Tips for a Two-Year Engagement (Plus a timeline)

If you are having a long engagement and have been struggling to figure out the proper timeline, you are not alone! 

We got engaged last October and knew we wanted to get married in October 2015. I realized pretty quickly that two years was this awkward, drags-but-flies-by length for an engagement, and the fact that we are nearing the mid point is crazy to me! Fall 2014 seemed ages away to me last year, and here we are, almost upon it.

So far our engagement has been very pleasant and stress-free, and here are some things I have learned along the way:

1.) Do not be shy about starting early!

Tom and I started planning our wedding immediately. We already knew which venue we wanted, so we booked that exactly two years to the day of our wedding. Surprisingly, throughout this process not one vendor has looked at us like we're insane for starting so early. I know there are some areas where you can't even book until a year out, but we didn't run into that.

It's good to relax and settle into being engaged for a bit, but if you have a longer time to plan, I figure it makes sense to use it! I hear a lot of people say they think they should wait until time gets closer, but we have found that earlier planning has been a huge plus.

Our goal was to spend the first year of our engagement getting some of the bigger things out of the way, and focusing on more details the second year. See our timeline below for what we've done so far, and what we plan to do over the next several months.

The beauty of all this time is we haven't had to compromise on a single vendor we wanted.

2.) Set up a different email account (or a wedding folder in your email)

I actually did not set up a different email account, but I do think it's a brilliant idea if you will be contacting a ton of vendors. We pretty much knew every vendor we wanted from the get-go, so I opted for a separate folder in my email. Anytime a vendor contacted me or I found helpful links or items online, I would save it in that folder. I actually set it up in May 2013, so it's pretty well-established by now!

If I need something quickly (like a budget item) and I'm away from home, everything is saved in that folder. It definitely has made my life easier.

3.) Sign up at Evernote, or create a portable wedding notebook

Similar to creating a separate email folder, Evernote is amazing for organization. If you haven't used it before, it works like a giant notebook. You create a bunch of notebooks (I have ones for the wedding, our house hunting, my job, weekly grocery lists, etc.) and put smaller notes within them. I didn't know if it would be helpful at all at first, but now I use it every day. Actually, I am writing this post in Evernote right now!

I love that I can pull up the wedding "notebook" and have everything I need. I drop links in there to bridesmaid dresses I like or helpful articles, and I can check off to-do items all in one program. Even if you're not planning a wedding, it's a fantastic program.

If you like physical notebooks, those work, too. I used one daily with tabs before I discovered Evernote.

4.) Work when you feel inspired

May was, randomly, a highly productive month for wedding planning. Everything else was pretty calm, so we got a ton of stuff out of the way while we felt like it. That worked well, because once I got busy preparing for my friend Sandy's wedding events, I didn't feel like doing any extra wedding-related chores. Having a lot of time allows you the freedom to tackle your to-do list when you're in the mood. Just make sure you take advantage of that motivation!

5.) Pay close attention at other weddings

Chances are you will attend at least one wedding in the span of two years. This is great, because you can see a wedding in action and find out what really did make a difference to the day, what didn't matter much, and what you would like to do without.

6.) Work the sales

Another major benefit of having two years to plan - annual sales! For example, we are getting married in late October. That means that at the end of the fall/Halloween season, we can shop the sales to get floral and decor sections to stock up (cheaply) on things we know we will want. I also got great deals on cafe lights in the off season, and we will be using holiday sales to buy parent and bridal party gifts.

7.) Have fun!

Sometimes this engagement feels like it is dragging on endlessly. But it really is a very special, unique time in our lives, and I am grateful that we get to bask in the fun for two years. Though I have to say, I am looking VERY forward to that one year out mark!

Here is the breakdown of what we've done so far, and what we plan to do:

2013

October:

-Got engaged

-Picked a date

-Booked venue (which is also our ceremony site and caterer)

-Starting looking at potential color schemes/inspiration

November:

-Nothing really. Ate some turkey.

December:

-Again, I'm pretty sure we twiddled our thumbs and got presents this whole month.

2014

January:

-Booked our photographer

February:

-I tried on dresses for the first time

-Attended some bridal shows

March:

-We spent time getting more ideas and hammering down our color scheme

April:

-Did April even happen this year? Seriously, I feel like I remember nothing from that month.

May:

-Booked DJ

-Booked videographer

-Started buying decorative items on sale (Gotta love those Hobby Lobby lantern and glassware sales!)

-Bought my dress!

-Bought my wedding shoes and socks (Yes, socks.)

June:

-Booked officiant

-Visited hotels to get ideas for room blocks

-Made gifts to ask my bridesmaids

July:

-Got festive on Fourth of July. Didn't think much about weddings.

August:

-Finished up "Will you be my bridesmaid?" gifts

-Asking bridesmaids throughout the month

-Attending our engagement party luau at the end of the month!

-Started our registry (We are moving in the spring and some relatives want to get us house gifts for Christmas, so we got a jump start on this.)

September:

-Meeting with, hopefully booking, a florist

-Figuring out room blocks (I am actually dreading this. Does anyone have any room block advice for me?!)

-Start researching hair and makeup artists in the area (possibly booking both)

October:

-Create mock centerpieces to see what we like (we will be using pumpkins in our decor)

-Finalize guest lists

-Create a more detailed diet/exercise plan (Weddings seem to be excellent motivation in this department.)

November:

-Shop for parent/bridal party gifts at Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales

-Finish up wedding website

-Research/decide on save-the-dates

December:

-Select bridesmaid dresses

2015

January:

-Determine rehearsal dinner venue/ get it booked

-Attend venue food tasting

-Plan out welcome weekend

-Book lighting through venue
-Had makeup trial

February:

-Send save-the-dates

-Went cake tasting!!!

-Search for invites/thank-you cards

March:

-Choose groomsmen's attire

April
-Begin gathering wood to create our wedding ceremony arch (April was pretty slow!)

May
-Review ceremony from officiant (Also a slow month!)

June
-Order invites and invite extras

July
-Prepare invites
-Check on registry to prepare for bridal shower
-Finalize music options with the DJ
-Look up must-have photos for our photographer
-Purchase remaining gifts: Flower girl, ring bearer, parents, etc.

August
-Update wedding website with things to do, restaurants, schedules, etc. 
-Meet with venue to finalize menu
-Send invites

September
-Meet with florist to finalize flowers
-Create seating chart
-Follow up on RSVP's
-Pick up marriage license
-Check on room blocks; add rooms if need be

October
-Assemble welcome bags
-Have rings cleaned
-Make a day-of schedule
-Check in with all vendors
-Get married!

Those of you in or who have had long engagements - do you agree with this list? What would you add?