Engaged! Now what?

As I am writing this, it is under 11 months until my wedding, which is a nerve wracking thought! Not the marriage part, that doesn’t make me nervous at all; the planning, oh the planning!

Fiance and I have had a long engagement, 2 years exactly it will be when we marry. This has been a blessing (especially with our friend Covid-19) because it has allowed me to plan at my leisure, and as my chronic illnesses have allowed. When there are days you physically cannot function due to multiple reasons, you don’t want to feel pressured planning an event for 70-80 people!

We knew we wanted a long engagement - this gave us time to save our budget. It also gave us time to enjoy this time of our lives. So our first priority was choosing a date - I don’t know how most people do this, but we realised that 2 years from the date of our engagement was a Saturday! And that was pretty much it, from there I started looking at venues; garden, golf course, beach. So many choices for what society says is the biggest day of your life!

Well; golf course was ruled out as they never returned my email - quick way to lose business! Garden was beautiful - but didn’t do many Western weddings, and was hesitant; completely understandable! Beach - picturesque, I love the beach, Fiance hates open water, but appeases me. The room I wanted was out of our budget; but the smaller room was still beautiful and we could hold our ceremony on the foreshore across the road! WINNER; package includes drinks and honeymoon suite, even better!

I have to say that was the hardest part of planning thus far; we then chose our photographer, celebrant, DJ, invitations, colours, bridal party, held our engagement party, chose a theme, got my dress, thought about cake - and now here we are! 11 months out, and my wedding planning website says I don’t have to do anything until JANUARY! How amazing is that?! 

Highly recommend a website planner by the way, has been an amazing help of what I’m supposed to be doing, it does have a timeline, but I’m well ahead! I have been using https://www.easyweddings.com.au (not sponsored); this website has allowed me to contact and research vendors with ease! Making life so much easier as a bride, but especially as a bride with chronic illness. I found my venue, celebrant, photographer, flowers, make up artist and hair stylist through this one convenient site! Each “shop front” has the vendors information, and previous clients can leave reviews, this was so convenient - send a message through the website, and the vendor replies straight to your email inbox!

It has a timeline, guest list, budget; everything you need to keep your wedding on track, and keep an anxious mind calm; I can’t imagine having done this without this website.

My next brilliant website is https://withjoy.com/ (not sponsored) this is an online invitation and RSVP service, best of all it’s FREE! We have not used the invitation service, we have gone the old fashioned snail mail route; but I have elected to go with an online RSVP service. This will make my life easier come time, as I have as guest’s to fill in any food allergies they may have and elect their song of choice if they are attending, if they are not they can leave us a message! Of course if people choose to RSVP the old way, I can log onto the website and fill it in. This allows me to track households, as well as individuals - so I know exactly how many invitations I need to print and send.

That’s wedding instalment 1! I’ll have other tips or tricks coming throughout the coming year. Have you gotten married recently? Or are you getting married soon? Do you have any tips or tricks to help get through the day or lead up with chronic illness?