The moment you have been waiting for for months and maybe years has just finally, at long last, happened. Congratulations on finding your forever love and saying that magical ‘yes’ to a lifetime of happiness! Now that you’ve got that dazzling rock on your finger and can’t stop staring at it, it’s time to dive into the exciting world of preparing for your wedding. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Here are the first 10 things you should do after you get engaged!
- Savour the Moment: Before you dive headfirst into planning, take a moment to enjoy being engaged and to savour the joy and the love, just the two of you. Then share the news with your closest family and friends, relish in their excitement, and soak up every ounce of that post-engagement glow. Take lots of photos too; these moments are to treasure for ever.
- Announce the Engagement: Share the news with the world! You can do the social media route of updating your relationship status, or posting a radiant engagement announcement photo. Or you can do the more personal, time-honoured, old-fashioned way of phoning your friends to tell them. You can host an engagement party with your favourite people. This is the time to bask in the love and well-wishes of your friends and family.
- Ring Insurance: It’s not the most romantic part of getting engaged, but it’s essential. Protect that stunning engagement ring with insurance. You never know when accidents can happen, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Set a Date (Even Tentatively): Start thinking about a wedding date. You don’t need to set it in stone just yet, but having a rough idea of when you’d like to tie the knot will help with the planning process. And you can be sure it’s just about the first question anyone and everyone will ask you. “So, when’s the big day?”
- Dream and Discuss: Envision your dream wedding together. What style do you both want? Big or small? Destination or local? Standard or special and personal ceremony and wedding? Share your ideas, priorities, and must-haves. It’s a great way to ensure you’re on the same page. This is the time to let your imagination lead you wherever it will in envisioning your special day.
- Budget Talk: Then let a little reality in…Sit down with your partner and have an open and honest conversation about your budget. Knowing how much you can afford to spend will guide your planning decisions from here on out. Setting a budget helps focus your attention on what really matters about your wedding and ceremony, and stops you going into debt. So, be realistic but not rigid. Be sure to leave some space for adjustment.
- Registrar and Celebrant? Decide whether you want to have as simple and standard a ceremony as possible with a Registrar, to make sure you have done what the law requires for you to be legally married. Then, if the ceremony really matters to you, you can hire a celebrant to create with you your dream, one-of-a kind ceremony, which you can have before or after, or on a completely different day from your legal marriage ceremony.
- Guest List Brainstorm: Begin making a list of potential guests. Don’t hesitate to write down the names of every possible person you would like to have at your wedding. Remember, this will evolve as you plan, but having a rough guest count will help you when searching for venues and when drawing up (and sticking to!) a budget.
- Pick a Venue: Research and visit potential wedding venues. Booking your dream location early will help secure your desired date. Keep in mind the size of your guest list, the season, and your budget.
- Hire a Wedding Planner (if desired) If you’re feeling overwhelmed or want a pro to guide you through the process, consider hiring a wedding planner. They are a fund of knowledge, knowhow and connections. They can save you time, stress, and even money in the long run.
BONUS: Celebrate the Small Milestones: Throughout your wedding planning journey, don’t forget to celebrate each milestone along the way. Whether it’s finding the perfect dress, choosing your celebrant, selecting your wedding colours or theme, or booking your photographer, each step is a reason to celebrate your love story.
Remember, wedding planning can be both exhilarating and challenging, so take it one step at a time. And most importantly, never lose sight of the reason you’re doing all of this – to celebrate that you are marrying the person you love most in the whole world. . Enjoy the journey, and don’t forget to have fun along the way.
Rev Catherine Kentridge