A day you’ve been dreaming of for what seems like ages; you’re engaged! Now what? Although the world is pretty scary right now, there is still so much you can plan! We have put together our top tips for newly engaged couples to go over. Think of this as your own personal checklist!
The Date
We’ve all seen “The Five Year Engagement” with Emily Blunt and Jason Segal. If you haven’t, the title says it all. If you aren’t careful, life will get in the way, and your wedding plans will slowly but surely get pushed aside. We suggest setting your wedding date to land within 18 months of getting engaged. The average time a couple is engaged is approximately 13 months. Of course, being engaged during a worldwide pandemic is a different story. That being said, it’s still important to have an ideal date in mind!
The Ring
GET YOUR RING INSURED! We cannot stress the importance of this. Places like Jewelers Mutual are committed to uninterrupted service during these crazy times, so you can even begin the process online! If your ring is even a little loose, it’s also crucial to get it properly sized. It might seem scary to have your ring tightened, but jewelers say a properly fitting ring should slide over your knuckle with a little friction and fit snugly on your finger. You should feel resistance and need to apply a little extra force to remove the ring back over your knuckle.
The First of Many Parties
It’s time to celebrate your engagement! Nothing will get you more in the mood to plan a party than having one, right?! It’s also a great way to see how your closest friends and family engage with one another. If you’re like many adults, you have college friends, work friends, and long time friends–and so will your partner! This could be the first time they’ve all been in the same room, and you can see who’s jiving (and who’s not!)
We wrote this article before COVID19 took over. We don’t condone having a party during these times. That being said, you can have a fun Zoom or FaceTime party!
Budget Time
Now that you’ve decided on a date and possibly picked your wedding party, it’s time to face the music. This is almost always the hardest piece and can hinge on many moving parts. We recommend deciding what you can afford as a couple and starting a joint wedding account you can both funnel money into. Wait to see if family members will be able to help and contribute. There’s nothing worse than expecting something and finding out too late; it’s not going to happen!
Decide on Non-Negotiables
You won’t be able to afford everything you’ve dreamt of (unless you’re Nick and Priyanka), so it’s vital to lay out what you aren’t willing to budge on. For some brides, it’s fresh flowers, while others may not care about floral arrangements at all. Sometimes the groom wants an open bar for all of his buddies, when realistically a $2 bar may be better! If you lay these guidelines out at the beginning of the planning process, there’s much less room for hurt feelings.
The Fun Stuff
Once you’ve got this badass framework put together, you can start to plan the fun stuff! We recommend deciding on a wedding date, and then a venue (unless of course, you’re flexible on the day!) Once the venue has been finalized, you and your partner can start thinking about the look and vibe, or the theme of your wedding. This is when you’ll want to enlist the help of your wedding party! It’s best to decide on your tribe early on, so you can get their help through the rest of the process. Final pieces like engagement photos, save the dates, and booking vendors will slowly fall into place from here. That being said, we recommend having a checklist or hiring a wedding planner to help you keep things organized and on track.
We want to hear from you! What was crucial for you and your partner once you got engaged?
