Engaged? Your First Steps Checklist
Congratulations!
You’re engaged 🎉 — and now the excitement begins.
But before you dive into Pinterest boards, cake tastings, and dress try-ons, it’s important to take a strategic approach to the first few weeks of engagement.
Starting strong sets the tone for stress-free planning, ensures you honor both your vision and family traditions, and helps you make thoughtful decisions. Here’s a DIYplanner-approved, Utah-County-focused checklist to guide your first steps.
Share the News — Start Small
Your engagement is personal — start by telling your closest friends and family in person or over a private call. Once you’ve celebrated in your inner circle, you can share the news on social media. Wedding planners recommend keeping the initial announcement intimate to truly savor the moment and avoid feeling rushed into a big online reveal.
Planner Advice: Consider coordinating a casual dirty soda/crumble cookie trip with parents and siblings first — many couples find this strengthens family excitement and creates meaningful memories before the online announcement.
Consider Celebrating with an Engagement Party (Optional)
Engagement parties aren’t mandatory, buta small gathering helps you mark the milestone.Some couples host a backyard brunch, a cozy dinner, or a casual happy hour at a local Utah venue. This also gives you a sense of which guests you might include in the wedding itself.
Planner Tip: Keep it simple — it’s about celebrating your engagement, not planning the wedding yet!
The Ring Matters
Before doing anything else, make sure your engagement ring is sized properly, insured, and secure. Double-check any questions about warranties or customizations now, rather than waiting until the wedding day.
And get it in the photos. Oh, I’m a bit ahead of myself (photographer here, so it’s understandable…)
Planner Advice: Utah has a variety of local jewelers who offer ring sizing, engraving, and insurance guidance — a local jeweler can be a great resource as you plan.
Book Your Engagement Photoshoot
Engagement photos aren’t just for keepsakes — they also serve as styling inspiration for your wedding. Your photographer can advise on locations, timing, and poses that work well with your chosen venue and season.
Planner Tip: Local areas like Rock Canyon, Utah Lake, the City Center Temple, City Hall offer stunning backdrops.
My favorite as a photographer - the red rocks of Southern Utah can make for dramatic, memorable engagement photos that scream Utah! We have 5 national parks and many beautiful state parks. Use them. Drive a bit - its worth it.
Planner Advice: we’ve got a curated list of experienced and accomplished photographers in our Preferred Vendor list. Check them out.
Set a Budget Early
One of the first things wedding planners recommend is to get clear on finances. Sit down together, optionally with your parents, to decide:
What’s most important to you?
What family traditions do you want to honor?
How much flexibility do you have with individual budget items?
Modern brides focus on experiences and events that balance their vision with family expectations, but remember: you are in charge. This is your wedding, so make intentional choices about where to spend your money and where to save.
Planner Tip: Many Utah couples prioritize the venue and catering as the largest portion of their budge - we are all about the treats here in Utah County. Keeping valley vendors in mind (like we highlight in our Preferred Vendors list) can also save on travel costs and create stronger community connections.
The Venue
Your venue is the centerpiece of your celebration — treat it as the cornerstone of your event. Of course, we say that, but that does not belie the fact that it shapes the entire reception experience beyond the temple. Don’t get overwhelmed - visit a few websites, make a list, and visit your top three. Hopefully, we’re number one, of course. Make sure to look at Google Reviews and make sure you ask friends - we go to a lot of weddings in Utah County, so there will be lots of opinions.
Then do a few tours.
Feel the vibe.
See how the staff honors your vision and ideas. If you don’t know what you’re doing yet, just ask for advice and listen - we answer a lot of questions from first-timers, and we’re here to help earn your trust. We get a lot of young brides sitting in our Party room with a bit of excited anxiety about the process - it’s our goal to make you comfortable and discuss what we know from real-world experiences helping Utah County Brides celebrate.
Planner Tip:
Consider the season and how that will impact your day.
Plan for something central to Utah County and close to hotels/restaurants for out-of-town visitors (something we considered when building our venue downtown Provo).
Build your Guest List
Start with a rough list within your budget and make sure the venue can comfortably accommodate it. Food costs are going to be the biggest cost for larger parties - but we have tips on how to make the best of your food budget.
In Utah, trends lean toward 140–170 guests, but your ideal number should reflect your priorities. The smaller the list, the more you have to spend on the celebration - and the trend is towards slightly smaller guest lists and more experiential options.
Planner Tip: Identify must-have guests first, then expand to friends and extended family. This prevents overshooting your budget early on.
Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize
Sit down with your fiancé and decide what matters most: food, photography, music, or maybe unique experiences like a signature dirty soda bar or interactive guest activities.
Be consistent in your decisions — once you decide your priorities, let them guide your planning.
Planner Tip: In Utah, couples often prioritize family-friendly events with lots of dancing and venues that are flexible and open.
Create Your Wedding Website
A wedding website is the modern hub for all logistics:
Dates, times, and locations
Dress codes
Registry information (Le Target and Amazon, of course)
Transportation, parking, and accommodations
Places like Minted Weddings offer an easy-to-use option for a quick check-off.
Planner Tip: Keep it updated as details are finalized — this prevents guests from asking questions and keeps everyone on the same page.
Choose Your Wedding Party
Big or small? Your closest friends or extended family? Choose people who will support you emotionally and practically, not just those you “should” include.
Planner Tip: Many local couples select a medium-sized wedding party as it's a college town with lots of friends to celebrate with. Focus early to make planning and events like the rehearsal dinner easier to coordinate. Prioritize people who will be in your life for decades, not just for the wedding weekend.
Consider Hiring a Wedding Planner or Coordinator
If your budget allows, consider hiring a wedding planner or coordinator, as they can be a game-changer. These professionals help manage logistics, vendor communication, and timelines, taking the pressure off you so you can enjoy the engagement and your wedding day.
Full-Service Wedding Planners
Full-service planners guide you from the start, helping with:
Budget Planning: Prioritize spending, avoid surprises, and maximize your budget
Vendor Selection: Recommend and book photographers, florists, caterers, and more
Timeline & Logistics: Manage every detail from engagement to the last dance
Design & Styling: Assist with décor, color palettes, and overall wedding vision
Problem-Solving: Handle challenges throughout planning and execution
Day-Of or Month-Of Coordinators
If full-service planning isn’t in your budget, a day-of or month-of coordinator can still be invaluable. These professionals focus on executing your plan flawlessly:
Implementing your timeline and managing setup on the wedding day
Coordinating vendors and deliveries
Handling any unexpected issues quietly behind the scenes
Key Difference: Full-service planners help you plan and design your wedding, while day-of/month-of coordinators ensure your vision happens smoothly on the day of the wedding. Many Utah couples book a coordinator for complex outdoor weddings — mountain or desert locations — or even indoor venues like La Fête, where timing, setup, and décor need careful orchestration.
Planner Tip: Decide early whether you want full-service planning, a day-of coordinator, or a combination. Even partial services can save time, stress, and money — letting you focus on what really matters: celebrating your engagement and enjoying your wedding day.
At La Fête, we offer in-house planning and coordination as an optional add-on to make your wedding experience seamless. Check out our breakdown and pricing to see what’s included and how it works.
Bonus Tips from Wedding Planners
Take time to celebrate — don’t rush from engagement to wedding planning without enjoying the engagement itself.
Stay organized — use spreadsheets, downloadable checklists, apps, or planning tools to track vendors, budgets, and timelines. Lean on your venue for help.
Ask local vendors for advice — Utah has experienced wedding planners who know the venues, seasons, and popular trends; their guidance is invaluable.
Plan for photos and Instagram moments early — scenic Utah backdrops make for unforgettable memories.
Planner Tip: The first few steps of your engagement set the tone for the entire planning process. Slow down, make intentional choices, and enjoy this special season before the whirlwind of wedding details begins.
Are you ready to experience La Fête for yourself?
Set up a tour today and let us place you at the center of our spaces.
