Keep Your Big News Hush Hush
As you stare at your new, gorgeous engagement ring (how can a ring finger look this good?), your head is probably 10 months ahead of yourself, envisioning the fairytale to be that is your wedding. Not too fast- take a moment to pause, bring your head out and down from the clouds, and pull yourself back to the present. This will be one of the most exciting and loved-up times of you and your partner’s life, but no doubt will it be an overwhelming one as well. Get ahead of the game to prevent falling down a wedding planning rabbit hole before you even make the ‘I said yes” Instagram official!
The biggest life event to date has just occured and you’re supposed to pretend as though it never happened? Well, no. You are embarking on the journey of a lifetime with your best friend, you should be full of nothing but excitement! However, take a moment to celebrate this momentous occasion between the two of you. Before you extend the news to all of your social media followers, simultaneously asking for wedding hashtag suggestions, have a romantic date night to commemorate the big news. Try to wait at least a couple of days before posting the big news, so as to give yourself the opportunity to tell loved ones in person.
Don’t Commit to Anything Until the Excitement Has Died Down
You don’t have to dive into wedding planning before the ring is even fully on your finger. Give yourself a moment to enjoy this wonderful step in your life. Most likely, family and friends will try to put in their two-cents – Aunt Sally will swear off a kid-friendly wedding, your recently married friends will push for you to use their vendors, and that one bitter cousin will try to steer you in the wrong direction. Politely accept all advice (even the unsolicited kind) and thank them for their thoughtfulness without agreeing to anything. Give yourself time to breathe and make the best decisions for you and your partner.
Have “The Talk”
At the end of the day, you’re going to want to enjoy your wedding and begin married life on the right foot. However in order to do so, you’re going to need to face some difficult realities about your financial budget for the wedding. Speak candidly and privately with your partner about your vision for the wedding, and vow to commit to a saving and spending plan. Taking out a personal loan as apart of your budgeting plan can help secure a financial start to your future. This route will help you set a maximum for what you can spend, has lower interest than if you charged everything to a credit card, and borrowing money will help build credit for future life purchases (Hello, beautiful colonial with a view!).
Get a Manicure
This is the perfect excuse to pamper yourself! Afterall, your hand will be under the spotlight for the next few months as everyone asks to see your new bling. You’re going to want your nails to be in tip top condition to show off your newest addition. Make it a girls day out, inviting your closest friends to celebrate your new relationship status. Mom and Grandma can come, too!
Get in a Seasonal Mindset
Although you don’t need to run down to the nearest venue and book their next available date, you and your partner can begin to think about what season you’d like to get married in. For every reason to get married in the fall, there may be a con that you’ve not thought of and could really be a dealbreaker for you. Stunning foliage and mild September temperatures? Yes, please! The limited flexibility that comes with needing to have an indoor venue? No, thanks. Consider the logistics of each season, weighing all of their positives and negatives, to figure out which is the best fit for your big day. This will be helpful for when you do find the right venue and are picking the perfect date.
Book your Engagement and Save the Date Photos
You don’t have to have a wedding date in mind to get the photos done. Photographers, especially those who specialize in wedding and engagements, are going to be booked solid if you hold off until you lock down a venue and its specifics. Even if you don’t plan on getting your portraits done until the weather is nicer, getting ahead of your photographer’s schedule may open up more dates to you. If your photographer is offering to make the save-the-dates for you but you still are without a date, ask for the prints and DIY the rest.
Continue to Date
Date your soon to be spouse, I mean! With the whirlwind of excitement that comes with this new step in your life, it can be easy to have your life revolve around the wedding. Beyond invitation details, picking the perfect food, and deciding who and who not to invite, this time in your life is about beginning forever with your best friend and love. Don’t forget to put the wedding talk on pause and reconnect with each other in the months leading up to the nuptials. Just because you’re going to be married doesn’t mean you need to start right now. Leave the mundane everyday life that you will surely encounter once your new chapter starts or your family grows, and treat one another as though your love story has just begun- In some ways, it has.