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You’ve just said yes to one of the most life-changing questions — congratulations! But now it’s time to take your eyes off your gorgeous engagement ring and find out what to do after getting engaged. The 10 tips below will help ease you into the wedding planning process and make sure you take all the right steps after your proposal. Follow them to make planning your dream wedding as easy as possible, and don’t forget to celebrate your engagement and practice telling your proposal story!
Click on the checklist to download:
1. Share the Proposal Story With Friends and Family
Before you post a picture of your ring, contact your close friends and family to let them know the good news! Your and your spouse-to-be’s parents, siblings and close friends will appreciate finding out from the source rather than seeing the news spread on social media.
You can call to let them know, but an in-person announcement to loved ones who live close by is even more special. Invite close friends and family over for an impromptu engagement party, or bring a group out to dinner, tell your proposal story and show off your ring! Once you let close loved ones know the great news, you can reach out to others or post on social media.
2. Size and Insure Your Engagement Ring
Even if your spouse-to-be knew your ring size, your engagement ring might not fit quite right. Get it sized by a professional jeweler for the proper fit, so it’s comfortable without being too loose.
Your engagement ring is a sentimental piece of jewelry, and no matter how much it cost, you want to protect it. Get a jewelry safe and know how to care for the gems in the ring, but also look into ring insurance. Depending on your plan, the insurance could cover:
- Theft
- Damage
- Loss
You’ll cherish your engagement ring and watch over it, but sometimes, the unplanned and unfortunate does happen. With engagement ring insurance, you’ll have peace of mind as you proudly wear this meaningful jewelry.
3. Have an Idea of the Wedding Date
You don’t need to set a date right away, but one of the questions you’ll probably get from close friends and family after telling your proposal story is, “When’s the wedding?” Give them a rough idea of the season you’re thinking or whether it will be a few years from now. That’ll satisfy their curiosity until you can nail down a date and send invites. Thinking of an approximate wedding date will also help you when it’s time to search for a venue and set a date for real.
4. Picture Your Dream Wedding
Create your Pinterest boards and start collecting wedding magazines! One of the most fun parts of the wedding planning process is dreaming up the perfect wedding. As you browse social media and wedding magazines, get inspiration for your:
- Theme
- Venue
- Dress
- Decor, including flowers
- Bridal party dresses
- Groomsmen’s outfits
Remember, you are one-half of an engaged couple, so consider your spouse-to-be’s desires, as well. Once you have an idea of what you both want, you can dive into the wedding planning process. If neither of you is sure what direction to go in for your wedding, ask for your loved ones’ opinions. They’ll feel touched that you asked, and may give some helpful insight into wedding planning.
5. Create Your Wedding Budget
Now that you know what you want for your wedding, you also need an idea of what you can spend. Creating a budget may be the most challenging part of wedding planning, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Research the average cost of wedding venues, vendors, decor and more, and evaluate what you can spend based on your finances. This process can also help determine a date for the wedding if you need time to save for your dream day.
It’s also a good time to consider who, if anyone, will help pay for the wedding. While the engaged couple puts up most of the cost today, the bride’s family traditionally contributes as well. Other family members may want to help. Approach the subject lightly with family members, and be sure to express gratitude to anyone who offers.
6. Start Your Wedding Guest List
With a budget in mind, you can begin to think about who will be there to celebrate your wedding. Make sure to draft your guest list with your spouse-to-be, since you both have important people in your life that you’ll want there on your special day. Keep some factors in mind that could impact your guest list, as well:
- Your budget
- The size of your wedding venue
- If your guests need to travel far
If you and your partner have large families and groups of friends, you may have to make some compromises with your spouse-to-be as you create your guest list, so prepare to go through a few drafts. It may help to create a mock seating chart, so you can organize who would sit together and visualize the setup.
7. Pop the Question to Your Wedding Party
Part of the wedding planning process is deciding who will stand alongside you as you say your vows. Your best friends and your close family members will be delighted to be part of your big day, and the sooner you ask, the sooner they can help you with wedding planning.
When you ask your loved ones to join you on your wedding day, make sure you give them as many details as possible. They’ll be giving you their time and spending their hard-earned money to be part of your wedding, so be sure to be considerate and appreciative.
8. Search for Wedding Dresses
It can take a while to find your dream dress, so it’s best to get a jump on the search. You may need to travel to different boutiques and factor in time for any alterations once you find what you’ll wear as you walk down the aisle. When you go out to find the perfect dress, have these aspects in mind:
- Silhouettes
- Necklines
- Trains
- Colors
- Details like lace or beading
Along with the features above, you’ll also need an idea of your budget, which is why it’s essential to know that before the wedding planning process.
9. Book a Wedding Venue and Pick a Date
You’ll want to decide on a date and venue well in advance, especially if it’s during peak wedding season or in a must-have venue. Tour wedding venues and book in advance, but make sure you decide based on factors like:
- Your budget
- The theme of your wedding
- How many guests you’d like to invite
- What season the wedding will be
- The location of the venue
Once you book your venue and a date, everything else will start falling into place. Don’t forget to send out save-the-dates now that you know for sure when your big day will be!
10. Book Your Wedding Vendors
Now that you have a date and a venue, it’s time to book everything else for your perfect day. Assemble the list of vendors you’ll need to stay on track. You won’t want to forget vendors and services like these:
- A wedding planner
- An officiant
- A jeweler
- Photographer and videographer
- Catering
- A baker for the cake
- A florist
- Someone for the music
- Hair and makeup stylists
- Transportation
Again, be sure to book these vendors and services well in advance, especially if your wedding is during a busy season or you’re selecting the top vendors in your area.
Book Wyndham Garden York as Your Wedding Venue
As Central Pennsylvania’s leading venue for weddings and other events, Wyndham Garden York would be honored to host your wedding day. Invite us into your wedding planning process, and you’ll find that it goes much smoother as you check multiple to-dos off your “I-do” list with us.
We can help you rent a space, plan a menu, finalize catering, handle the setup and provide accommodations to close friends and family from out of town. We’ll customize everything to your needs, so you get a unique wedding that fits you and your spouse-to-be’s personality. With an on-site wedding coordinator, we help engaged couples know what to do after getting engaged and take the stress out of the wedding planning process.
Browse our wedding packages to get everything you need in one place. From bridal showers and rehearsal dinners before the wedding to a delicious brunch the day after you say “I do,” Wyndham Garden York has so much to offer an engaged couple to complete their perfect day. Let us be part of your special day and get everything you need to celebrate with close friends and family.