Engaged This Summer? Here’s 10 Wedding Planning Steps You Should Take This Fall
- Missy
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Summer has a way of making everything feel a little more romantic with its long days, warm nights, vacations, beach proposals, and maybe even a surprise engagement!
If you got engaged this summer, first things first: CONGRATULATIONS! You have officially entered your engaged era.
But now that summer is winding down and fall is right around the corner, you may be looking at your ring and thinking, Okay…now what?
Don’t worry. You do not need to have your entire wedding planned by September. In fact, fall is the perfect time to start turning that shiny new engagement into an actual wedding plan without letting the planning process take over your life.
So grab your favorite fall beverage, get your partner involved, and let’s talk about the next steps for the newly engaged curvy bride.
1. Take a Minute to Actually Be Engaged
We know. You want to start a Pinterest board. You want to look at venues. You want to try on dresses. You want to tell approximately 47 people about your ring...and you should!
But before you turn your engagement into a second job, take some time to enjoy it.
Go on a date. Take engagement photos. Celebrate with the people you love. Stare at your ring approximately 700 times a day.
There will be plenty of time for seating charts and vendor contracts.
Right now, you get to be engaged.
2. Figure Out Your Wedding Budget
We hate to be the buzzkill, but this one needs to happen early.
Before you start falling in love with venues, photographers, florists, and wedding dresses, sit down with your partner and figure out what you’re realistically comfortable spending.
If family members or other loved ones are contributing, have those conversations early, too.
And yes, your wedding gown should be part of the conversation!
Knowing your overall budget and what portion you’re comfortable putting toward your gown will make shopping much less stressful later.
3. Pick a Wedding Date
You don't necessarily need to have the exact date locked down immediately, but once your date is locked in, a lot of other details will start to fall into place and become a lot easier.
But start thinking about when you want to get married.
Are you dreaming of:
A cozy fall wedding?
A winter celebration?
A spring garden wedding?
A big summer party?
Your wedding date will influence almost every other planning decision, including your venue, vendors, and wedding dress timeline.
And speaking of that…
4. Start Looking at Wedding Dresses Earlier Than You Think
This is the big one for our curvy brides.
If you’re newly engaged this summer and hoping to get married next year, fall is a great time to start thinking seriously about your wedding gown.
We generally recommend beginning your wedding dress search about 12–14 months before your wedding date so you have access to the widest range of designers and styles. Different designers have different production timelines, so shopping earlier gives you more options.
That doesn't mean you need to walk into a bridal boutique tomorrow and say, “I'M READY. BRING ME THE DRESSES.”
Start by figuring out what you like.
Save dresses you love. Pay attention to silhouettes, necklines, sleeves, fabrics, and details. Notice what keeps catching your eye.
And then…Go try some dresses on. (Make an appointment here)
Because what you love in a Pinterest photo and what makes you feel like YOU in person can be two very different things.
5. Find a Bridal Boutique That Actually Understands Curvy Brides
This is especially important.
Your bridal shopping experience should not involve being handed a tiny sample gown and being told to “just imagine it.”
You deserve to actually see yourself in wedding dresses.
At Ivory & Main Curvy Bridal Boutique in Sayville, we specialize in creating a welcoming, size-inclusive bridal experience for curvy brides. Our samples range from sizes 10–32, and gowns can be ordered in a wide range of sizes.
The goal isn't to make you figure out how to fit yourself into bridal shopping. The bridal shopping experience should fit you.
6. Start Building Your Wedding Vendor Dream Team
Once you have your date, start researching the vendors you’ll need.
Think:
Photographer
Videographer
Florist
Caterer
DJ or band
Hair and makeup
Officiant
Wedding planner or coordinator
Read reviews. Look at portfolios. Ask questions.
Don't be afraid to reach out to vendors you love even if you're not ready to book immediately. Some popular vendors can book months, or even years, in advance.
7. Make a Rough Guest List
Notice we said rough.
You don't need to know exactly who is sitting at Table 12 yet, but having an approximate guest count will help you determine what kind of wedding you're planning.
Are you thinking 40 people in an intimate setting?
150 people dancing all night?
Or are you currently saying, “I don't know, my mother has already invited 87 people”?
A general guest count will help you narrow down venues and get a better idea of your overall wedding budget.
8. Start Thinking About Your Wedding Vibe
You don't need a perfectly curated wedding Pinterest board, but it can help to start thinking about the overall feeling you want for your day.
Romantic and timeless?
Modern and glamorous?
Boho and relaxed?
Classic ballroom?
Garden party?
Big dramatic fairytale energy?
Your wedding aesthetic can help guide everything from your venue to your flowers and eventually, your wedding gown.
And remember: your wedding doesn't have to fit into one specific aesthetic box.
Mix things up. Break the rules. Wear the dramatic ballgown. Add the sparkle. Skip the traditions you don't care about.
It's your wedding.
9. Start a Wedding Planning System Before the Chaos Begins
This is the least glamorous step and possibly one of the most important.
Create one place for your wedding information.
Whether that's a binder, spreadsheet, wedding planning app, shared Google Drive, or something completely different, find a system that works for you and your partner.
Keep track of:
Vendor information
Contracts
Payments and due dates
Guest list
Wedding inspiration
Important appointments
Dress information
Questions you need to ask
Your ever-growing list of things you swear you'll remember
Spoiler: You will not remember everything.
Write it down.
10. Don't Let Wedding Planning Become Your Entire Personality
Yes, you are a bride...but you are also still a person.
Keep your regular date nights. See your friends. Watch something other than wedding content. Go out to dinner without discussing centerpieces.
And most importantly, don't compare your wedding planning timeline to someone else's.
Your cousin booked her venue in three days? Cool.
Someone on TikTok already has her entire wedding planned two years in advance? Good for her.
You don't have to do everything at the same speed. Your engagement is your timeline.
And Now…It's Time to Start the Fun Part
If you got engaged this summer, fall is the perfect time to move from “OMG, I'M ENGAGED!” to “Okay, let's actually start planning this thing.”
You don't need all the answers yet. You just need to start.
Figure out your budget. Think about your date. Start researching venues and vendors. Explore your wedding dress options. Most importantly, find people who make you feel supported throughout the process.
Wedding planning should not be about changing yourself to fit some imaginary bridal standard. It's about creating a wedding that feels like you.
When you're ready to start talking dresses, we're ready to help.
At Ivory & Main Curvy Bridal Boutique, we're here to make wedding dress shopping a place where you can explore, have fun, try on beautiful gowns, and actually see yourself as the bride you've been imagining.
Congratulations, bride-to-be. Your next chapter starts now.
Comments