A lot goes into your wedding, but that doesn’t mean your engagement should be overshadowed. We have some essential tips for newly engaged couples to make sure they get the most out of their celebrations before diving head first into the stress of planning the wedding.
Keep it intimate
Okay, we know you’re excited. He literally just popped the question moments ago and you’re dying to take your first ring selfie for Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and of course, Facebook. But hold the phone (literally) for a minute. This is one of the most special and intimate moments between you and your beloved. You just got engaged! Even the most social media savvy ladies should think about this as one of those “be in the moment” moments. The world has gone a bit tech crazy but it’s important to remember who and what is the most important part about this moment: you and your husband-to-be. Don’t brush him to the side to inform your 500 Facebook friends, particularly before you’ve even called your family! The world can wait, so bask in the moment that no one else knows about yet, and keep it between you two for a time. You’ll soon have plenty of time to be excited with everyone else in your life.
Give yourself time to bask
Now that you’ve made the most of the moment, it’s time to tell your family and friends. Cue a million questions about where and when and anything else you have in mind. Don’t panic if you don’t know the answers yet. You are under no obligation to know anything yet and you shouldn’t bow to the pressure of curiosity. While there’s no time like the present when it comes to wedding planning, you’ll pretty much be swamped with all things wedding for the next 12 months or so and one of the biggest regrets for brides is not enjoying their engaged status enough. After all, you’ll be married for the rest of your life but you’ll only be engaged for a short time. Give yourself time to fully enjoy your engagement before you dive right into the planning. Chances are, you won’t be coming up for air anytime soon.
Celebrate being engaged in style
Yes, getting married is a big milestone, but so is getting engaged! While you will need to spend a significant amount of time planning your wedding, you shouldn’t let your engagement go by uncelebrated. Whether it’s a low key dinner party at home or a stylish cocktail party in town, you should factor in some time to plan it properly so that you can really enjoy it. Just as you will have a whole night (or a whole weekend) dedicated to celebrating your marriage, so should you have one dedicated to celebrating your engagement. Not to mention, it will be a good night to enjoy being engaged amidst all the planning, which may be starting to feel a bit overwhelming at times.
Get organised ahead of planning
Now that you’ve sufficiently celebrated the fact that you're engaged, there is still a wedding to plan. Wedding planning can often take over your entire engaged life. It’s a big operation, especially if you’re doing it yourself. But don’t worry, we’re here to take as much stress out of the situation as possible, and the easiest way to minimise stress when planning your wedding is to get organised before you start. Much like getting all your ingredients and equipment together before baking a big cake, it will save a lot more time and cause a lot less stress if you go into planning with your eyes wide open and are prepared for what is to come. Follow our guide to getting organised before you start planning to help you prepare.
Enlist your helpers
Not just your bridesmaids and groomsmen, although they’re very important too. Think about whether or not you want a wedding planner. Then think about what your friends and family can do for you. Do you have a professional baker in the family? Is one of your best friends a professional photographer? You would be surprised who can lend a hand, either for favours or for actual professional services when it comes to your wedding, and most would be only too happy to help. Utilise your parents and siblings too if they’re not in the wedding party. Like we said, it’s a big job and if you’re doing it yourself it can be quite daunting, so help will be welcome. Just make sure there are boundries so there isn’t any crossover or a case of ‘too many cooks’. Finally, your actual helpers, your bridesmaids. Take your time when choosing your bridal party; it’s not always as simple as picking your sister and your two best friends.
- Jenny Darmody
Image credits: Engagement photo: Lora Grady Photography | Couple: Hunter Ryan Photo | Champagne: Mango Studios | Picnic: Esmarelda Franco Photography | Cake: Vasia