10 Things To Do As Soon As You Get Engaged

It’s so exciting to when you get engaged!

This is even true if you know it’s going to happen. I don’t know about you, but I kind of saw my engagement coming. And yet, I was still surprised. And overwhelmed. There’s something about that moment when your partner becomes a fiancé. It makes you feel like you have do or be something different. Referring to each other by a different title, and really thinking about the future, can seem so drastic from your previous relationship.

The good news is, when you get engaged, it’s okay to ease into the future planning. For most relationships, there’s no pressure to dive into setting a date and booking vendors right away. Most couples can enjoy this transition for a bit first. However, some couples still may want a little guidance about some of the fun, responsible, or social things they should do once they get engaged.

This post is going to tell you about ten things you should do as soon as you get engaged. They are not cookie-cutter (almost none of my advice is), and you can skip and choose what works best for you. You may even have a few items that you’d like to add, and if so, go for it. When you get engaged, it’s about sharing the news, taking care of a couple adult-like items, and loosely planning for the future. What that means to you is personal, so these are just suggestions.

Hopefully they help!

1. TAKE A PHOTO AS SOON AS YOU GET ENGAGED

It’s so special to have a photo of your engagement to look back on.

Now, this can be one that someone else takes of you, or it can be selfie-style where you take it of yourselves. It could be professionally planned, or not. I know that a lot of engagements involve photographers, so this is a moot point if that was the case for you. If you got engaged privately, or no one was taking your photo when the question was asked, just take a moment, right afterwards, and capture the excitement. Don’t worry if you don’t look amazing, or if your nails aren’t done. Just have fun with it.

Later on, you can use this photo to share on social media, send to others, or just keep for yourselves.

2. CELEBRATE WITH YOUR PARTNER

In the hours and days after you get engaged, be intentional about finding ways celebrate with your partner.

This can be done however works for you. Perhaps you go to a romantic dinner. Or treat yourselves to some massages. Maybe you go on a day trip, or extend a trip you’re already on. Just take some time to yourselves to do something special. You’re excited, you’re in love, and it’s so cool to be able to use those emotions to create a new memory or experience together.

3. MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT

One of the most exciting things to do as soon we you get engaged is to share the news with your loved ones.

Now, I suggest sharing with your closest friends and family first, and working your way out from there. Also, whenever possible, share the news in person, followed by some sort of video chat, then phone calls, and then texts. It makes it much more special when you learn a loved one is engaged while you can actually see them. So, depending on your relationships, and what is logistically available to you, keep it as personal as possible.

After you share the news with your close friends and family, if you’d like, make an announcement on social media. Just make sure your core people have been told first.

4. LOOK INTO RING INSURANCE

Okay, this is where being proactive and responsible comes into play.

If you are now the proud owner of an expensive ring, it’s worth looking into getting ring insurance for it. In the event that the ring is lost, stolen, or broken, ring insurance will help cover the costs to replace it. Usually ring insurance isn’t hard to get, and you can often piggy back it onto your car or home insurance. If you have an expensive ring, this may be worth it to you for a little bit extra each month. Just send an email to your insurance agent and see what they come back with.

However, if your ring is easy to replace, or you don’t want the extra expense and you’ll take your chances, you can totally skip this step.

5. SIZE YOUR RING WHEN YOU GET ENGAGED

Now, this step is important.

If your engagement ring doesn’t fit properly, take it back to the store where it was purchased to have it sized for your finger. This is essential, because if the ring is too big it can fall off and get lost. If it’s too small you’re less likely to wear it because it’s uncomfortable. So, when you put it on, check to see if the size works for you. When in doubt, take it back to where it was purchased. They will usually size your ring for free, and you shouldn’t worry about offending your partner.

The goal is to comfortably wear your ring, and for it to be safe.

6. TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE WHEN YOU GET ENGAGED

One of the most fun, or perhaps most stressful, parts of getting engaged is talking about the future with your partner.

It’s crucial that you get on the same page about what your future plans are, now that you’ve agreed to get married to each other. So, now is the time to talk about anything you’d like to accomplish before you get married. Make sure you’re on the same page. Perhaps you’d like to save up a little money, or pay off some debt first. Maybe you’d like to graduate school, or move.

Having this discussion will allow you to see how each of you factor into these life goals, and how your wedding plays into them as well.

7. GO OVER A TENTATIVE WEDDING VISION

As someone who loves wedding planning, I’ve got to go over this one.

When you get engaged, there shouldn’t be any expectation to set a date or go really deep into wedding planning right away. However, you should spend a little time talking about your loose wedding plans. Discuss with your partner a timeline that may work for you. Perhaps you’ll also brainstorm on location preferences, how fancy you’d like your wedding to be, and who else should be involved in the planning.

You may also want to talk to your partner about who may be in your wedding party (because your friends and family may be wondering as well). You don’t have to set everything in stone now, but having a tentative vision will help you guide conversations with others as you move towards actually planning your wedding.

8. HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY

Okay, this one is totally not essential to do right away, but may be fun.

Engagement parties are a great way to get families together and have a celebration about your marriage. There is no need to set a date in order to have this event. It also doesn’t have to be huge or elaborate. Sometimes an engagement party can be as simple as a family dinner with your parents, or an intimate gathering with friends.

It’s fun to have an engagement party once you get engaged, though, because it continues the celebration and excitement that you’re experiencing. It allows your community to celebrate with you, and feel involved. To learn more about engagement parties, check out this post.

9. TAKE ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS

While I’m in favor of engagement photos, when you get them done is totally up to you.

However, when you get engaged, you may want to start thinking about this or even moving forward with having them taken. You can book a professional to take these photos for you, or ask a friend to help out. You can also wait until you’re ready to book your photographer for your wedding, and have them take these photos later on.

The nice thing about having engagement photos taken early is that you can use them in a few different places. Other than the obvious social media post, engagement photos are great if you’d like to start a wedding website, or send out an announcement. They are also just a fun way to keep the engagement excitement going.

To learn more about engagement photos, check out this post.

10. GATHER WEDDING INSPIRATION WHEN YOU GET ENGAGED

Okay, my last suggestion of a thing to do once you get engaged is to start gathering wedding inspiration.

Understanding that your vision may change over time, start putting together what you like. You can use a wedding planning book, binder, or app for this. Or, turn to Pinterest (and check out this post all about using Pinterest to plan your wedding). By gathering your vision, and seeing what you’re draw to, it will help you later on when you are ready to actually book vendors and your venue.

Along these same lines, you can look up some wedding checklists or start creating a spreadsheet where you can house prospective guest names or vendors to give a call to. Start dipping into planning your wedding now, so you can use that research later on.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Alright friends. Getting engaged is so fun, so exciting, and it really is a special time in your relationship. It’s a time to enjoy your partner, celebrate with your community, and start envisioning your wedding. The pressure is off (for now), and you can do what works for you. Congratulations!

More From Hummingbird Gives Advice:

12 Fun Wedding Planning Tasks To Share With Your Partner

How To Set Up A Wedding Registry

How To Create A Wedding Health & Beauty Plan

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