You're Engaged! Now What?

Congratulations!

It’s time to celebrate & take the time to enjoy this time of being engaged to your love, Soon, you will want to start your planning and between demanding careers, full calendars, and everything else life requires of you could begin to feel overwhelming quickly. If you’re planning to get married this year & have less than a year to fully plan your wedding in Southern California (or elsewhere) with a thoughtful investment and a full life already in motion, the most important thing to know is this:

You do NOT need to do everything yourself — and you don’t need to do everything right now.

Here’s how to approach your engagement with intention, clarity, and expert support.

Start by Enjoying your Engagement (Yes, Really)

Before timelines, venues, or guest counts enter the conversation, give yourselves permission to pause & celebrate! Maybe take a weekend away or host a simple dinner with close family and friends. This is a meaningful milestone — not a logistical one! Couples who allow themselves to enjoy the engagement often make more confident, aligned decisions later in the planning process.

Have the Big-Picture Conversation Early

With full professional lives, efficiency matters. A short but focused conversation early on will save you countless hours later. Discuss:

• Your ideal guest experience

• The overall feel of your wedding (refined, coastal, romantic, modern, timeless)

• Seasonality and preferred dates

• What matters most to you both — design, food, location, or guest comfort

You don’t need answers to everything — just to agree on your priorities.

Establish your Budget

A realistic & intentional budget is key. This will vary based on your guest count.

For 100 guests, an average wedding is around $75,000. $100,000 wedding in Southern California allows for an elevated guest experience — but how that investment is allocated matters greatly. Early clarity around budget helps ensure:

• The right venues are considered from the start

• Vendor recommendations align with your expectations

• Design, logistics, and guest experience remain cohesive

For couples balancing demanding careers, this step is where professional guidance becomes invaluable. An experienced planner helps translate your investment into thoughtful decisions — without trial and error.

Build Your Guest List

Your guest count impacts everything — from venue availability to catering, rentals, and overall flow of the day. You can have a micro wedding that is a luxurious wedding weekend experience with 20 or less of your favorite people or a 250 person party and they might cost the same. Often even before budget, we encourage you to start working on a list. This early step allows you to understand your basic venue needs & your planner can guide you toward venues and layouts that make sense for your vision and investment.

Engage a Planning Team Early

For busy professionals, full-service wedding planning isn’t a luxury — it’s a practical solution.

An experienced Southern California planning team (that’s us!) will:

• Manage timelines, vendor sourcing, and contracts

• Provide design guidance rooted in experience and restraint

• Anticipate challenges before they arise

• Protect your time while ensuring nothing is overlooked

Most importantly, a planner acts as your advocate — ensuring your wedding reflects you, not trends or pressure.

Trust the Process & the Professionals You Hire

With the right team in place, wedding planning becomes less about managing details and more about making intentional choices. You’ll remain involved where it matters — while trusting experts to handle execution, logistics, and behind-the-scenes coordination.

This approach allows you to stay present in your career, your relationship, and your life — while knowing your wedding is being planned with care and precision. It also keeps things enjoyable vs stressful for you & your fiancé!

At Ebeling Events, we specialize in planning refined, intentional weddings for busy professionals getting married in Southern California.

Our role is to guide you through the process with clarity, discretion, and expertise — so you can focus on what truly matters. We look forward to helping you navigate this amazing season & meeting you soon!

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