Newly engaged? Congratulations! Although you’ve probably dreamt about this moment your entire life, nothing truly prepares you for the whirlwind period between your engagement and your wedding. That’s why we created a simple engagement checklist to help get you started with your wedding preparations!
Engagement Checklist
1. Break The News
Your mother, father, siblings and friends wouldn’t want to hear of your engagement via social media! So, unless you’re keeping hush-hush about your engagement, give them a call, gather everyone for a celebratory drink, or even host a surprise engagement party which you can plan yourself or hand off to your closest friend. Make a special event out of your announcement, because your engagement is worth the toasting.
2. Tell The World
When it’s time to announce your engagement to the rest of the world, nothing speaks louder than a picture. Whether it’s an engagement ring selfie or a full-fledged conceptual photoshoot with your fiancé, why not share the excitement on social media? You’re especially lucky if your proposal was caught on camera. People will love the romantic thrill of your engagement news. Don’t keep these beautiful moments in the dark.
3. Get A Manicure
Now that you’re newly engaged, everyone is going to ask to see your gorgeous ring in person! You don’t want your chipped nails to steal the attention from that precious token of your love. Make sure to keep your manicure on fleet. Whether a nude or bold color, choose a manicure that makes you feel confident and beautiful!
4. Agree on the Core Essentials
Having a conversation with your fiancé and family in advance about the wedding size, budget and guest count is a boring but crucial step to avoid potential conflicts. You can’t move forward with the plans if all the involved parties aren’t on the same page.
5. Set The Date
If you plan to seal the deal within the next 2 years, it’s best to get started on setting the date as soon as possible. Setting the date and finding a venue go hand-in-hand. You’ll need to have completed #4 above (“Agree on the Core Essentials”) so you know your party size and budget before selecting a venue. Talk to your fiancé, family and friends to decide on the wedding date and the venue. The most desirable venues need to be booked well in advance, so don’t wait until the last minute. Consider hiring a wedding planner if your budget allows. They can be a great resource for finding the venue of your dreams, especially if you are planning a destination wedding.
6. Find Your Inspiration
Even the best wedding planner in the world can’t deliver you the wedding of your dreams if you yourself don’t know what you’re dreaming of! There are plenty of creative hacks, inspirations and ideas online, including our wedding planning blog, so keep your mind and eyes open. Logistics, décor, venue, food, wedding dress, cake, activities, and booths – PHEW…the list goes on!
7. Plan Your Bridal Party
Do both you and your spouse plan on having bridesmaids and groomsmen? How many? Odd or even number? Who will be the maid of honor and best man? All married-couples-to-be need to discuss this at the initial stages of the wedding planning.
8. Plan A Fun Outing With Your Fiancé
You will likely remember this wonderful engagement phase for the rest of your life. Someday, you might miss the magic of these early courting stages as the years come and go. Take some time out of your busy schedule to plan fun events or even a small getaway with your fiancé. Rejoice in this sweet time of your life.
9. Create Your Long-Term Wedding Checklist
Once you’ve completed the short-term engagement checklist above, it’s time to get to the nitty-gritty! Weddings require an extensive amount of planning and we want you to stay organized so you have a stress-free wedding day! Read our Wedding Countdown Checklist for a long-term checklist that will guide you to the very moment you walk down the aisle.
