You're Engaged, Now What?

With the holidays around the corner and what is known as the "engagement season", there will be many beautiful proposals for sure. The holidays are often times when people we love come together and the joyful ambiance brings about romantic proposals. For those where this will become the reality, after the excitement will for sure, come a small feeling of panic. However, like with anything else, what we see as overwhelming can we broken down into smaller sections, alleviating that heavy feeling of "too much". Literally taking it one step at a time. Here, I will be sharing some tips on what you should do first so that every thought thereafter, doesn't bombard you and run wild in your mind.

First: Breath, enjoy the moment and enjoy your engagement. Be prepared for questions by others, such as "when will it be"? Simply answer politely by saying, "Taking it one step at a time, we are enjoying our engagement for now".

Second:  Along with your fiancé, determine and answer that question for yourselves. Decide on a wedding month and year. No need to share with anyone else just yet. This alleviates the pressure on many levels. Changes won't need explanations.

Third: Determine your budget and stick to it. This is a critical part which tends to fluctuate when we see how much things really cost. Try to stick to the budget as much as possible and stay within your means. Decide on what is most important to you both in regards to this special day. Is it the venue, location, food, photos or florals etc.? This will allow you to prepare and realize on where most of the money will go.

Fourth: Look for a reputable, reliable, Event Coordinator / Planner. Look for planners that offer an array of services, such as coordinating entire weddings or just partial ones (especially if you are a DIY person, like me). Look for one that understands your budget and knows how to bring your vision to life with it. Speak to several planners before selecting one. Don't forget to always, always call references.

Fifth: With these in place, start to enjoy the process, taking it one step at a time.

I hope these little tips will help those first couple of months after your engagement - Congratulations!

Photo Courtesy of Aramis & Beatriz Acevedo

With Love,

M ~