What To Do After You Get Engaged

Did you get a special, shiny, sparkling surprise this year? After the excitement and (sparkly) dust have settled, the next step for any bride is to start planning!  But many brides don’t know where to start—the venue, the guest list, the dress?! There are so many things to consider that it can be a bit overwhelming to start planning the greatest celebration of your life! Luckily, we have some tips to help make the planning process a little easier.

First, pick a date (or a range of dates) so that you can set a timeline.  This will help you organize and strategize what needs to get done first.  Be mindful of holidays and other major life events on the calendar when choosing dates (college reunions, major sporting events, or even ‘unlucky dates’.)

The Grand Ballroom at Saratoga National Golf Club

After you have a date in mind, start reaching out to wedding venues and check their availability.  Your wedding day will have a certain feel, and the venue you choose will only enhance that.  Have an open mind when selecting venues—many of them will have special packages or discounted rates during certain times of the year (many of Mazzone’s venues offer Dream Date packages). Also, hiring a wedding coordinator can help relieve you of unnecessary  stressors and can help you organize everything in the months or weeks prior to your wedding.

Once you start to have the logistics figured out, the next step is deciding who and what to include on the big day—bridal party, the dress, guest list, food, etc. Below are some helpful links to help you start to plan and create a timeline for the months and weeks leading up to the wedding:

• The Knot’s 12-month wedding checklist
• The Mazzone Hospitality Wedding Book
• The Knot’s 30 tips for wedding planning, from experts

Also, don’t forget about the Mazzone Hospitality Bridal show on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at Glen Sanders Mansion! You will have a chance to meet local area vendors and also representatives from various Mazzone venues, for only $5.