By Louise Baltruschat Hollis
Congratulations! You are newly engaged and are sure to be feeling super excited! Well, you are certainly in the exact right place to kick-start your engagement.
Let me share my top tips on what to do next and how to really enjoy your engagement.
Image: Lee Garland
I’ve been working in the wedding industry for over 12 years. So you can trust me when I say wedding planning should be a fun experience.
If you are newly engaged and feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Then breathe, relax and embrace this very moment. I love nothing more than helping couples to boss their wedding planning and truly relish doing it too. YES!
Begin wedding planning after enjoying your newly engaged status for a little while. Let the excitement sink in before getting seriously into wedding planning.
My ten-step guide will help you to navigate the way and give you all the advice you need if you are just engaged.
Photo: Victoria Crocker Photography via Burgundy Wedding Theme
When it comes to feelings, there is no particular way you should be feeling. There is no right or wrong, take a breather and accept your feelings.
You could be excited but anxious. Sad about the end of your single life and afraid about the next steps in your life.
You could be so over the moon it’s all you talk about. All normal. However you may be feeling, rest assured there will be many many others that have felt the same way.
There are no hard and fast rules about how long an engagement should last. It really depends on your circumstances and what you both want.
A short engagement is exciting and can be a real whirlwind. Perhaps you just want to be married? Alternatively, you may want to really relish this moment, take your time or save up to ensure you craft the day of your dreams.
Photo: Laura May Photography via Indian Wedding UK
Traditionally, a woman is called a fiancée if she is engaged and a man is called a fiancé. They sound the same but have different spellings.
If you feel uncomfortable with these labels or they don’t suit you or your relationship, ditch them. You can still refer to your partner however you wish when you are newly engaged. In fact, you may prefer to not declare every time you reference your partner that you are engaged to be married. You do what’s right for you.
To be honest, you can wear your engagement ring on any finger you like. Don’t feel like you have to play to any particular rules. Many cultures and countries have different engagement jewellery and ring traditions. If you don’t want an engagement ring, that’s totally fine too.
However, traditionally in the UK, newly engaged couples wear their engagement rings on the finger next to their pinkie on their left hand.
Photo: Vicky Plum Photography via Pet Wedding Ideas
Now we’ve taken a look at some FAQs for engaged couples, let’s dive into what to do now you’ve said yes!
Shout it from the rooftops. YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED! Woohoo. It’s time for your engagement announcement:
Photo: Rosetta Li Weddings via Loft Wedding Ideas
If you have yet to choose an engagement ring, get on to it now. You won’t feel properly newly engaged until you have that special engagement ring. That’s if it’s something important to you to mark your engagement of course.
Scour local jewellers, search the internet, discover heirloom rings, go to antique fairs or have a bespoke ring made. There are also some amazing ring workshops around.
If you do have your engagement ring, you may need to get it resized and insured too!
My Engagement Ring! Photo: Alexa Loy Photography via Our Wedding Ceremony
Why not think about hosting an engagement party? You could have a large shindig or a cosy affair.
Whether you love the idea of drinks at the pub, a meal at your fave restaurant or a BBQ in the garden. You can be sure your nearest and dearest will be excited to celebrate with you. Cheers!
Photo: Blissful Wedding Photography via Flower Filled Wedding
Sit down with your partner, and decide when you want to get married. Do you need to save? Or are you ready to go for it now? Are you hoping for a long laid back engagement or are you hoping to get hitched pronto? Do you dream of a pretty Spring wedding or a candlelit Christmas affair?
Once you have a rough timeline you can start looking for your wedding venue before ringing the date in your calendar.
Decide on your wedding party roles and pop the question to them. You can do this in style too, with fun gifts and cute cards. There are so many options around.
If you want your loved ones to help too it’s a great idea to ask now before you start planning all the details. Then you can assign all of those important to-dos to them to handle.
Photo: Laura Williams Weddings via Autumn Wedding Colours
Setting your wedding budget is key. Whimsical Wonderland Weddings has a free wedding budget planner you can download. This will help you to think about all the things you need to quote for.
Also, read our handy guide on how to never go over your wedding budget and budget-saving wedding ideas. Once you have your wedding budget you will be able to properly start your planning and expectation.
Don’t fret if you are on a tight budget, it can be totally achievable. Check out the budget weddings we’ve featured here on our real weddings page.
Photo: Kazooieloki Photography via Pampas Grass Barn Wedding
Time to find your wedding venue! But how? Are you religious and would like your ceremony to reflect your beliefs? Or are you looking for something simple at the registry office? Perhaps you envisage getting married on a beach or in the woodland.
A humanist ceremony or personal blessing is another special way to get hitched. By the way, you can find wedding celebrants in our wedding directory.
There are so many options available in the UK, but don’t forget the legalities. Check out your local government page for lists of legal venues where you are able to tie the knot.
Now you have decided on your ceremony you will know what kind of reception venue you are looking for. Perhaps a village hall, a tipi venue, a marquee tent, a luxe hotel or a stately home. Ask for recommendations, drive around areas you love, search the internet, scour wedding supplier directories or check in the local paper.
Photo: Erika Tanith Photography via Northumberland Barn Wedding
Now you have your wedding venue booked you can send out your save the dates. Either virtually or via some pretty paper goods.
You want your guests to be able to make your day, especially if it is a year or more away. Later down the line, you can then send out your formal wedding stationery.
Photo: Georgia Rachael via Fishley Hall Wedding
Wedding blogs can be a great place to start. Whimsical Wonderland Weddings features real weddings, with real couples as well as advice articles like this one. I also have social channels you can follow along with. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
I really want my newly engaged readers to enjoy my site. Oh, and go buy your first wedding magazine, it’s so exciting when you buy that first issue.
You will also not want to miss out on my ultimate, super comprehensive wedding planning checklist either. It has everything covered for your whole wedding planning journey.
Photo: Michelle Huggleston Photography via Disco Ball Wedding Inspiration
To keep your life and wed-min separate you could set up wedding accounts on your favourite social channels and a dedicated wedding email address. This keeps everything in one place and super organised. Plus it means when you want to switch off you can simply use your usual accounts.
I truly hope you wonderful newly engaged couples found this article really helpful. I really want you to have the best wedding planning experience possible.
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Leave a Reply
Nadine Kidd
This is so helpful, got engaged recently and we have so many ieas this was a great help in knowing where/how to start!
Kelly {WWW} RealBride
Fabtastic advice as usual Lou!!xx
Kelly {WWW} RealBride
Should say fantastic but loving fabtastic!! xx
Lou
aww im so pleased it has helped Nadine 🙂 Thanks Kelly xx