Congratulations on your engagement! You officially said “yes!” to the love of your life! The easy part is over and now what should you do? We have gathered 6 things, that might not be that obvious, but we think are important to do as soon as you get engaged.
CELEBRATE
Before you spread the good news to the world, make sure to take a moment with your new fiancé and CELEBRATE! It is time to pop a bottle of your favorite champagne and savor that special, exciting moment between the two of you. Give yourself time to take it all in and enjoy it! You are about to enter the exciting, and crazy at times, world of wedding planning!
SHARE THE NEWS
As soon as you are ready to spread the news, make sure to make a list. We know that you are eager to spread your happy news wide and far, but before you share it on your social media, make sure to tell your family if they were not present at the proposal time! If you cannot tell them in person, think of a fun and creative way like recreating the moment for them on the video call, taking a picture to mail them or just simply – call them! After you have told everyone in your inner circle then it’s time to share a ring selfie on social media to let your extended family, friends, and followers know you are officially engaged!
PARTY TIME
Before you get into wedding planning, now is the time to throw an engagement PARTY! This is a special time to be surrounded by your loved ones celebrating the future lives of you and your fiancé and all the excitement to come! Engagement party does not need to be traditional – have fun with it. Be creative with location, entertain your guests with games, music by DJ or create signature drinks. Make it all about you! Do not stop at personal touches (custom drink labels or cozies), you also share your love story, memorable moments from when you met and feel free to spill some information about your plans, themes, venues if you have some in mind.
INSURANCE
One of the less fun steps, but also EXTREMELY important, is to ensure your ring! This is less glamorous but in the instance your ring is lost or stolen, or you simply need it repaired, you want to make sure you are covered and protected for this! You will want to take the ring to a jeweler to get an appraisal done and you can usually add ring insurance to your existing homeowner’s or rental insurance policy! This is the time to set future YOU up for SUCCESS!
SET A DATE & BUDGET
Ok we are almost getting to the fun part of actually planning your wedding! But before we get there, you and your fiancé will need to set up a date and budget. It might not seem like it at first, but the two are directly connected. If your date overlaps with a holiday or falls during wedding peak months, you will have to pay premium prices – make sure your budget can handle that. If you are looking for more simple and intimate celebration or are flexible with dates – you might be able to take advantage of better prices and specials. Do not feel pressured to have a large and elaborate reception. Small and more personable weddings are actually very popular and just as special.
Use a wedding budget calculator if you need help organizing all the expenses and seeing it a whole picture. If you expect someone to contribute to your budget (parents or grandparents) make sure they are included and prepared. The sky is the limit when it comes to planning a wedding, but at the same time, you do not want the expense to create hardship and stress to anyone.
SELECT A VENUE
Now it is time to pick your venue! Your venue has a lot of impact on the overall vibe and atmosphere of your wedding; therefore you want to find a place, that you and your fiancé love and your guests will enjoy as well. It can be a special place that means a lot to you as a couple. You can also pick a new place or a fun destination that will accommodate your vision and fits your budget.
Come prepared – educate yourself on what services are being offered at the venue. Do not hesitate to ask questions. What is the cost and what’s included in it? Do they have a vendor list (do you have to use them)? Any limitations or restrictions (like no outside food)? I can assure you that Wedding Manager will be happy to answer million questions ahead, then have you disappointed or surprised last minute. Make sure to check reviews! Look directly on the websites like The Knot, search Facebook or ask friends for recommendations.
Keep in mind that most venues will require a deposit, so if you love it, the date is available – then put a deposit on it! Popular destinations and dates fill up even 2 years in advance. You do not want to miss it, especially when you feel the place is right for your special day.
Now, that all the basics are done, you can move onto other things, like creating a website, ordering invitations, creating wedding registry, picking the dress, etc. Do not stress over it. The beauty of it is – it is your day, so you can do as much or as little as you want. After all – all you need is love…
Congratulations!
Written by:
Megan Whetton
Wedding Sales Manager
The Pines Resort
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