This past weekend, I was lucky enough to have the girl of my dreams agree to marry me.
Just Engaged
Everything for after you've said yes. The honest reads on the decisions that set the tone, and stories from couples who've been where you are.
You got engaged. For about a week that's the whole story, and then the questions start: when, where, how many, how much. It can feel like the fun got buried under a hundred decisions overnight.
It doesn't have to. Start with the first real decision, then take the rest one honest read at a time. And when you want a break from the planning, read how other couples actually did it.
You remember the nerves. You remember the yes. Tell us how it happened. We're all dying to know, and we read every one.
Tell Us Your StoryEvery Story Starts With a Yes
All storiesThe moment was a blur, but you tell the story for years. Read the ones that went to plan, and the ones that nearly didn't.
Alex and I have known each other since elementary school. We both started at a new school in 5th grade, however, this story does not have a happy beginning.
Hi. My name is Destinee and I am 18 years old. My fiancé’s name is Casey and we are also 18.
There is an older couple who live a couple miles up the road from me and my family. We met them a couple years back, and have continued to visit them regularly.
Wedding Articles
All wedding articlesThe rest of the early decisions, and how to make them.
Who to tell before it hits Instagram, and the call order that keeps the peace.
A beach abroad thins the guest list and shifts the cost onto you. The real trade-offs of a destination wedding, and who tends to regret it.
Barn, ballroom, beach, or city hall. How to land on a wedding style that looks like the two of you, not the last wedding you sat through.
The questions you're already asking
Who pays for what?
The old rule, that the bride's family pays, is mostly gone. Now it's whoever can and wants to, split however feels fair. Have the money talk early and you dodge the awkward surprises later.
Full guide: The Wedding Budget →Do we need a wedding planner?
Not always. If you've got the time and you enjoy the logistics, you can run it yourself and keep full control. A planner earns their keep when you're short on time, marrying far from home, or you'd rather not haggle with suppliers. And the discounts they land often cover their own fee.
Full guide: Do you need a planner? →How do we handle the guest list?
It's the part most couples find hardest, usually because of family pressure. Invite only the people you both want there and have both met. Draw the list first, then find a venue that fits it, padded about ten percent since some always drop out.
Full guide: The Guest List →