You’re engaged! First of all, congratulations! This time is such a whirlwind of happy moments, as you share the news with family and friends and get used to seeing that ring on your finger. But for many couples, it can also be a little overwhelming. Where do you start with all that wedding planning? Well, don’t worry. There’s no strict order you have to follow, but there are a few immediate To Dos that will make the whole process a lot smoother going forward. Here are the five things I recommend you do first after getting engaged.
Tell your family first
It’s tempting to snap a ring selfie and post your newly engaged status all over social media, but before you do, share the news with your families. Even if your grandma has Facebook, this is the kind of news she should hear directly from you. Call your parents, siblings, and close family and then widen the circle to those friends who are like family. After that, it’s up to you how you make the announcement public.
Celebrate!
There’s no need to dive right into wedding planning. Instead, take some time to enjoy being engaged and celebrate this life-changing moment! Of course, how you celebrate is up to you. For example, you may want to throw a big, glamorous engagement party or simply have a low-key family dinner. There’s no right way. It’s also important to take the time to celebrate just the two of you. Consider booking a private mini-getaway, having a special date night, or just relaxing at home with a bottle of champagne.
Size and insure your engagement ring
It’s not the most exciting task, but getting your ring properly sized and insured will give you both peace of mind and save you a lot of potential heartache if it gets lost. You can usually add the policy or rider to your homeowners or renters insurance.
Discuss your expectations
There are some big wedding planning decisions to be made, but first it’s important that you make sure you’re both on the same page. For example, do you want a big or small wedding? Do you want a destination wedding or something closer to home? Formal or informal? Which season? It’s also a good idea to try to work out what’s most important to you. Do you care most about the venue, the food, the music, the dress? Agree on your top three non-negotiables and make them your priority.
Think about your date
As soon as you’re engaged, you’ll find that the question you’re asked the most is: “when is the wedding?” The most desirable wedding venues often get booked up at least a year in advance. So it’s a wise idea to discuss potential wedding dates early on, even if your answer is as vague as ‘early next year’ or ‘in the fall’.
Of course, there are many more wedding planning tasks and decisions to come. But for now, take it step by step and enjoy the process!
Top image by Studio JK
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