Congratulations, You’re Engaged! Now What? A Sunshine Coast Wedding Planner’s Guide to Your First Steps

A couple celebrates their engagement at The Prideaux Estate on the Sunshine Coast. Complete with a romantic canopy, rose petals, a picnic and a heartfelt proposal beneath a tree.

Most couples don’t wake up the morning after getting engaged knowing exactly how they want to get married, and that is completely normal. One minute you are celebrating, the next you are being asked about dates, guest lists, venues and budgets, often before you have even had a moment to breathe it all in.

With engagement season well and truly here, I see this every single week. Excited couples full of joy, and quietly wondering where to even start.

This is where guidance matters.

Getting engaged marks the beginning of something incredibly special, but it does not mean you need to have a wedding plan straight away. In fact, the most important first step is not locking in a venue or choosing colours. It is understanding what kind of wedding experience feels right for you.

You Don’t Need All the Answers Yet

Before diving into logistics, give yourselves permission to slow things down.

Take time to celebrate this season properly. Share the news with loved ones, enjoy the excitement, and sit with the meaning of what you are committing to. This is a once in a lifetime chapter, and it deserves space.

During this time, start having gentle conversations with your partner. Do you picture something quiet and private, just the two of you? A small, meaningful gathering with your closest people? Or a beautifully planned wedding where everything is taken care of for you with the guidance of an experienced Sunshine Coast wedding planner?

You do not need to land on a final decision. You are simply beginning to shape what matters most.

The Biggest Question Isn’t How You’ll Get Married, It’s How You Want It to Feel

A luxurious and romantic wedding reception table styled with elegant floral arrangements, soft green accents, and crisp white linens creating a timeless atmosphere.

After planning hundreds of weddings and elopements on the Sunshine Coast, I have learned something important. Couples rarely struggle because they do not know what to do. They struggle because they are trying to make decisions before they understand what they truly want.

Some couples crave simplicity, privacy and ease. Others want a wedding day that feels seamless and joyful with family and friends, without the stress of managing every detail themselves.

That is exactly why I offer two very intentional ways to get married.

Elope to Sunshine Coast is designed for couples who want an effortless, beautifully curated elopement or micro wedding, where you simply turn up and get married.

Dream Weddings Sunshine Coast is for couples who want a fully supported wedding experience, where every detail is planned, coordinated and professionally handled.

They are different experiences, but both are guided by the same level of care, expertise and calm support.

Why Early Decisions Matter and How Your Sunshine Coast Wedding Planner Helps You Feel Supported

Once you have clarity around the type of celebration you want, everything else becomes easier. Guest numbers fall into place. Your timeline makes sense. Your budget aligns with your priorities. Your venue and vendors naturally follow.

This is also where working with an experienced Sunshine Coast wedding planner early in the process can save you months of stress, countless emails and expensive missteps, especially if you are planning from interstate or overseas.

Instead of researching endlessly or comparing options online, you are guided through decisions in a way that feels clear, grounded and supportive.

Sheryl van Heerden, wedding planner and stylist, beautifully setting up a vibrant and floral-themed table on the Sunshine Coast, complete with a charming "We got hitched" cake centerpiece.

Engagement Season Is the Beginning, Not the Pressure Point

If there is one thing I want newly engaged couples to know, it is this. You do not need to rush. You do not need to know everything. And you certainly do not need to do this alone.

Whether you are dreaming of an intimate elopement or a beautifully planned wedding day, the right next step is not choosing a package. It is having a conversation.

Tell me what you are imagining, and I will help you work out the best way to bring it to life.

Get in touch today, I'm Sheryl van Heerden your wedding planner. If you are after a small celebration with up to 30 guests: www.elopetosunshinecoast.com.au

Or for a large fully planned wedding day with all the trimmings: www.dreamweddingssc.com.au