YOU SAID YES! Besides the day you met, there’s never been a more exciting time for the two of you. You’re newly engaged and ready to start planning your future together. So what’s the next step? Here are seven things to do after the proposal and before you kick off the wedding planning.
Ready to jump into your wedding planning but not quite sure how? Our Wedding Vision Builder is the best way to start! This interactive step-by-step guide will help you set your wedding priorities, discover your dream venue, reveal your wedding style and gather all your ideas in one place.
Once you’re finished filling it out with your partner, you’ll have a clear picture of the wedding you really want and be ready to share this vision with your family, friends and suppliers. Get your digital download for $5!
1. Be in the moment
You don’t need to jump on the phone and share your news with the world straight away after the proposal. There’s never been a better excuse to pop a bottle of champagne and toast your future together. You can also celebrate with a beautiful meal, cosy night in or spontaneous getaway…anything that’s all about the two of you. Enjoy being the only people who know this wonderful secret, at least for a few hours!
2. Pamper yourself
Whether you’re sporting a new ring or about to go shopping for one, make time for a manicure! There’s going to be a lot of hand modelling for friends and family over the next few weeks and you’ll be spending plenty of time admiring your new bling, so treat yourself to nice nails to match.
3. Announce the news
FaceTime before Facebook! Share the news with your family and closest friends first in person, by video chat or phone before updating your social media status. Your proposal story will get a serious workout and it can take some time to get around everyone, so divide and conquer on spreading the word where you can. Even sharing good news can be an emotional rollercoaster, so if your excitement at retelling the story starts to dip after the tenth call, take a break and recharge. And ask your nearest and dearest to give you a few days before they start sharing so your VIP’s have the chance to hear it from you first.
4. Look after your engagement ring
If you’re not used to wearing your engagement ring, it’s easy to misplace. When you do take it off, keep it safe in a ring box by your bed and have a ring dish next to the bathroom and kitchen sink. Drains and diamonds don’t mix! Try to avoid sleeping, showering and swimming with your ring on so it stays as sparkling as the moment it was first slipped onto your finger. And consider getting it insured against loss, theft and damage for peace of mind.
5. Discuss how you would like to celebrate
Sharing this special moment with the ones you love can be as simple as drinks with different groups of friends and family members when opportunity strikes, or a more formal engagement party that brings everyone together. However you choose to celebrate, plan for it to happen at least three months out from your wedding.
6. Talk about engagement photos
An engagement shoot is a memorable way to document this milestone in your relationship that also gives you time to get comfortable in front of the camera and get to know your wedding photographer before your big day. It’s a great opportunity to capture your connection in a place that’s meaningful to you, like the setting of your first date or the home you share together. Not only will the photos be a sweet memento for you to look back on, they can also be used for your Save the Date announcements, wedding invitations or wedding website.
7. Daydream about your wedding
Enjoy exploring what getting married looks like to you. Your first thought might go straight to the guest list and who would be on it, or where in the world you could host your celebration, or what exotic pit stops your honeymoon might include (I’m one of those people that skips to the end!). This is all about sharing your ideas with each other as the first step towards creating a vision for your wedding.
So you’re ready to get stuck into wedding planning, but not sure where to start? Our Wedding Vision Builder is a quick, easy and fun way to organise your ideas and the first thing you should do! This interactive guide is filled with questions for you and your partner to complete together so you can sort out what you really want for your day.