Short answer: congratulations! Before you book a single vendor: enjoy being engaged, have the money talk, decide who's contributing (and what that means), pick a rough guest count, choose a season, decide what matters most to you two, and get your engagement photos. Doing these first saves you money and a lot of stress later.
I've seen a lot of couples jump straight into booking venues the week they get engaged. Here's the order I'd actually go in.
1. Enjoy it first
Take a week or two. Tell your people, celebrate, look at the ring a hundred times. The planning will still be there.
Then expect it to get loud. The costs start adding up, and everyone has advice. Cynthia's answer for that stage: "Find a third party, not a family member: somebody you trust, who has your back, shares your vision, and puts your priorities before their own. A family member is going to have some kind of bias. You need somebody who's just on your side."
Booking your 2027 wedding? Your engagement session is free. How the free session works →
2. Have the money talk
Before Pinterest, before venues. What can you two actually spend? Be honest. A full wedding in Orlando with a real guest list usually starts around $35,000. (Here's why.)
Our lead planner, Cynthia, starts every full-planning couple the same way: "We look at the vision. We look at the budget. That's huge. We set a budget for each individual thing: decor, food, invitations." Do that now, even if you never hire a planner, so one big quote doesn't blow up everything else.
3. Decide who's paying, and what that means
If family wants to help, that's a blessing. But whoever pays usually gets a say. Decide early what their help covers and who makes the final call. I learned this one at my own wedding. (Who Pays for the Wedding Gets a Say)
4. Pick a rough guest count
Guest count drives almost every cost: venue size, food, decor, chairs. Is it 50 or 250? You don't need names yet, just a range.
One guest-list rule from Cynthia: "Try to keep the people apart. But if someone can't behave and is going to bring drama, I wouldn't even invite them. They're going to ruin your day."
5. Choose a season, not a date
Pick a season and a few possible weekends. Then check your must-have vendors before you lock it in. In Orlando, spring and fall go fast.
6. Decide your top three
What matters most to you two? The food? The photos? The party? The family traditions? Put your money there and keep everything else simple.
7. Get your engagement photos
They're for your save-the-dates, your wedding website, and for getting comfortable in front of the camera before the big day. When you book your 2027 wedding photo and film with us, your engagement session is free.
Bonus: consider the courthouse
If the numbers don't work, there's nothing wrong with getting married at the courthouse now and throwing the party later. (Here's how.)
Common questions
What should you do first after getting engaged? Enjoy it, then talk budget, decide who's contributing, pick a rough guest count and a season, before booking any vendors.
How long after getting engaged should you start planning? Most couples start within a month or two, for a wedding 12 to 18 months out.
What vendors should you book first? Usually the venue, then your planner and your photographer and videographer, because the good ones book early.
When should we book a wedding planner? Right after you get engaged, as soon as you're ready to start planning. That's when the budget and the first big decisions happen.
How do I deal with family drama at my wedding? Seat people apart and give your planner a heads-up. If someone can't behave, it's OK not to invite them. It's your day.
How do I stop feeling overwhelmed planning my wedding? Get one person on your side who isn't family: a planner or coordinator you trust, who shares your vision and puts your priorities first. Then decide your budget and top priorities before you take everyone's advice.