So You’re Engaged…Now What? 10 Things to do When You Get Engaged

So you’re engaged, congratulations! You have the ring, the partner and the life you have always wanted. Now it’s time to get planning. It may seem daunting to start planning a wedding and almost impossible to know where to start. Never fear! We have compiled our list of 10 things to do when you get engaged to take some of that initial pressure off.

This list covers basic admin, finances, and personal tips to get your wedding off the ground. We cover the big decisions which will impact all of your smaller choices later, and the admin tasks which shouldn’t be put off.

1 – Tell Your Family

One of the first things to do when you get engaged is to tell your family. If your parents are anything like mine, there would be hell to pay if they weren’t the first to know about my engagement! Make sure to enjoy this early time in your engagement. Now is the time to soak up all of the love and congratulations you are sure to receive. Your parents may have great wedding planning tips, or even some money set aside for your big day. Getting them involved early on is vital.

2 – Tell Your Friends

Begin with your closest friends, then reveal your big news to the world! You can do this in person or via social media; whichever option works best for you. Those with a flair for the dramatic might even opt to have a surprise engagement party. This is all about spreading the joy that you and your partner are sharing! It also gives you a good idea of who you will want to attend your wedding.

3 – Have a Manicure!

If you have got engaged with a traditional engagement ring no doubt you will want to show it off. You will be gazing at your hand much more often with your new jewellery, so now is the time to treat yourself. Go for a proper, professional manicure – you only get engaged once! Take a look at our previous blog posts on bridal nails for some inspiration, but we say take a nod from your style and another nod from your ring to choose the perfect engagement mani.

4 – Have Your Ring Resized and Insured

Obtaining ring insurance should be one of the first things to do when you get engaged. The importance of this cannot be emphasised enough! This is a piece of jewellery you will want to treasure forever, and may be your most valuable possession. You may be able to add it to your home contents insurance, or you might choose to insure it separately. Just make sure it’s covered!

Likewise, you need your ring to fit perfectly otherwise there’s a big risk of it falling off. You need to be comfortable in your engagement ring so getting the perfect fit is paramount.

5 – Start a Wedding Blog or Pinterest Board

Do you actually know what you like in a wedding? Sure, every wedding is gorgeous, but we can’t have everything. It’s time to narrow down your focus. Figure out exactly what sort of colour scheme, theme, venue, and vibe is right for you. Consider the kind of dresses you like as well as the sort of venues which are in your area. What time of year would you like to get married? All of these are so important to think about before the real planning begins.

6 – Decide on a Manageable Budget

Your wedding planning process should be fun, but it should also be realistic. Sit down with your partner and make a budget. This should include both of your salaries, all of your outgoings, and two savings pots – one for the wedding and one for emergencies. Decide how long you would like to be engaged for, and then you will be able to calculate how much you can save. Never go into debt for your wedding! This is a sadly common occurrence, but it is never the right decision.

7 – Open a Savings Account

One of the most vital things to do when you get engaged is to open a dedicated wedding savings account. You can put that money out of your mind until you are ready to use it.  This way you can’t get tempted and dip into the wedding pot.

8 – Look at Venues

Your choice of venue will influence so many other aspects of your wedding . For this reason, we suggest it is the first thing that you choose. Venues can book up for years in advance during wedding season, so you may have to plan far in advance.

Once your venue is selected, you will have a final idea of guest numbers, catering options and wedding package costs. You may want to consider things like local hair and make up teams etc. Many venues offer wedding planning and florist packages so this could make an impact on your budget!

9 – Start Your Guestlist

Okay so you’ve set the budget, narrowed down the venue options, and shared your good news with the world. Now is the time to get started on the guestlist. You may be surprised by who your partner wants to invite, and your family may have some strong opinions too. It is best to get this list in motion as early as possible so that you can send out your save the dates.

10 – Choose Your Bridal Party

One of the last things to do when you get engaged and before real planning begins is to choose your bridal party. Not only does getting these invitations sorted early give your friends enough time to plan and save for any wedding expenses, book time off work, and start planning your hen do, but often the bridal party are really helpful in the wedding planning process. This final step will really make things feel real!

Once you have ticked off everything in our list of 10 things to do when you get engaged, the real planning begins! Time to think about the dress, the flowers, the music and more. Most importantly its time to choose your wedding rings!

By Wedding Rings Direct