He popped the question. You said yes. YAY! You’re engaged!
Here’s what to do next (you know, right after you call your mom).
1. Celebrate
This is the MOST important part! Take time to call everyone, flash that new bling on Facebook, go out to dinner, sip champagne and enjoy the thrill of a new season! Plan a get together with all your family and best friends and enjoy time basking in the excitement.
2. Breathe
Take a deep breath and be filled with thrill as you think about what’s ahead. Treat yourself to a spa day and a manicure to make your new bling pop! As soon as you say “yes” a million ideas flood your head and your to do list gets instantly longer. Carve out some time for yourself to breathe, relax, be pampered and enjoy some quiet! As much as everyone around you will be clamoring for all the wedding details, resist the urge to be stressed by wedding planning and take a few days to just enjoy being engaged. These first few days can set the tone for your engagement/wedding planning season, and let me tell you a little secret….no one likes to be stressed planning a wedding. Yes, there are a lot of details to plan out, but if you can remind yourself to breathe throughout the process, you’ll be so thankful on your wedding day. This is supposed to be a joyous time of your life, not a stressful one!
3. Search for Inspiration
Let’s pretend like you haven’t already been drooling over ideas on Pinterest…Start by making a mood board that reflects all of your brilliant ideas and dreams and then narrow them down. Dream big and then start to get specific, eliminating ideas that don’t sync up or images that don’t reflect who you are as a couple.
4. Book Your Venue and a Wedding Stylist or Planner
Now this is clutch. Venues in California book up fast. Make visiting venues a priority and don’t fret if it seems like all the best days are already taken. Most venues have weekday discounts on weddings and a lot more people are getting married on Fridays and Sundays than ever before! Once you know what your wedding style and inspiration is, look for a great wedding planner or event stylist in your area to help make your dreams a reality. Need a few recommendations? Check out any of these AMAZING ladies:
5. Book Your Photographer!!!!
This is obviously my favorite part and one of the most important decisions you’ll make concerning your wedding. While the food will be delicious and the decorations on point, your photos will last forever! You want to make sure you not only book someone with a good portfolio,but also someone you connect with and feel comfortable around. Your photographer is with you for all of the most intimate, embarrassing and beautiful moments of the day and it’s so important that you have someone there that makes you feel more beautiful and unashamed.
When looking for your photographer it’s important that you do your research, check for reviews and recommendations on The Knot and Wedding Wire. Actually look through their galleries on their website and not just the images on their Instagram. Set up consultations and come prepared with questions and a good grasp of what you’re looking for. Ask to see a full wedding gallery so that you can really imagine what your photos will look like. Compare pricing and packages but also remember that you will get what you pay for. Remember that the food you choose or the chairs you rent won’t be decorating your walls in 20 years, but your photos will. Consider where your wedding investments will be, if photography is one of your lowest budget items there is potential that you will not be thrilled with your overall experience. It’s so important that you invest your time in picking the best photographer for you. Check out some of my tips here.
I am beyond thrilled for you and I would love to treat you to a celebratory cup of coffee to chat about all of your exciting wedding plans!
