What to do after getting engaged?
What are the following steps to take after getting engaged?
We get asked this a lot!
I am engaged! Now what?
Let me start by saying congratulations on your engagement!
This exciting time is filled with joy, love, and anticipation for the future.
However, it can also be overwhelming, with many tasks to complete before the big day.
To help you navigate this journey, we’ve compiled a list of 15 essential steps to take after you get engaged.
It’s packed with fantastic tips for newly engaged couples.
Our Bridal Facebook group also has fantastic ideas to help you plan your wedding day.
I just got engaged! Where do I start?
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What to do after you get engaged
After getting engaged, it might be tempting to start looking at decorations, deciding on your bridal party or going wedding dress shopping.
But it’s essential to stop and breathe.
Take time to celebrate and savour the moment with your partner, sharing the exciting news with close family and friends.
Then, begin discussing your vision for the wedding, setting a preliminary budget, and creating a rough timeline to guide your planning process.
With that in mind, we created 15 steps couples must take after getting engaged.
1. Celebrate the Moment
Before diving into wedding planning, take a moment to revel in your engagement.
Don’t rush things or jump into the planning right away.
Wedding planning can get overwhelming, and newly engaged couples crash because they have not adequately planned.
I highly recommend you take a moment to enjoy getting engaged before jumping into wedding planning.
Share the news with close family and friends personally, whether through a phone call, a video chat, or an intimate gathering such as an engagement party.
Enjoy this special time together, and appreciate your commitment to each other.
2. Get Your Ring Sized and Insured
Your engagement ring is a precious symbol of your love, so ensure it fits perfectly and is protected.
I have seen too many things happen to engagement rings.
This isn’t just any ring.
In some cases, your spouse might have spent thousands of dollars on the engagement ring, and it’s only responsible for getting it insured.
Visit a jeweller to get your ring professionally sized, and then purchase insurance to cover any potential loss or damage.
3. Set a Wedding Budget
One of the most crucial aspects of wedding planning is setting a realistic budget.
After getting engaged, it is important to discuss money.
You must create a wedding budget that works for your partner and yourself.
Discuss with your partner and any family members contributing to the wedding.
And remember, family DO NOT have to contribute to YOUR wedding.
If they do, great, but it’s NOT a must.
I always recommend planning a wedding you can afford, not one you see in fancy wedding blogs or on Pinterest.
Determine how much you can afford to spend and allocate funds to various aspects of the wedding, such as venue, catering, attire, and entertainment.
I recommend you use this No Spend Challenge Planner and these wedding money-saving tracker worksheets to help you stay on track with your wedding budget.
Before creating a wedding budget, please download this checklist to help you determine whether you can afford the wedding of your dreams!
I also recommend grabbing our Ultimate Wedding Budget bundle right now.
It’s the best wedding budget for brides who don’t know how to budget.
The Ultimate Wedding Budget Planner
4. Prioritize your wedding must-haves
It is essential to list what you must have for your big day.
Where are you spurlging, and where can you cut wedding expenses?
Is it the food?
Wedding photos?
Or maybe your dress?
We compiled a list of unnecessary wedding expenses that is a great read.
Be sure to check it out.
Prioritize these elements and be ready to compromise on the less essential wedding items.
This will help you allocate the budget more effectively.
5. Create a Wedding Vision Board
Before making concrete decisions, create a vision board to define your wedding style and theme.
I would browse through magazines, Pinterest, and wedding websites for inspiration.
This will help you visualize your dream wedding and make informed decisions throughout the planning process.
Creating a wedding vision board as soon as you get engaged helps you clearly define your style and preferences, making it easier to communicate your ideas to vendors and planners.
It serves as a visual guide that keeps you organized and focused, helping to streamline decision-making and reduce stress.
A vision board can inspire creativity, allowing you to explore different themes and concepts.
It will also ensure that you and your partner are on the same page, fostering collaboration and excitement as you plan your special day together.
6. Compile Your Guest List
Drafting a guest list early on is essential, as it will influence many other decisions!
The more people you have, the more money you need to spend.
Creating a wedding guest list after getting engaged is essential to ensure you know how many people you will invite.
This helps you plan your budget and venue size.
It lets you prioritize who you want to share your special day with, ensuring that close family and friends are included.
Additionally, it helps organize other aspects of your day, such as catering, seating arrangements, and invitations.
A well-thought-out guest list sets the foundation for a smooth and enjoyable wedding planning process.
Start by listing close family and friends, then gradually expand to include other important people.
Be prepared to make adjustments as needed.
7. Choose a Wedding Date
Selecting a wedding date is a significant step in your planning journey.
Once you have a few potential dates, check with key family members and friends to ensure they can attend.
Don’t message your whole wedding list.
Parents and those you wish to have in your wedding party are enough.
Everyone else will get wedding invitations, and if they can come, great; if not, they can regretfully decline.
8. Research and Book Your Venue
Your wedding venue sets the tone for your entire event.
Choosing a wedding venue makes wedding planning more official.
Finding the perfect wedding venue involves you, your partner, your budget, and a bit of dreaming and compromise.
Consider factors like season, weather, venue availability, and any important dates or holidays that may affect your guests’ attendance.
Be prepared to be flexible and adjust your expectations if needed.
Research different options, visit potential venues, and ask questions about pricing, capacity, and services.
Once you’ve found the perfect spot, book it as soon as possible to secure your date.
9. Hire a Wedding Planner (if needed)
If planning a wedding feels overwhelming, consider hiring a professional wedding planner.
They can help you stay organized, manage your budget, and coordinate with vendors, allowing you to focus on enjoying your engagement.
Most people think that wedding planners are an added expense when, in reality, they can save you thousands of dollars.
I would book them at the beginning or right after getting engaged, as they have discounted rates for collaborating with vendors.
Once hired, your planner can help you pick a venue and book the rest of your vendor team.
10. Staying Organized After Getting Engaged
Alternatively, you can use wedding planning books to stay organized.
These wedding planner books can alleviate many guesswork and steps you need to take.
It’s crucial to break down your wedding tasks into smaller, more manageable parts and to stay organized with lists and schedules.
Go ahead and grab this free 12-month wedding planning checklist.
It will help with stress and the steps you need to take.
Wedding planner books can be an excellent resource for helping you plan your special day after getting engaged!
They have lots of helpful information about budgeting, finding the perfect venue, choosing vendors, and creating timelines.
They often contain checklists and tips to help make sure you don’t miss any critical details.
Many wedding planner books also contain helpful advice and inspiration on themes, decorations, invitations, etc.
With a wedding planner book, you can ensure your big day is everything you’ve dreamed of!
I recommend grabbing this epic wedding planning printable, which includes over 80 pages of checklists to help simplify the planning process.
This printable has over 80 planning pages, which include:
- A wedding budget worksheet to help you keep your finances in check.
- A wedding to-do list to keep you organized and on schedule.
- A seating chart template to help you arrange the tables and chairs.
- A guest list template to keep track of your guests and their RSVPs.
- A wedding checklist to help you keep track of all the little details.
- And so much more
Grab this wedding planning printable here!
11. Pick Your Wedding Party
Choosing your wedding party soon after getting engaged is a great idea.
It allows you to share your excitement and joy with those closest to you, creating a support system as you plan your big day.
Half the fun of getting married is anticipating and celebrating your big day with your closest family members and friends by your sides and having a bridal party – bridesmaids and groomsmen.
But please remember that members of your bridal party are NOT your wedding planners or organizers.
They are there to support you, especially on your wedding day, and to plan some pre-wedding events, such as the bachelorette party.
We encourage you to pick a few friends to help support you on your big day.
Involving your loved ones from the start strengthens your bond and makes the entire wedding planning process more enjoyable and memorable.
If you need help proposing, check out these cute bridesmaid proposal boxes.
Read:
12. Book Key Wedding Vendors
For most newly engaged couples, the first part of wedding planning involves selecting your wedding vendors.
Securing key vendors early is crucial, as the best ones often book up quickly.
This team will help you bring your wedding vision to life.
Focus on booking your photographer, videographer, caterer, florist, and entertainment.
If you booked a wedding planner, let them help you with the process of securing these vendors.
Read this if you are looking for a detailed wedding vendor checklist to help you know when to book each vendor.
Otherwise, research reviews, ask for recommendations, and meet with potential vendors to ensure they align with your vision.
And don’t forget to grab my wedding vendors checklist printable right here:
Other checklists you might need to stay organized when booking your wedding vendors are listed below:
Grab these printable wedding vendor lists to simplify your wedding planning process.
They are some of the best wedding checklists and most downloaded by couples.
13. Look at Wedding Inspiration
Looking for wedding inspiration is crucial because it helps couples envision their dream day and ensures that every detail reflects their unique love story.
It provides a starting point for planning, making the process less overwhelming and more enjoyable.
Inspiration from various sources can introduce new and creative ideas, helping to personalize the event.
Additionally, it helps set realistic expectations and budgets by showcasing what is achievable within their means.
The best places for this are wedding blogs, Pinterest and some wedding Facebook groups.
14. Connect with other brides and couples
Connecting with other brides during wedding planning is essential because it allows you to share tips, ideas, and valuable insights that can simplify the process.
It provides emotional support and reassurance, knowing others are experiencing similar stresses and excitement.
Other brides or couples can recommend trusted vendors and services based on their positive experiences.
This mutual exchange fosters community and camaraderie, making the journey more enjoyable and less overwhelming.
Join wedding planning Facebook groups for a sense of community.
15. Create a Wedding Website
A wedding website is a convenient way to inform guests about the details of your big day.
Include your love story, wedding itinerary, travel accommodations, and registry links.
This will help guests stay organized and excited for your celebration.
We researched the best wedding websites, and these came highly recommended:
That’s it for tips for newly engaged couples!
We have given you the very first steps to take after being engaged!
You can do other things, such as booking and hosting an engagement party, but this is unnecessary.
If you are having a long engagement to save money for the wedding, you can host an engagement party to celebrate with your loved ones.
Most couples take it further, taking engagement photos to create websites and send save-the-dates.
But this requires you to book a wedding photographer, and it’s essential to take your time and book the right person.
Planning a wedding can be overwhelming and time-consuming, but following these steps after getting engaged will help you create the wedding of your dreams.
Remember to enjoy the journey, cherish the moments with your partner, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed.
We want to say congratulations on your engagement and happy planning!
Read next:
- Last-minute wedding checklist
- 12 month wedding planning checklist
- Wedding day tips and tricks
- Mother-of-the-bride tips
- Positive affirmations for couples
- Affirmations for getting married
Be sure to check out our wedding printable shop for more checklists, printables and everything you need to plan a wedding.
Follow us on Instagram for all the best wedding tips! And do not forget to join our new Facebook group dedicated to brides!