Now that you're engaged, the time has come to start planning. Even though you may have months, or years, until the big day, the sooner you start the better. If you're not sure what the first steps are, and what can wait until later, take a look at the do's and don'ts of wedding planning immediately after your engagement. Do Secure a Venue Most wedding venues book well advance. This means you need to secure your dream event space or banquet facility as soon as you choose a date. If you don't already have a place in mind: Visit several venues . An in-person visit allows you to make comparisons. While you might not get the chance to see each venue in its full wedding glory, you can get an idea of what to expect. You can also talk to the facility staff about what they offer. Make comparisons . After you visit a few different venues, you need to make comparisons. If you can’t choose a clear winner, create a pros and cons list for each wedding space. Reach out to each venue's staff with any additional questions before you make a final decision. Consider location . Is the reception venue near the ceremony's location? Along with the ceremony-to-reception factor, proximity to your home or to the guests' hotel are also issues to think about. If you don't already have a budget and size idea in mind, now is the time to make some decisions. A venue that puts you well above your expected budget or won't hold the entire wedding party won't work for you. Read on for more information on budgets and size considerations. Don't Skip the Budgeting Step Are you tempted to ignore finances in favor of the wedding of your dreams? Couples with financial limitations can still plan a fairytale day. There are weddings that fit every type of budget. The key to financial planning is to set realistic spending caps. Wh en planning you budget: Consider future financial goals . If you plan to buy a house after you get married, want to start a family soon, or have other financial goals to meet in the near future, you may need to adjust your wedding budget. Consider size . A larger wedding typically requires a larger budget. If you want to invite hundreds of guests, you may need to figure out what you can skip and save on. This may mean choosing a lower-priced venue or saving on a dress. Consider other help . Will your parents or your soon-to-be spouse's parents help with the finances? If someone else will help you financially, you can set a higher budget. With a budget in hand and a venue set, you can move on to the next steps. Before you get carried away immediately after the engagement, stick to the basics—such as announcing your engagement. Do Announce the Event You're overjoyed about your upcoming nuptials. Now that you're officially engaged, you can announce the wedding to the world—or at least to your close friends and family. When you announce the engagement: Decide who you need to share the news with . Will your parents feel left out if you announce the engagement to your friends first? If you plan to tell individual people, consider who needs to hear the news first. Create a save the date . If you secure a venue before you share the news, make save the dates to give your wedding guests plenty of planning time. Throw a party . If you have the budget for an additional party, plan an engagement celebration. This is an easy, and festive, way to announce your news. After you budget, visit venues, and make your announcement, you can get specific and turn to the other details. The next steps will include dress shopping, choosing a wedding party, planning seating charts, creating your reception menu, and more. Do you need a venue for your wedding? Contact Chez Shari for more information.

You have many choices today when it comes to promoting your company's interests. One of the easiest and most enjoyable is to host a golf tournament. How can a golf tournament help your business with its strategic and financial goals? Read on to find out. 1. Get Everyone Together Many business owners and managers struggle to find team building exercises that foster team spirit in a fun and memorable way. The good news is that you don't have to force employees to participate in sack races or wrack their brains in an escape room just to spend some quality time together. Golfing as a group outside on a beautiful day relaxes everyone and gets them beyond the confines of the office environment. Depending on your company's needs, you could pair up member of departments together to promote internal harmony. Or you may want to mix things up by encouraging departments to play with those outside their normal circle of coworkers. 2. Increase Awareness in the Community A high profile event like a gold tournament brings many opportunities to get your brand out there. From the advertising flyers to the goodie bags to the decor at lunch, you have the chance to really make yourself memorable even to those who don't actually attend. As you plan the day, think about where in the community or industry you'd like to improve brand awareness. Do you want to build a vendor pool? Do you need to attract more clients? If so, what demographics and interests? Are you a new company that needs to widen its profile among locals? Whatever your particular branding needs, target groups and locations that will maximize your return on investment. 3. Networking Opportunities There's a reason that networking on a golf course has become a famous idea in American business circles: it works. Golfers spend plenty of time strolling and waiting together, during which they can get to know each other and even broach new ideas. A golf tournament hosted by your company is the perfect chance to meet with specific individuals because you can choose everything from the guest list to the teams. Look for ways to include potential investors, vendors you've been wanting to do business with, high value customers (both new and existing), and even new talent that you might want to become employees. 4. Help a Good Cause Most golf tournaments are held as a fund-raiser for charitable causes. Charity efforts help employees feel that they work for a good company who cares about more than the profit margin. It boosts morale and does something positive for the community in which you do business. When planning your golf day, look for charitable causes that reflect the values of your company. A law office, for instance, might opt to support causes that help underprivileged groups or provide free legal services for those who can't afford aid. A company whose focus is younger demographics may choose, instead, conservation or environmental causes that are important to its clientele base. You aren't limited to certain charities, though. You might offer to raise funds for individual causes based on teams' preferences. Or your tournament might even raise money for an individual or family with specific, daunting needs. Which of these compelling reasons to host a golf tournament would do the most good for your by the company and some volunteer time from stakeholders. To learn more, visit the beautiful facilities at Chez Shari , located on the Manteca Golf Course. You're sure to find everything you need to plan a great day for all.