4 Essential Tips for Newly Engaged Couples Planning a Sonoma or Napa Wedding
Suzanne Karp Photography
Guest Post by Natalie May
Getting engaged is an exciting marker of a new and vital phase in your life, like a warmup to your happily ever after with the person you love. This can be an exciting, overwhelming, and confusing time for most couples. The good news is that you aren't alone. On average, 1,825,743 couples get engaged each year, with many getting engaged during the holidays. But before you get overwhelmed by the many options out there, it's important that you cover your bases. Your wedding is the next great thing after your engagement, so you don't want to rush it and make hurried decisions.
If we haven’t met yet, hi! I’m Lindsey Nickel and I’m a local Sonoma and Napa wedding planner and the owner of Lovely Day Events. Since 2010, I have helped stylish, fun-loving couples (and their dogs) plan destination weddings. Our clients want the ceremony to be outside, the food to be outstanding, and the dance parties to be epic. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place, so you might want to learn more about our wedding planning services.
Suzanne Karp Photography
Below, we'll be sharing four essential tips for newly engaged couples planning a Sonoma or Napa wedding:
1. Discuss How Long You Want Your Engagement To Be
This should be something to consider when hiring a wedding planner. The length of your engagement depends on your preference and how big or small your wedding arrangements are. Having a wedding planner to help estimate the budget, timing, and venues can help you make this decision, but ultimately, remember that this decision should be made as a couple. Shorter engagements — between eight to ten months — can keep things exciting and allow you to focus on everything you need for your wedding preparations. On the other hand, longer engagements give you the luxury of researching and comparing rates and saving for the big day. Some couples also place importance on the time of the year or the season they want to get married, so be sure to discuss this with your partner and your wedding planner. Sonoma and Napa are known for their beautiful summer & fall seasons, for example, so that's something to keep in mind if you want an outdoor wedding or a venue with lots of beautiful scenery.
2. Decide on a Wedding Venue in Sonoma or Napa
Your wedding venue plays a huge role in setting the vibe and atmosphere of your big day, so take your time to think of this, and don't forget to discuss and make the final decision as a couple. When in doubt, your wedding planner should be able to provide you with suggestions and rates so you can weigh your options. Wedding venues in Sonoma and Napa wine country vary from vineyard views to luxury resorts and wineries. If you're looking for a chic and relaxed celebration, for example, Napa Valley's Stanly Ranch offers a spacious green field surrounded by lavender fields. For something more luxurious, the Four Seasons Napa Valley will have both indoor and outdoor options available to tailor to your and your guests' tastes. Gundlach Bundschu winery is perfect for a mix of classic and welcoming and can offer you 320 acres and multiple areas to host your big day whether the guest list is big or small. As you can see, the options are endless depending on how you want your wedding to look and feel. If you've had a dream venue in mind, don't hesitate to bring it up with your wedding planner.
3. Consider your wedding photography options
As explained above, Sonoma and Napa Valley wedding venues are beautiful locations that are perfect for stunning wedding photos. At the same time, some of the landscapes can be very vast. If you want the perfect pictures to commemorate your big day and union, you should hire a local wedding photographer as they will have thousands of hours of experience capturing special moments. Hiring a photographer will also be one less thing to worry about on your wedding day as you can plan ahead of time and then simply let them get on with it.
PRO TIP: When interviewing wedding photographers, ask to see galleries from weddings at your wedding venue
4. Communicate with your fiance
Lastly, it's important that you communicate with your partner during your wedding planning period. Remember that this is probably a stressful time for you and your fiancé, and being newly engaged means you're in this together. Even if you think you know your partner and their preferences, it's always best to ask them and be sure before you spend money or finalize any bookings. Your big day will also be your fiance's big day, and this is a shared journey. Compassionate communication is essential instead of assuming you know something for certain. Being able to communicate openly with each other during this period of time will also prevent any unwanted conflict or fighting. Planning your big day will feel overwhelming at certain points, but don't forget that you aren't doing this alone. Your partner is there to help you — you just have to communicate.
Guest Writer: Natalie May is a freelance writer and blogger interested in photography and filmmaking. Particularly, Natalie enjoys topics about how new technologies are changing the way we interact with and create art. When not busy writing, Natalie spends time watching true crime documentaries with her dog Coco.
