(A Newly Engaged Guide for Boston & New England Couples)

When you’re newly engaged, the excitement hits all at once, celebrations, champagne, daydreams about venues, and the first real conversations about what this wedding might look and feel like. In New England, where historic charm meets coastal scenery and elegant city venues, your early decisions shape everything that comes next.

As a Boston-based wedding planner, these are the first five steps I guide my couples through so the planning process feels grounded, intentional, and genuinely enjoyable from the very beginning.

1. Celebrate, Then Get Clear on Your Vision

Before diving into logistics, give yourselves a moment to simply appreciate this milestone. Once you’ve celebrated, begin talking through the building blocks of your wedding:

What do you want the experience to feel like?
City or coastal? Classic or modern? Garden or historic?
What matters most, food, music, design, guest experience, or photography?
What season feels right?

You don’t need a full design or a perfect Pinterest board yet. You just need an aligned sense of direction. This clarity is what keeps planning intentional instead of overwhelming.

2. Set a Realistic Guest Count + Working Budget

In New England, especially in and around Boston, availability and pricing shift dramatically based on guest count and season.

Start with:

A range for your guest count (not final numbers)
A working budget that reflects your priorities
Flexibility for elements you may want to elevate later

Your guest count and budget will guide every venue conversation and help you confidently compare options without guessing.

3. Choose Your Ideal Location + Style of Venue

New England gives you options that couples in other regions dream about: elegant Boston hotels, iconic libraries and museums, sprawling coastal estates, chic restaurants, and private homes with tented backyards.

Early in planning, narrow down your preferred venue categories, such as:

Boston city venues (BPL, The Langham, The Newbury, MO Boston)
Coastal estates on the North Shore, South Shore, or Newport
Luxury hotels with full-service guest experience
Private estates & tents (highly customizable but logistically complex)

Once you know your vibe and general location, you’re ready for step four, the one that brings everything together.

4. Hire Your Wedding Planner Early

Your planner is the first vendor who helps translate vision into strategy.
Hiring early gives you:

Expert guidance before major decisions
Access to top venues and vendors (who book 12–18+ months out)
A realistic design direction
Support with budgeting and vendor allocation
A planning process that feels clear and calm, not chaotic

Most importantly, your planner becomes your advocate, ensuring every decision supports your vision, guest experience, and overall investment.

5. Begin Touring Venues With a Strategy

Once you’ve aligned on your vision and secured your planner, it’s time to explore venues that truly support the experience you want.

With my couples, this includes:

Curated venue recommendations
Side-by-side comparisons
Questions to ask during tours
Budget + logistical considerations
Date strategy (including seasonal pricing and availability)

This is where your wedding starts taking shape. A venue anchors your aesthetic, guest experience, and overall timeline, and gives you the clarity to begin building the rest of your vendor team.

What Comes Next

After these five steps, you’ll have: