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KIMBERLY JARMAN PHOTOGRAPHY KIMBERLY JARMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

From Yes! to I Do in 10 Easy Steps
WRITTEN BY Kelcy Christy

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o, youve said Yes! to the man of your dreams. Now its time to spend all of your waking hours eating, sleeping, and dreaming of your upcoming wedding. Get ready to bury yourself in bridal magazines and blogs constantly on the search for new ideas and inspiration! An engagement is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can be both the happiest and most stressful time of your life. Planning a wedding isnt easy, but were here to help guide you along your journey. Follow these ten easy steps to ensure that your big day comes just as easily as your love for your fianc!

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1. ANNOUNCE YOUR ENGAGEMENT

Once youve reveled in your excitement and slowly subsided from your initial engagement bliss, its time to share the good news with friends and family! Every couple is different, as is every engagement. Your announcement should reflect your personalities whether humble or bold, it will set the scene for your lives together as husband and wife. Whether you send out a web blast, make an engagement video, or plan an engagement party where you surprise your guests with the good news paired with a champagne toast, its sure to be a spectacle. Personalizing your engagement is easier than ever with todays technology, so go out there and spread the word!

2. CHOOSE A DATE
Choosing a date can be more difficult than you think. In addition to planning around family schedules, holidays, and other important festivities, it is essential to consider in which season you envision yourself walking down the aisle. In Arizona, our steady seasons can make your decision much easier. Spring and fall make for beautiful weddings with gorgeous sunny and breezy days shifting into warm, pleasant nights. Winter weddings are popular and also a great escape for guests that may be visiting from back East or the Midwest, while

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY VERDI

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Exquisite

summer weddings can offer some incredible markdowns for those brides on a budget willing to beat the heat.

Event Facility...

3. FIND A CEREMONY & RECEPTION LOCATION

Once youve chosen a season and a date, the search for the setting of your I do is in full throttle.
Photo: mikemaez.com

Arizona is known for its beautiful

resorts, country clubs, and churches, so at least youll have plenty of options! Venues fill up fast, so its important to start looking early. Visit as many potential locations as possible, re-visiting your favorites on event days to get a glimpse of what your wedding could resemble. Take your time and utilize the full facility tours to ensure that your appointment is worthwhile and informative. After all, this is the place where youll transform from a Miss to a Mrs.

Open House Wednesdays 6-8pm 602.456.0803

4. DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET

Big, beautiful weddings can be pricey, but determining a budget before you blow out your bank account can help you plan and
Photo: mikemaez.com

prepare. Oftentimes, parents of the bride and groom are more than happy to dish out some
Photo: brittanyjanel leph otography.com

dollars towards the celebration. If this doesnt sound like your circumstance, though, not to worry! Budgeting is now easier than ever with online tools and a wide array of do-it-yourself options. Local vendors should also be aware of your needs, and finding quality flowers or wedding packages at a lower cost is possible all you have to do is communicate!

Weddings Rehearsal Dinners Social Events Corporate Events

7010 S 27th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85041 venueatthegrove.com

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KIMBERLY JARMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

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5. ITS TIME TO POSE

Engagement photos are the perfect opportunity to get high-quality, professional photographs of the two of you in your pure, engagement bliss. Whether you utilize them in your Save-the-Dates or frame them in your first home together, you wont regret taking some time out of your busy schedules to pose for the camera.

6. SEND OUT THOSE SAVE-THE-DATES & INVITATIONS

Save-the-Dates are an easy and fun way to give your invited guests a heads-up on the big day. They should be sent out several months before your wedding date in order to allow out-of-town guests to plan their travel arrangements and in-town guests to plan their schedules around the festivities. Your official invitation should be mailed about eight weeks before your wedding date. As the RSVPs come pouring in, the excitement for your perfect day will only grow with anticipation.

7. GET THAT GORGEOUS GOWN

Youve been waiting for this day since you were a little girl, and its finally time to find that perfect dress. With hundreds of different

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EMILY SNITZER PHOTOGRAPHY

JEFF JANKE PHOTOGRAPHY

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silhouettes, materials, necklines, and price ranges at your disposal, your options are endless! With the help of your favorite bridal salon, best girlfriends, and family, your fairy tale wedding gown will be discovered in no time. Try on as many dresses as possible after all, this is the moment youve been waiting for. Enjoy it!

8. BOOK YOUR VENDORS

Without a wedding coordinator, planning can be an intricate task. Finding an officiant, photographer, videographer, entertainment, transportation service, caterer to work your wedding as well as placing orders for your cake, flowers, dcor, linens, and party favors takes a great deal of time and effort.
Moments Found Photography

The Premier Northwest Valley Wedding Site

Finding quality vendors through referrals and recommendations is a fantastic way to gain valuable products and services. Establishing meaningful relationships with vendors can also increase the splendor of your wedding even on a budget.

9. FINALIZE THE GUEST LIST

More guests mean more money, but that doesnt mean that you have to exclude some of your favorite people. Are your parents inviting some of their friends that youve never even met? Have a sit-down with your families to discuss the cap of your guest list and how it coincides with your venues accommodations and catering costs.

10. RELAX & ESCAPE

Keith Perry Photography

Wedding planning can bring up some sticky situations during the stressful times, but its important to remember why youre getting married in the first place to spend the rest of your lives with each other. Getting carried away with the details of your wedding shouldnt discourage you from spending quality time with the one you love. At least once a month, plan a non-wedding based date night. Or to take it one step further, plan a trip before the wedding to rest and rediscover that pre-planning enchantment that began when he first got down on one knee. The wedding of your dreams is only a snapshot of your lives together. The marriage of a lifetime, though well, thats a true treasure.

Keator Photo

BLACKSTONE COUNTRY CLUB Elizabeth Todd, etodd@blackstoneccaz.com 12101 West Blackstone Drive, Peoria, Arizona 85383 623-707-8702

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