Proposal Season

Proposal season will soon be upon us (if it's not already). Like the crazy weather we've been having, proposal season seems to be coming unseasonably early this year! Still, based on a 2011 study conducted by leading wedding organizations, December holds the most engagements with 16% overall. This can be welcomed or dreaded news for the men in your lives. Where some are ready to settle down, others, refer to marriage as "The 'M' Word." (I am sure there are women shaking their heads right now.) 

Well, if you are part of the lucky 16% this year there are a lot of "ducks to get in a row" when you begin planning a wedding. So where to start first? Below is a list to help get you started! 

• Talk Budget: It's the first place to start and everything will follow. The last thing you want to do is start your new life together in debt. The average cost today is just slightly over $27,000
• Start thinking a basic guest count too...this may help you formulate a realistic budget and you will need it when researching venues. 
• Pick a Date: Go in with an open mind. Unless you are stuck to one date because Aunt Ethel from Ireland will only be in town one weekend in July, pick a time frame or several weekends that you are open too. 
• Research Venues: Speaking from experience in the Lake Geneva area, venues book quickly! To get the date you want, start looking into places ASAP! 
• Pick Your Colors/Theme: This is another one of those "everything else will follow" sort of bullet points. Of course you can change it as the date gets closer, but if you are like me, you want everything that you send to your guests to be uniform and matching the overall look and feel of your big day.
• Save the Dates: Once you have selected the city/state of your wedding, you can send these out. You can have as much or as little detail as you want. If you have a hotel room block that they can begin booking, be sure to include that too!

The list can go on and on! I will certainly add to it throughout the engagement season!

Need something to help you stay organized? I have to say I LOVE the new theknot.com wedding app...yep! There really is an app for everything! The app gives you a countdown and helps keep you on task (and budget).