Down on knee, a question was asked, “Will you marry me?” The crowd went quiet and a “Yes” echoed in the restaurant. Champagne was popped, and the patrons clapped. Congratulations! You are engaged to the love of your life and couldn’t be happier.
Countless brides will tell you how special the moment they get engaged is. Instead of staying in the moment and enjoying your newly found happiness, they engulf themselves in wedding planning. As a result, all they had for memories when the Big Day came were pictures instead of memories.
You have probably started planning your wedding. While this part of the engagement stage can be exciting, it can also be intimidating and nerve-racking if you don’t pace yourself. Before you finalize the floral arrangements and color schemes, we suggest you take a breather. Getting engaged is a journey. You might be overwhelmed with all the planning but let it get in the way of building your relationship. Most brides will tell you they were so concerned about the arrangements that they didn’t cherish the small moments. All they have for memories now are photos. This is advice from brides on the period between your engagement and the Big Day they want you to know.
Celebrate The Moment
First things first, it’s time to celebrate your special day. It depends on how you want to do this — alone with your fiancé or surrounded by your family and friends. Keep the guest list short because you need to start saving for the future.
Enjoy The Calm
After your engagement, give yourself time to stay afloat in your happy bubble. You are allowed to make everything about yourself; if that means spending more time with your fiancé than your family, then be it. Set aside the wedding planning for now. You just got engaged, meaning you haven’t selected a date for the Big Day. When that time comes, you can make your list and start preparing.
Avoid Drama
You will get wedding planning advice from many people. Your mom might want certain centerpieces on the tables. A close friend might suggest getting a themed cake based on a movie you love. A cousin who can’t stop talking about the lobster entrée she had at her wedding might want a repeat of that dinner.
With more time, the list of suggestions might become quite long. Don’t concern yourself with ideas you don’t like, no matter how difficult it is to say “no” to someone.
Present A United Front
No wedding is complete without a few snide remarks, the mothers of the bride and groom disagreeing on something, and a cousin making an awkward toast. Even if your in-laws are the most amazing people in the world, you will have some clashes with them.
Make sure you and your fiancé present a united front when tackling these situations. You are no longer a girlfriend. You are a fiancé, soon going to be a wife and a daughter-in-law. Set boundaries and clear expectations to keep everyone on the same page.
Stick To A Budget
Some people go overboard at weddings, and we understand it. It’s your day, and you want to make it extra special. This doesn’t mean that you blow away all your savings. Talk with your fiancé about managing money and how much he will contribute.
You get your dream wedding once. From the moment you wake up to when you wear the dress and veil walking down the aisle on the arm of your father, the happiness you feel is indescribable. Don’t let your post-wedding moments be affected by any drama and petty arguments. Enjoy your engagement until your Big Day arrives.