It's Engagement Season

engagement season, hire a planner

Guess what? Its Engagement Season, that time of year that falls between Thanksgiving-(ish) and Valentines-(ish)

Yes, engagement season really is a thing…nearly 40% of all couples get engaged during this timeframe. I think it’s the holidays, family time, wanting to propose in or around a time when we will see our family. That, combined with the fact that some people like to do it on a holiday makes this time of year popular.

The average engagement length is 12-18 months while the average amount of time to plan a wedding is 13-18 months. Whatever your timeframe here are some things to get you started.

  1. Enjoy your engagement, spend time basking in the warm feeling you get and the congratulatory messages you will receive once you make your announcement. I have even known couples who will keep it to themselves for a few weeks just to share that special feeling with each other while no one else knows.

  2. Once you make the announcement, make a decision on the time of year you want to get married, and if possible narrow down the date. This will of course determine how long your engagement will be.

  3. If its a church wedding, the church date will be the next step, if your church is not available, then you will need to either change the date or the church.

  4. Of course, we are biased here, full disclosure, but hiring a planner would be the next thing on the list. A planner will help navigate the waters for you. You can do anything from day of to full service. They can help you with venues, vendors, and all of your visions. They can help negotiate contracts, give you money saving tips, and keep the planning on track

engagement ring engagement season party and be married

Here are a few other things that wedding planners can do for you…run interference with difficult family members, help narrow your scope of vendors if too many choices are too overwhelming, they will be the one point of contact between all of your vendors and will create a timeline to keep your whole day on track.

The scope of the planner is huge but you as the client can choose how much involvement you want to have.

My biggest piece of advice would be…Hire a Planner, even if it’s not us. I know it can be difficult to see as our job produces nothing tangible that you can hold, or touch but trust me, your future self will be thankful.

Dana DeMarco