Just Got Engaged, Now What?

This post is for all you lucky ladies who went from girlfriend to fiancé status during the holidays. Congratulations, I’m sure his (or her) proposal was perfect in it’s own special way, unique to your relationship and personalities. You just got engaged, now what? Here’s my top tips of what to do and what not to do now that you’re engaged! First of all, if you’re reading this at Christmas – the most popular time of the year to get engaged – Happy Holidays! I hope you had a wonderful, festive Christmas surrounded by friends, family and those you love.

India Earl is a recent discovery of mine and I am absolutely in love with her photography style. This beautiful engagement shoot features Dancing with the Stars professional, Witney Carson and her fiancé Carson McAllister.

Do: Enjoy & Stay In The Moment

Don’t: Update Every Social Media Status Straight Away

Take time, as a couple, to let it sink in. What just happened, what it means, this new chapter in your life together. Enjoy the thrill of it and take it all in. Share this beautiful occasion with those closest to you in person, rather than through a screen. Resist the urge to update all your statuses and profiles across your social media accounts. You can end up ignoring your new fiancé – who has just proposed to you! – so you can post, reply and respond to a wave of congratulatory well wishes. Stay in the moment, together.

Do: Talk To Each Other, Plan Together

Don’t: Build A Bridal Party & Guest List

Remember you are in this together. Make sure you talk to each other about what you both want to do next. Make sure you are both on the same page of what kind of day you want to create and have for your engagement party, shoot and wedding. Don’t start asking your best friends to be your bridesmaids and compile an extensive guest list within minutes or even days of saying “yes!” Take the time to really think about what you do, who you ask and who you invite. Unless you’ve got one hell of a legitimate excuse, uninviting someone to your wedding or to come as just a guest instead of a member of the bridal party is awkward and sure to end in tears.

Do: Enjoy The Norm

Don’t: Make Everything Wedding Related

Essentially this is all about not turning into the ultimate, wedding-obsessed bride-to-be, or bridezilla. Stick to any plans you had previously made for holidays with friends and family, nights out with the girls etc. Don’t make every conversation, every trip, every thing you say or do be wedding-related. Remember that although getting engaged signifies spending the rest of your life with someone, your actual wedding is just one day.  Just because an activity, conversation or trip isn’t about your wedding, doesn’t mean it’s not fun anymore. Still have date nights, and do normal “couple” stuff.

Do: Book The Date, Enjoy The Process

Don’t: Become Overwhelmed or Obsessed

There are lots of factors that can affect when you book the date of your wedding. Reasons vary between couples that want and can afford a wedding within months of getting engaged. And couples who, for many reasons, delay their wedding for years. One thing is for certain though, everyone is going to ask the question, “So when are you getting married?” as soon as they hear that you’re engaged. Whenever you decide to get married, enjoy the process that’s involved. There’s a fine balance between enjoyment and obsession, and for many brides, the feeling of being completely and utterly overwhelmed! It can be overwhelming, and stressful planning and organising a wedding. Whether it’s weeks, months or even years away. But it can also be hugely pleasurable and rewarding so make sure you enjoy this time together. The key is not to take on too much and to take your time. Check our my How to reign in the budget post for my top tips on wedding planning and staying on budget.

Do: Get a manicure

Don’t: Share a photo of the token ring

During Christmas and Valentine’s Day, my social media feeds are flooded with pictures of friends, family and people I follow showing off their engagement ring. There’s nothing worse than seeing a gorgeous ring with ratchet nails that are either chipped, bitten down or have fake tan stains. So go get yourself a manicure or tidy up your nails before taking that photo and sharing it with the world. If your fiancé proposed with a token ring, or you’re not happy with the engagement ring he chose and you’re going to change it. Don’t share a photograph of it on social media, or send it to friends and family. It makes for the most awkward conversations when you meet those people in person. They will {of course} ask to see the ring, and will often notice and make a comment that it’s not the same one you shared on your social media. So don’t share that photo unless you’re happy with the ring or comfortable with the awkward conversations around it.

I hope you have found this post helpful and inspiring, take a moment, have a cup of tea – if for no other reason than to admire how your hand now looks holding a tea cup and donning what is undoubtedly a beautiful ring!

 

You might also like this post winter bride snowy wedding shoot

Or this hot air balloon engagement shoot

Gabriella xoxo