Four Things to Do after Getting Engaged

After the initial excitement of getting engaged has died down, many couples begin to feel the pressures of engagement events and wedding planning very quickly. It is true that these events are coming, but it is also true that they will pass. Try to keep a good perspective about all of these things, and remember that the most important thing is to enjoy them.

Practice Mindfulness

It may sound clichéd, but this is the time, more than ever, to ‘stay in the moment’, and more importantly, ‘enjoy the moment’. Getting engaged is exciting, and that excitement should be held onto to make it last as long as possible. Relish the attention and admiration your beautiful engagement ring generates and embrace the outpouring of joy from your friends and family. As a couple, this is your time to enjoy just ‘being’. Try not to dissipate it with thoughts and plans for the future quite yet.

Dream Big

Planning and organizing the wedding seems to be the natural next step after getting engaged, right? Wrong! Do not forget the first, most crucial part of the process is to dream. Start exploring the Web, look at magazines, and allow yourself to imagine all the possibilities. There are numerous wedding websites that have thousands of photo galleries, all offering seemingly limitless inspiration. Other great resources of information and ideas are wedding blogs and Pinterest.

Plan a Budget

Planning a wedding budget is certainly not the fun or glamorous part of the whole event, but it is definitely necessary. It is best to get the financial issues out of the way early on in the game so that the fun part can begin as soon as possible. Your budget will be your roadmap for every element of the planning process, and fortunately there are thousands of wedding options out there to suit all budget sizes. Try to look at the overall picture of the wedding and then allocate funds to the various areas such as dress, venue, caterer and even the smaller things such as invitations.

When All Else Fails Turn to the Pros

Planning a wedding can become overwhelming very quickly, especially if you are trying to accommodate a large family and group of friends. There are so many details involved in organizing the event that it may be best to let the professionals handle it. Hiring a wedding planner is sometimes the best investment a couple can make. Wedding planners will take your budget, priorities and individual style and turn them into your dream wedding. Many planners also have years of experience in the industry and can garner you preferred pricing with certain vendors.

The excitement of getting engaged is a once-in-a-lifetime feeling and should be treasured for as long as possible. The demands of engagement parties, photo shoots, bridesmaids and the wedding itself will eventually catch up with you. However, stay in the moment and let all your future plans wait, just for now.

Laura L Bolick is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose the best and the most unique engagement ring designers in the UK. Join the F&L journey that covers topics related to getting engaged, choosing the right stone, affording your engagement ring and how to work with talented designers.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.