This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. Holy moley, you have an engagement ring and you’re getting married! It’s so surreal, yet definitely happening, and like it or not, the hours, days, and weeks following that proposal are guaranteed to be a whirlwind.
There are so many things to think about, so many people to contact and so much to get done. Don’t be overwhelmed. You have plenty of time to plan the rest of your lives but if you’re like most newly engaged people, you’ll be itching to share the news with all your friends and dive into the actual wedding planning part headfirst.
Pinterest boards, bridal magazines, blogs, dress shopping, venue hunting…the list goes on and on. Years of watching wedding movies couldn’t have prepared you for what’s to come (trust us, it’s totally different). While the average engagement lasts a year to a year-and-a-half, there are certain things you’ll want to get done stat — no matter how long you plan on being a fiancé.
So where do you get started? There’s no strict order to follow as long as you tackle the immediate to-dos. Committing the rest of your life to the love of your life is scary and amazing and the best kind of stress, however, it’s a major, major milestone, and planning a wedding together is the icing on the cake — we promise!
Stocksy And your siblings and BFFs too (unless you are keeping your engagement under wraps for a while). The last place they should have to hear about your new status is on social media, so give them a ring personally and tell them the happy news. Chances are, mom and dad already know what’s up and have been waiting by the phone patiently for your call.
Call Your Parents
Photo by Felix Wong Your hands will be in the spotlight for the next couple of weeks, which means your manicure best be on fleek. Or, if you’re going for the natural look, make sure your nails are clean and shaped. Otherwise, friends will be focusing more on your chipped nail polish than your gorgeous engagement ring. Not cool.
Get a Manicure
Sarah Culotta via Pinterest A picture is worth a thousand words, right? If you’re ready to share with the world that you’re engaged, open up that Instagram! Take a ring selfie or a sweet pic of you and your fiancé to share the love. Even better—if the actual proposal was caught on film, nothing is better than that look of surprise. And don’t forget to make it Facebook official!
Post a Ring Selfie
Carina Skrobecki Photography Round up some of your best friends and family and go out for a celebratory drink, or have a special date night solo if that’s more your style. You’re engaged, and that’s totally worth toasting.
Cheers!
Courtesy of Ken & Dana We know, we know — it’s not exactly the most romantic or exciting thing in the world, but it could wind up saving your butt in the long run. When added as an extension to your homeowner or renter’s insurance policy, it’s surprisingly inexpensive.
Get Your Ring Insured
Stocksy Don’t jump into wedding planning right away! Take a week or two to let the news really sink in and to just savor the moment. Trust us, you’ll have enough stress over the next twelve (or so) months to last you a lifetime.
Take A Breather
Photo by Olivia Rae James If the ring fits, great, and if not, you’ll want to take it to your jeweler stat to get it sized — especially if it’s practically falling off your finger. After all, you’d hate to throw thousands of dollars down the drain mere moments after saying yes.
Get Your Ring Sized
Getty Images The most desirable wedding dates and venues get booked far in advance so if you’re hoping to get hitched in the next year or two, it’s a wise idea to start thinking about dates now. Find out what works for both your families and if there are any potential conflicts.
Think About A Date
