Ask The Experts: What To Do After You’ve Got Engaged

If you are reading this blog there is a strong chance that you are recently engaged or in the middle of your wedding planning journey, or maybe you just like weddings? If you are recently engaged then congratulations, welcome to the world of weddings, you are in for quite a ride. Getting engaged is such a happy and exciting time, so many things to think about, believe me though planning your wedding is THE most exciting thing. It was over 10 years ago for me, and blogs weren’t really around back then, but if they were it would have made life so much easier in regards to advice and knowing what to do when. Today I have some great advice about those first few weeks and months of being engaged, what to expect and what to do next.

photo by Melissa Beattie – full shoot here

First of all, congratulations on getting engaged! Whether it came as a surprise or you’ve been expecting it for ages, nothing beats the feeling of slipping that ring on your finger. As soon as the initial euphoria starts to clear, your mind goes straight to your wedding. You want to get things in order right away! 

With that in mind, here are the next steps to take following your engagement:

Host an engagement party

This is a special moment in your life, so it needs to be celebrated! Engagement parties are a brilliant way to bring your friends & family together and tell them the good news. Get some party invitations created, send them out to all of your guests, and get ready for a lot of attention. It doesn’t require the same level of effort of planning that a wedding does, so there’s no need to get stressed out! Just have a few people over for a lovely gathering, and you give everyone a chance to congratulate you on the occasion. 

photo by Paul Joseph Photography – full shoot here

Set the date

Following the engagement celebrations, you should cast your mind ahead to the actual wedding. When do you plan on getting married? Some couples are engaged for years before tying the knot, while others look to get married within a year. It’s up to you, but the best advice is to decide on a date as soon as possible. This will help you plan everything and keep to a schedule. 

photo by Katya Nova  full shoot here

Pick a theme

Next, you need to decide on the overall theme of your wedding. Again, this all comes down to personal preference. Some people will opt for a traditional wedding while others prefer to settle on a specific theme. All that matters is that you decide the general set-up of your wedding. This makes it easier when you start planning things as you have a theme to stick to. So, all the designs and decor decisions will revolve around this theme. 

photo by Babb Photo – full wedding here

Book the venue

Even if you plan on getting married in a few years, it pays to book the venue as early as possible. Obviously, you don’t want to rush into this decision as the venue is critical. However, spend time thinking about where you want to host your big day. Research different locations and aim to book one as soon as you can. This is purely because wedding venues book up very quickly. If you leave it too late, then you’ll struggle to land your dream location. 

Pick Your Photographer

Your wedding photographer is someone who will capture all your perfect moments on your special day. Picking your photographer as early as possible is a great way to make sure they understand you as a couple. You can also benefit from their knowledge, as they’ll know what works and what doesn’t after attending and capturing lots of weddings first-hand. From helping to coordinate your day to advice on the best memories to capture, your photographer is an excellent first supplier to approach once you’ve got engaged.

photo by Vanessa Repupilli – full shoot here

Speak to wedding planners

All of the previous things can be thought of or discussed as a couple. But, when you start planning the main bulk of your wedding, then you need to call upon a wedding planner. Some people don’t see this as essential, but I’d argue it’s critical for your sanity to have one. They can help you with some key decisions while providing advice on how things should look. It’ll take a huge burden off your shoulders to have someone like this helping you. 

photo by Paul Joseph Photography – full shoot here

You’re in the middle of a very exciting time in your life. The thrill of the engagement is still boiling, but there are still many things to do. Your journey has only just begun, so follow these steps to stay on track and keep ahead of everything.