiration board to focus on your wedding vision. An inspiration board will help you make decisions for every aspect of your wedding day.

5. CHOOSE A SEASON.

If you weren’t sure which season you wanted to get married in before creating your inspiration board, you probably have a preference now. Look at the pictures you’ve used on your inspiration board – they will show you which season you feel drawn to.

6. SET YOUR BUDGET AND CREATE A GUEST LIST.

This is probably the hardest part, especially if your fiancé’s parents and yours haven’t been approached about it yet. Money talks aren’t easy, but they will answer many questions about wedding plans. The sooner you have a budget to work with, the sooner you can finalize the guest list, and the sooner you can check off this huge item on your to-do list!

7. PLAN A LADY’S DAY AND TRY ON WEDDING DRESSES!

There’s nothing more exciting than visiting a bridal shop and trying on wedding dresses for the first time! Even if you’re not ready to order your dress yet, trying on some beautiful dresses will be a fun way to relieve some of the stress you might feel after searching for a venue.

8. CHOOSE A VENUE AND SET A DATE.

This might be easier said than done. Or it could be love at first sight =) Either way, once you’ve found a venue and set a date, things will start to take shape!

9. BOOK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER AND PLAN YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION.

Next, you should research and book your photographer. Many wedding photographers in Germany are typically booked 12 to 18 months in advance, so they should be high on the list of vendors to book after securing your venue. Once you’ve chosen a specific photographer, contact them before booking the venue to inquire about available dates.

It may take some time to find the right photographer for you. Take your time booking your photographer because when the wedding is over, your photos will be the only things that remain. Make sure not to hastily schedule an engagement session with just any photographer. If you want engagement photos, it’s important to have them taken by your wedding photographer. After all, you want to get to know them and get comfortable with their posing style.

10. FIND LOCATIONS FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION AND MARK THE DATE IN YOUR CALENDAR!

Your engagement session is an opportunity to connect with your photographer, see how it feels to be photographed, and get pictures for your save-the-date. Research locations and plan your session for the best time of year for the place you’ve chosen.

11. BOOK YOUR VIDEOGRAPHER, CATERER, BAND OR DJ, FLORIST, AND PHOTO BOOTH.

Once the venue and photographers are booked, focus on the videographer, caterer (if your venue doesn’t provide one), entertainment, floral arrangements, and photo booth. Be sure to ask your wedding photographer for recommendations. If you loved their work, you’ll likely appreciate their favorite vendors too. Once these key elements are taken care of, you can relax a bit before tackling the rest of your to-do list.

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