You’re Engaged! What to Do Next – 5 Essential Wedding Planning Steps

Written By Kari Vosseler

Congratulations — You’re Engaged! Now What?

You said yes! 💍 The ring is on your finger, the excitement is real, and the questions are starting to roll in:

“When’s the wedding?”
“Where are you getting married?”
“Do you have a planner yet?”

Before you dive into Pinterest boards and venue tours, take a deep breath. Wedding planning is an exciting journey, and starting with the right steps will save you time, money, and stress down the road.

As a professional wedding planner in Orange County and Los Angeles, I’ve guided countless couples through this stage — and I’m sharing my 5 essential steps to start your wedding planning journey with confidence.

Step 1: Celebrate the Moment (and Set Your Vision)

Pop the champagne and enjoy this special season! 🥂
Take time as a couple to dream together:

  • What vibe do you want for your wedding?

  • Do you imagine a romantic vineyard, a modern rooftop, or a cozy backyard?

  • What colors, textures, or styles feel like you?

Your wedding vision becomes your north star — it will guide every choice from your venue to your décor.

💡 Pro Tip: Create a shared Pinterest board or save inspiration on Instagram to help visualize your dream day.

Step 2: Talk Budget and Guest Count Early

These two things will shape your entire planning journey.
Before booking vendors or touring venues, sit down together (or with your families) and talk numbers.

Ask yourselves:

  • What’s our overall wedding budget?

  • Who’s contributing and how much?

  • How many guests do we want to invite?

Knowing your budget + guest count early helps you focus on what matters most and avoid overspending later.

Step 3: Choose a Date & Start Researching Venues

Once you have a general vision and budget, it’s time to find the perfect venue!
Your venue often determines your wedding date, layout, and even design options.

Start touring your top picks early — popular locations in Southern California can book 12–18 months in advance.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep an open mind — if your dream venue isn’t available on a Saturday, consider a Friday or Sunday wedding for more flexibility and better pricing.

Step 4: Hire a Wedding Planner (Yes, Now!)

Bringing a planner on board early is one of the best investments you can make.
We’ll help you:

  • Build a realistic budget

  • Find trusted vendors

  • Create a personalized timeline

  • Bring your vision to life (without the stress!)

Whether you need wedding management, partial planning, or full-service design, our Party On Events team is here to guide you every step of the way.

💬 Ready to plan stress-free? Schedule a free consultation

Step 5: Get Organized with a Wedding Planning Portal

Staying organized is the key to a calm planning experience.
We recommend keeping all your details — budget, guest list, vendor contacts, and timelines — in one central place.

Our clients love using our online wedding planning portal, which gives you access to everything you need, from day one.

✨ Bonus Tip: Create a wedding email (like thevosselerwedding2026@gmail.com) to keep all planning messages in one place.

Final Thoughts

Your engagement is such a special chapter — enjoy it! Start with these five steps to build a strong foundation for your planning journey.

When you’re ready to take the next step, we’re here to make it stress-free, organized, and fun ✨

Ready to Start Planning with Confidence?

At Party On Events, we specialize in turning dream weddings into reality across Orange County, Los Angeles, and beyond.
Let’s create a day that feels like you.

👉 Schedule a free consultation
or
📩 Contact us today to learn more about our Wedding Management, Partial Planning, and Full Planning & Design packages.

Kari Vosseler