A quiet place to start

Just engaged: now what?

First: congratulations. Then breathe. You do not have to decide anything right now. Here is a calm place to begin when you are ready.

Start calmly here Three things. About a 10-minute read.

Just engaged. Suddenly weddings are everywhere

On TikTok, everyone is getting married in Italy. On Pinterest, every wedding has fourteen DIY projects. And you are wondering: where do we even start?

Here. With three things, not seventy. The rest can wait.

The first month

Just engaged: your first 3 wedding planning steps

Not a 70-item checklist. Three things, in this order. Each one has a clear finish line, so you know when you're done.

  1. 01

    Celebrate before planning the wedding

    Take two weeks where you plan nothing. Being engaged is its own moment, not a waiting room before the wedding.

    Done when the people who matter most know in person.

  2. 02

    Set your first wedding guest count

    No names yet, just a rough number. It will shape your venue, budget, and style. Count family and close friends separately, then compare.

    Done when you agree on a number, give or take ten.

  3. 03

    Agree on your wedding budget together

    A conversation, not a spreadsheet. What can and do you want to spend? The calculator below shows what is realistic.

    Done when you have a number you can both sleep on.

Everything else, venue, date, decor, music, comes later. Really.

Honest numbers

What does a wedding really cost?

We calculate with fixed costs and a per-guest range. You can see the assumptions and decide what the range means for you.

80
10 250
What kind of celebration?

The math

Fixed costs
€7,000–€15,000
80 × per guest
€120–€220

Realistic range

€16,600
– €32,600

The number may feel uncomfortable for a moment. Clarity is better than repeatedly finding more money later.

For comparison: with 60 guests, the same celebration would land around €14,200–€28,200. Your guest count is your biggest lever. Not the napkins.

Keep this math?

Save your guest count and your range as the starting point for your planning.

Save as starting point

A rough guide, not a quote. Region, season, venue, and your priorities will change the range.

The Italy thing

Wedding in Italy: does it have to be Tuscany?

No. If you want Italy, think about what no reel shows: travel, accommodation, and time off for your guests. Planning from abroad takes more coordination. Some couples celebrate again at home.

If you know that and Italy still calls, do it. Wholeheartedly. This is not against Tuscany. It is honest math before the decision.

When you're ready

Start wedding planning with the guest list

Not the venue or the dress. Your guest count decides what is realistic next. In wedset you plan it together and see replies live.

You both see the same plan. No screenshots.
Start your guest list for free
The wedset guest list on a smartphone
The guest list in wedset, managed together.

Quick answers

Just engaged: the questions couples ask first

Swipe horizontally through the questions or use the left and right arrow keys.

Swipe for more
Cut 01 01/05

How long should you be engaged?

As long as you want. 12 to 18 months is common, not a rule. Three months or three years are both completely fine.

An honest answer, not a wedding rule.
Cut 02 02/05

When should we start planning?

Celebrate first. Ideally, plan the venue and date around 12 months before your target date. Anything earlier is optional.

An honest answer, not a wedding rule.
Cut 03 03/05

What do you do first after getting engaged?

Enjoy being engaged, settle on a rough guest count, and agree on an honest budget range. That is enough for the beginning.

An honest answer, not a wedding rule.
Cut 04 04/05

When do we need to register with the registry office?

In Germany, registration opens at the earliest 6 months before the date. Popular dates go fast, so contact the registry office then.

An honest answer, not a wedding rule.
Cut 05 05/05

How long does wedding planning take overall?

For a classic celebration, many couples plan across 12 to 18 months in small stages. A small wedding can take only a few calm months.

An honest answer, not a wedding rule.
Question 1 of 5: How long should you be engaged? Question 2 of 5: When should we start planning? Question 3 of 5: What do you do first after getting engaged? Question 4 of 5: When do we need to register with the registry office? Question 5 of 5: How long does wedding planning take overall?

If you feel like reading on

After the engagement: read on at your own pace

Not all today. Open only what feels useful right now.

Visit the wedding magazine

4 couples · 4.8 out of 5

Couples on planning with wedset

Their words, not ours.

Wir konnten mit Wedset das Gästemanagement unserer Hochzeit super organisieren. Wir hatten jederzeit im Blick, wer kommt und wer nicht und ob die Gäste in Bezug auf beispielsweise Essen Angaben zu „Besonderheiten“ gemacht haben. Auch für die Gäste war es total easy. Einfach den Wedset-QR-Code aus unserer Einladung scannen und Zu- oder Absagen. Wenn etwas technisch nicht funktioniert hat, wurde sofort vom Support reagiert. Alles im Allem ein super Wedding-Planer.
Leonie & Fabian
Münster · May 2026
Wir sind unglaublich dankbar, dass wir wedset.app für die Planung unserer Hochzeit genutzt haben!
Carmen & Henrik
Münster · June 2025
5/5 Read full review
Die App hat uns geholfen den Überblick unserer Gäste zu behalten. Welche Rückinfo steht noch aus, wie sieht es mit Zu-oder Absagen aus, die genaue Anzahl. Alle Gäste in einer Übersicht. Super easy!
Julia & Julius
Münster / Amelsbüren · November 2025
4/5 Read full review

Start planning your wedding together

A guest count, a budget range, one shared place for both. That's all a beginning needs.

or
Start free, delete anytime. What wedset costs