Planning A Wedding: Long Engagements And How To Manage

Planning a wedding with a long engagement can be a luxury, giving you more time to finalise details and reducing the risk of burnout. You can also take your time to find the right vendors, as they usually book up about a year in advance. However, it's important to remember to enjoy your engagement first and not get too caught up in the planning process.

Take advantage of the extra time to plan at a leisurely pace

A longer engagement gives you the opportunity to plan at a more relaxed pace, reducing the risk of burnout. You can take the time to figure out your wedding planning pace, whether that's frontloading all your tasks early or parceling them out over several phases.

You'll likely have your pick of wedding vendors, as they usually book up about a year in advance. So, if your timeframe is longer than that, most vendors will generally be available. You can also take the time to browse wedding photos to find vendors that match your style.

However, if you're planning a wedding for 2022, it's recommended that you secure your venue and planner as soon as possible, as the global pandemic has caused a high demand for ideal venue spaces and event services.

Remember, the most important thing after getting engaged is to enjoy your engagement first! Take advantage of the extra time to tune out the social media noise and bring your true self to your wedding planning.

Secure your venue and planner early

A longer engagement gives you the luxury of time to plan your wedding at a leisurely pace, with less stress. You can take advantage of this by figuring out your wedding planning pace, whether that means frontloading all your tasks early or parceling them out over several phases.

The first step should be to secure your venue and planner. "With the number of 2020 weddings moving to 2021, ideal venue spaces and event services are in demand," says Oakland, California–based Planner Lea Stafford. "Securing your venue and planner for 2022 should be your first step."

If your wedding is more than a year away, you don't need to start planning until three or four weeks after getting engaged. However, if you have a specific venue or planner in mind, it's worth booking them as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Vendors usually book up about a year in advance, so if your timeframe is longer than that, most vendors will generally be available.

Take the time to browse wedding photos and find vendors that match your style. Talk to your partner about whether you want a long or short engagement, as this will impact your planning timeline.

Finalise details

A longer engagement gives you more time to finalise the details of your wedding. You can take advantage of the extra time to plan at a leisurely pace and reduce the risk of burnout. You can also forget the normal order of things and be open to doing important things first. For example, securing your venue and planner should be your first step, as ideal venue spaces and event services are in high demand. You can also take your time to find vendors that match your style.

You can also use this time to tune out the social media noise and bring your true self to your wedding planning. Figure out your wedding planning pace, whether it’s frontloading all your tasks early or parceling them out over several phases.

Remember to enjoy your engagement first and don't feel pressured to start planning right away. You don't need to start planning until three or four weeks after getting engaged if your wedding is more than a year away.

Enjoy your engagement

A long engagement can be a luxury, giving you the opportunity to relax and take on wedding planning at a slow and leisurely pace, with less stress. You can take advantage of the additional time as a couple and pace yourself to reduce the risk of burnout. You can also forget the normal order of things and be open to doing important things first. For example, securing your venue and planner should be your first step, as ideal venue spaces and event services are in high demand.

You can also use the time to tune out the social media noise and bring your true self to your wedding planning. Figure out your wedding planning pace, whether it's frontloading all your tasks early or parceling them out over several phases. You don't need to start planning until three or four weeks after getting engaged, so take the time to enjoy your engagement first.

You'll likely have your pick of wedding vendors, as they usually book up about a year in advance. If your timeframe is longer than that, most vendors will generally be available. You can also use the extra time to finalise details, especially if you're not set on a specific wedding season or location.

Remember to have an important conversation with your partner about whether you want a long or short engagement, as the general engagement length you choose will impact your planning timeline.

Talk to your partner about the length of your engagement

It's important to talk to your partner about the length of your engagement. A longer engagement allows more time to finalise details, especially if you're not set on a specific wedding season or location. You'll also be able to take on wedding planning at a slower pace, with less stress. However, there are advantages to a shorter engagement, too.

If you're thinking of a long engagement, it's a good idea to start the planning process early. This will allow you to pace yourself and reduce the risk of burnout. You'll also be more likely to get your pick of vendors, as they usually book up about a year in advance.

When you're discussing the length of your engagement, you don't need to have an extensive conversation or set a wedding date. But it is a good idea to talk about the estimated timeframe. You might also want to think about whether you want to frontload all your tasks early on or parcel them out over several phases.

Remember, the most important thing after getting engaged is to enjoy your engagement first! Take advantage of the additional time as a couple and tune out the social media noise to bring your true self to your wedding planning.

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