Congratulations on your engagement! This is an exciting time filled with love, joy, and anticipation for the future. But once the initial euphoria settles, you might find yourself wondering, "What next?" Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming, but taking it step by step will help ensure you enjoy every moment of this beautiful journey.

Here's a guide with essential wedding planning advice and tips to get you started in the first 30 days after getting engaged.

Newly engaged couple at a resort wedding venue in Key Largo Florida — Claudia Rios Photography

1. Share the News

Before you rush into wedding planning, take a moment to savor the engagement. Share the exciting news with your closest family and friends first. Consider how you'd like to announce your engagement to the wider circle—through a social media post, a small gathering, or even a fun engagement party!

Newly engaged couple plans their wedding venue in Key Largo Florida

2. Set a Date (or a Range)

One of the first questions people will ask is, "When's the big day?" While you don't need to have an exact date immediately, having a rough idea can help during the initial planning stages. Consider the season, the venue availability, and any special dates that are meaningful to you as a couple.

3. Discuss Budget

The foundation of your wedding planning should be your budget. Sit down with your partner to discuss how much you're willing and able to spend. This will guide all other decisions, from the venue to the guest list. Remember to account for unexpected expenses by setting aside a small contingency fund.

Key Largo Florida wedding venue couple planning their wedding — Claudia Rios Photography

4. Start a Guest List

Drafting a preliminary guest list will help you decide on the size of the venue and overall scale of the wedding. It doesn't have to be final, but having a rough estimate is crucial in the early planning stages. Discuss who you'd like to invite and consider any family obligations.

5. Find the Perfect Key Largo Destination Wedding Venue - Dream Bay Resort.

Your venue will set the tone for your wedding day, so start researching locations as early as possible. Do you envision a beachside ceremony, a private resort wedding weekend, an elopement or al fresco wedding reception with waterfront views? Dream Bay Resort has all of these options and many more! At Dream Bay Resort, you’re given the freedom to choose your own vendors and bring in your own alcohol. We have 3 beautiful sandy beach locations, a concrete pier, lovely banyan trees, docks, and 5 vacation cottages on the property, including a bridal/honeymoon suite. In total, we can accommodate weddings of up to 200 guests, with 36 guests staying on site.

Key Largo wedding venue beach front wedding ceremony

6. Create a Vision Board

To make your dream wedding a reality, you need to visualize it first. Create a vision board with wedding themes, color palettes, and decor ideas that resonate with your personal style. Platforms like Pinterest can be a treasure trove of inspiration.

7. Book a Photographer

Photographers can book up fast, especially ones in high demand, so it’s wise to start your search early. Look for photographers whose style matches your vision and check their availability for your chosen dates. Dream Bay Resort has an extensive and carefully curated list of the best wedding professionals in Southern Florida, servicing Key Largo. We are happy to help connect our booked couples with amazing local wedding vendors.

8. Choose Your Wedding Party

Decide on your bridal party and groomsmen. These are the friends and family members you want by your side throughout the planning process and on the big day. Once chosen, you can start discussing responsibilities and involving them in planning.

9. Consider Hiring a Wedding Planner

If your budget allows, hiring a wedding planner can save you time and stress. Planners bring expertise, vendor connections, and can ensure everything runs smoothly. Even if you choose not to hire one for the full planning process, consider a day-of coordinator.

Key Largo wedding venue beach from ceremony with bride and groom. — Janette Dellanos Photography

10. Explore Wedding Insurance

While not the most glamorous part of planning, wedding insurance can provide peace of mind. Look into coverage options that protect against unforeseen circumstances like venue cancellations or weather disruptions.

Planning a wedding is a memorable experience, not just a checklist of tasks. Enjoy this unique period, lean on your loved ones for support, and remember that the ultimate goal is to celebrate your love with those who matter most.

For more wedding planning tips and advice, follow us on Instagram or Facebook. For more details on touring Dream Bay Resort, as well as availability and pricing, please contact us. We are eager to learn about your wedding plans.

Here's to a beautiful engagement and a wonderful wedding day!

Key Largo wedding venue, bride and bridesmiads get ready for the wedding. — Janette Dellanos Photography

Key Largo Wedding Venue Beach Ceremony Destination Wedding — Benny Angene Photography

We hope to use our platform to create awareness for the value of supporting locally owned wedding venues. You can help support amazing locally owned wedding venues across the country by writing a Google review, following their social media accounts and referring locally owned wedding venues whenever you have the opportunity. Please consider a locally owned venue, you can find locally owned wedding venues featured on this wedding venue map.

Degas House in New Orleans, The Admiral Room at The Marin, Willow Sky Ranch, celebrationseventcenter.net, bellarosa-venue.com, Agua Linda Farm, The Hillcrest Estate, www.cedarfoxweddings.com, The Hidden Abbey, Ellas Garden, Harris Glen, Butler's Courtyard, The Hidden Abby, The 1860 Schulhaus, The Ironwood Barn at Von Erich Ranch, Lake Front Acres, Heartland Farms Event Center, Hanover Reserve, Carolina Country Weddings, Willow Creek Farm Georgia, The Ma Maison, Chapman Hill, Topeka Social,

A Guide To Being Newly Engaged in Florida