Top 5 Must-Do Wedding Planning Tasks for Newly Engaged Couples

💍 Top 5 Must-Do Wedding Planning Tasks for Newly Engaged Couples

Congrats, you’re engaged! 🎉 The excitement is real—but so is the planning. Before you dive headfirst into Pinterest boards and venue tours, let’s lay the foundation with the five most important steps to get started with confidence.

1. Set Your Budget

Your wedding budget is your roadmap. It tells you where you can go and what’s possible. Discuss your priorities with your partner—venue, food, dress? Knowing your spending limit early keeps everything in perspective and helps avoid stress later on.

2. Book Your Venue

Venues book fast—sometimes a year or more in advance. Once you have a budget and a rough guest count, lock in your ceremony and reception locations. Everything else (theme, timeline, even attire!) will start to fall into place once you have your venue.

3. Hire Your Key Vendors

Think of these as your wedding “dream team.” Photographer, planner/coordinator, officiant, and caterer are usually booked early in the process. Bonus tip: If you’re in Chicago, book vendors who know your venue—it’ll make coordination smoother!

4. Send Save-the-Dates & Invitations

Once your venue and vendors are booked, let your guests know! Save-the-dates are typically sent 6–8 months before the big day, and invitations 6–8 weeks before. This gives everyone time to plan, RSVP, and celebrate with you.

5. Create Your Wedding Day Timeline

This step brings everything together. Work with your planner or day-of coordinator to create a smooth-flowing timeline for your ceremony, reception, and in-between moments. A solid plan helps everyone—vendors, guests, and you—enjoy the day stress-free.

Need Help Getting Started?

At Destin Weddings, we help couples in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs plan meaningful, stress-free weddings from start to finish. Whether you’re planning a micro-wedding or a full celebration, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

📆 Schedule your free consultation today and let’s start planning your day, your way.