He popped the big question and you said yes! After taking a break from admiring your sparkling diamond ring and snapping a few photos for social media, you’ll probably begin celebrating with friends and family (which is fine; cheers). After a couple of weeks fly by, it’s time to start gathering the details to begin planning a wedding that will be perfect and stress-free.
We’re here to make your wedding the best moment of your life, without the fear of feeling like a ‘bridezilla.’ Follow these six important after-engagement tips and you’ll soon be on your way to a happy marriage.
1. SPEND QUALITY TIME
You’ve already let your friends and families know; now it’s time to think about yourselves. Take a week off work to settle down and think about everything but the wedding. Shut your phones off, grab a bottle of champagne and make a toast to the future.
2. INSURE YOUR RING
Between the excitement and joy of the engagement, you’ll need to make time to insure your ring. Insuring it will give you a piece of mind if it gets lost or stolen. Visit a gemologist to get your ring appraised and keep all your receipts from the purchase. Begin by seeing if your homeowners or renters policy covers your ring. If it doesn’t, there are many companies that specialize in jewelry insurance that will. Be sure to check if the entire value of the ring is covered.
3. SET A BUDGET
Don’t go too overboard with decorations when you first begin planning. Weddings can be expensive if you let it be. It’s better to plan your wedding with a price in mind to ensure that you do not go over what you can actually afford. According to statistics, an average wedding last year cost more than $31,000.
4. DRAFT A GUEST LIST
Begin thinking of anyone (literally) you would want to invite to your wedding. Each month, revisit the list and start narrowing it down as everything else starts falling into place. This step will be very helpful in choosing a large enough venue to accommodate all your guests. It will also make everything easier in the long run for getting an estimated headcount for hors d’oeuvres, beverages and other wedding goodies.
5. THINK ABOUT DATE AND VENUE
Take a moment to reflect on your ideal location or season you’ve always wanted your wedding to be. You should keep in contact with the people you’re inviting to let them know what you’re thinking in terms of the date. Whether you want a summer or fall wedding, it’s important to plan ahead so you can get the venue on the date you want.
6. BROWSE PINTEREST
Pinterest is a great modern way to get wedding inspiration right from the comfort of your home. It’s filled with endless options on hairstyles, flower combinations, wedding gowns and more. Make a board with the category name (i.e. wedding cakes) and pin everything you love in that board. This will make it easier to compare your options against ones that are similar.
