As a top Austin wedding planner, we know that while entering your engagement era can be full of excitement, celebration, and creativity, it can also bring anxiety and overwhelm. After all, a majority of brides and grooms have little to no experience planning a large-scale event. That means you are learning to navigate the events world for the first time without a guidebook or a practice run. You might be tackling unsolicited opinions from family and friends who put their desires for your wedding above your own. You may also feel pressure from yourself to ensure you have that picture-perfect wedding that you’ve been pinning on Pinterest for, like, ever.
As an Austin wedding planner, we totally understand the pressure to get your wedding day “right.” After all, we don’t take it lightly that we are responsible for executing days that our clients have dreamed of for their entire lives. We also understand the overwhelm that can spoil that post-engagement glow with so many tasks to check off.
Good news! Lumina Events is here to help. We have created this guide to help minimize the decision fatigue and set your wedding planning up for success. Keep scrolling to learn the first steps to take after getting engaged!
1. Get clear on your priorities
Before you start signing contracts and booking vendors, it’s important to sit down with your partner and identify your priorities. Are you a sucker for artsy photography? Do lush florals make your heart skip a beat? Does a live band make you want to dance the night away?
Knowing what’s most important to you for your wedding will help give you a North Star during the planning process. When hashing out your budget, you may want to allocate a larger portion to the things that matter most. If your date is flexible, you can also base your date off of when your dream vendors are available.
Knowing your non-negotiables will also give you clarity when unsolicited opinions present themselves. While your nosy aunt or overreaching grandparent might try to scare you out of buying your dream dress or into booking your least favorite caterer, you can rest easy and trust your gut by knowing that your priorities are in check.
Rebekah’s Pro-Tip: Sticker shock in wedding planning is real, and you may need some time to settle into the realities of wedding costs. BUT don’t be scared! As your Austin wedding planner, we help you create your budget (and stick to it!) and help match you with only the most tried and true vendors.

2. Start Your Guest List
Now that you’ve started thinking about what you want your wedding day to look like, it’s time to put pen to paper and decide who you’d like to join you!
Your guest list will be crucial for most of the decisions you make in your wedding planning process. It’s important to have a good idea of how many people you are inviting to ensure that you choose the right-sized venue and that your vendors can accommodate your needs.
Even if you have a preference for how large you would like your wedding to be, it’s important to sit down and physically list out all your friends and family members. Many of our couples are shocked at how many people they actually know once they sit down and really think about it! Getting your list started sooner rather than later is helpful as it can give you a realistic rather than idealistic number for your guest count.
Rebekah’s Pro-Tip: Start an ‘A’ list and a ‘B’ list in your phone or a Google spreadsheet that you can continuously work on.

3. Research Venues & Start Going on Tours
Now that you know your guest count, you can start getting an idea of the kind of venue that would fit your needs. There are quite a few factors to consider when choosing the right venue for you, such as location, features, size, and overall vibe.
A common mistake that we see couples make is judging the fit of a venue by pricing alone. While some venues may seem like a steal, they may be missing features that are crucial to you, such as cleaning services, setup assistance, and seating. On the flip side, venues with luxury pricing may include additional services, such as in-house decor or catering.
If you have a specific creative vision for your wedding, you will also want to view each venue’s contract to make sure that there aren’t any policies that prohibit use of your preferred decor pieces or activities. For example, many historic sites do not allow fresh florals onsite in order to preserve delicate flooring. Doing your due diligence ahead of time will save you future heartache in pursuit of your dream day.
Rebekah’s Pro-Tip: You will eventually have to select a venue that will fit your budget, but we will get to that later. For now, have a little fun!

4. Set a Budget
Now that you have done all your research, you probably have a better idea of the kind of budget that works best for you. Whether you are an Excel wiz or prefer pen and paper, go ahead and compile the pricing you’ve received from your dream vendors without worrying too much about the overall cost.
After calculating the total cost of your dream wedding, you may be pleasantly surprised or in total sticker shock! However, being realistic about wedding expenses will help you to move forward with clarity and use your resources wisely. If your total is more than expected, you can return to your priority list to help guide you on which vendors are a “must-have” and which you can compromise on. If your total was less than expected, you can give yourself permission to dream a little bigger and splurge a bit!
Regardless of the size of your budget, it’s important to factor in some wiggle room to account for the little expenses that add up over time (Think: sharpies for your guest book, the Uber ride to your afterparty, etc). While we encourage you to stick to your budget as closely as possible, sometimes life happens and additional expenses are necessary to execute your vision. If you plan for a little extra margin, it will save you some stress when these decisions come up.
Rebekah’s Pro-Tip: Start a spreadsheet and keep track of EVERY SPEND. Contact me if you need some budget help. I have an amazing tracker for you 🙂

5. Hire Your Austin Wedding Planner or Coordinator
We may be a little bit biased, but we consider this the most crucial step in setting your wedding planning journey up for success! Wedding planners and coordinators are here to help guide you through the process, making sure that no stone gets left unturned. We also use our experience to help you create an airtight timeline for your big day. On the day of your wedding, we serve as a priceless buffer between you and vendors, unruly guests, mishaps, and draining tasks. In a nutshell: planners and coordinators take care of the stressors for you so that you can genuinely enjoy your engagement and wedding.
When you reach out to wedding planners or coordinators, you will most likely get asked some basic questions such as your budget, date, venue, and service needs. If you don’t have all these details nailed down, no worries! Any planner worth their salt will be able to help you navigate these important questions. However, your answers will help the planner figure out if they are the right fit for you.
Rebekah’s Pro-Tip: The terms “wedding planner” and “wedding coordinator” are often used interchangeably. However, there is a big difference between the levels of service that these two roles provide. Click here to learn the difference between the two to ensure you get the coverage you need!

Meet Your Austin Wedding Planner!
Looking for a rockstar Austin wedding planner to make your dream day a success? Lumina Events at your service! At Lumina, we’re all about creating a warm and exciting atmosphere where everyone feels at home. Collaboration is key, and we’re here to make sure your big day is as smooth as possible. So go ahead, relax, and let us handle the nitty-gritty details. Because when you work with us, you’re not just getting a wedding planner—you’re getting a partner in crime, ready to make your special day the stuff of legends.
Click the button below to schedule a free consultation!

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Hello! I'm Rebekah...
I'm Rebekah, a wedding and event planner in Austin, TX and hospitality professional, here to give you the real info on all things partying and planning!
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