Christmas, New Years and an Engagement. Some of you lucky lot will be emerging from one of the most special Christmases of your lives, after being proposed to by the one you love.
Whilst most of us are poking are heads out of our Christmas bubble wondering how in God's name we're going to motivate ourselves to get back into the office or the gym, others of you will have the added bonus of the internet filled with Engagement Do's and Don'ts amounting to another realm of post-Christmas panic you didn't even know existed. "Don't forget to tell Aunt Bettie before you Instagram your ring", "Don't start dress shopping right away", "Hire a photographer for your engagement party", "Don't forget an engagement shoot".
The internet is filled with people giving advice, and although Wedding professionals have extremely helpful ideas, hints and tips, take your time and love every minute. Your engagement is personal and there's no right way to enjoy it. So, with that in mind here's our non-advisory advice:
1) If you want to throw an Engagement Party, do it!
Or if you don't, don't. Some of you (like us!) will think HELL YES any excuse for Prosecco and gathering your favourite people. Others will want to bask in their engagement as a couple and won't feel the need for yet another party (seeing your Great Aunt 3 times already in the last month is more than enough), that's ok too.
2) Instagram the heck out of your Engagement
Or just tell your nearest and dearest.. You're getting engaged to the man or woman of your dreams, and you might want to shout it from the rooftop (or from your Instagram grid)... If your parents are the first people you want to tell, tell them first. If your best friend is more like your sibling and closer than anyone else in your life, tell them first. If your neighbours cat that sneaks in for a saucer of milk is the first person you want to tell.... you might be mad. Do what feels right. If you're not one for sharing too much personal content on Instagram, fab, no one's going to lose any sleep over not seeing your ring on their feed. You'll see hundreds of posts telling you to make sure you tell every single person face to face before spreading the news in the world of social media, but if you accidentally forget someone along the way don't freak out, they really WONT hate you.
3) Book an Engagement Shoot!
Or don't book an engagement shoot... We know plenty of photography gurus who will help guide you on choosing your location and will make the process super friendly and fun. You can read about it here actually. Although we know you'd be in the best hands, some of you just won't be into the idea of an Engagement Shoot. Don't force it, you'll have plenty of your own photographs and memories of the occasion so there's no need for FOMO.
4) Create a mood board
Or just make it up as you go along? Some of us are super-organised planning freaks, it's in our blood. We love lists, mood boards, flowcharts and all sorts of stationery that promises to make our planning easier (and more colourful with pointless stickers and tick boxes)... The idea of creating a mood board two days after we get engaged is totally normal and that's what we'll do. Of course, Pinterest is a popular place to start and we have plenty of boards to inspire. Others of us might not know where to start and the thought of Pinterest makes us want to hide in a cave, so chatting to wedding professionals for ideas and going with the flow is completely ok! Once you start chatting with your friends and visiting venues, things will fall into place.
5) Set a date
Or if you have no bloody clue, that's cool. Everybody loves a wedding, and so it's only natural that they're going to ask when the big day is. If you're one of those super-organised folk mentioned earlier, you might have already decided this. Great! People can get the date in the diary and pray for an invite. Some couples might have a mutual favourite time of year, so you can bat away the questions with 'we love the idea of a summer wedding' or 'winter weddings are lovely'! Other couples simply won't know, and if the pressure of choosing a date or time of year is too much then don't worry. Take your time and once you're ready you'll have an answer for those nagging family members! In the mean time, shove in some ear plugs or come back with a simple 'we'll keep you posted!'
Or if you don't, don't. Some of you (like us!) will think HELL YES any excuse for Prosecco and gathering your favourite people. Others will want to bask in their engagement as a couple and won't feel the need for yet another party (seeing your Great Aunt 3 times already in the last month is more than enough), that's ok too.
2) Instagram the heck out of your Engagement
Or just tell your nearest and dearest.. You're getting engaged to the man or woman of your dreams, and you might want to shout it from the rooftop (or from your Instagram grid)... If your parents are the first people you want to tell, tell them first. If your best friend is more like your sibling and closer than anyone else in your life, tell them first. If your neighbours cat that sneaks in for a saucer of milk is the first person you want to tell.... you might be mad. Do what feels right. If you're not one for sharing too much personal content on Instagram, fab, no one's going to lose any sleep over not seeing your ring on their feed. You'll see hundreds of posts telling you to make sure you tell every single person face to face before spreading the news in the world of social media, but if you accidentally forget someone along the way don't freak out, they really WONT hate you.
3) Book an Engagement Shoot!
Or don't book an engagement shoot... We know plenty of photography gurus who will help guide you on choosing your location and will make the process super friendly and fun. You can read about it here actually. Although we know you'd be in the best hands, some of you just won't be into the idea of an Engagement Shoot. Don't force it, you'll have plenty of your own photographs and memories of the occasion so there's no need for FOMO.
4) Create a mood board
Or just make it up as you go along? Some of us are super-organised planning freaks, it's in our blood. We love lists, mood boards, flowcharts and all sorts of stationery that promises to make our planning easier (and more colourful with pointless stickers and tick boxes)... The idea of creating a mood board two days after we get engaged is totally normal and that's what we'll do. Of course, Pinterest is a popular place to start and we have plenty of boards to inspire. Others of us might not know where to start and the thought of Pinterest makes us want to hide in a cave, so chatting to wedding professionals for ideas and going with the flow is completely ok! Once you start chatting with your friends and visiting venues, things will fall into place.
5) Set a date
Or if you have no bloody clue, that's cool. Everybody loves a wedding, and so it's only natural that they're going to ask when the big day is. If you're one of those super-organised folk mentioned earlier, you might have already decided this. Great! People can get the date in the diary and pray for an invite. Some couples might have a mutual favourite time of year, so you can bat away the questions with 'we love the idea of a summer wedding' or 'winter weddings are lovely'! Other couples simply won't know, and if the pressure of choosing a date or time of year is too much then don't worry. Take your time and once you're ready you'll have an answer for those nagging family members! In the mean time, shove in some ear plugs or come back with a simple 'we'll keep you posted!'
Relax. There is no right, wrong, early or late way to enjoy an engagement and plan a wedding. Soak up the excitement, do it your way and take your time... and if you have any questions, just ask!
Image Credit - Michael & Roxalynn by Benjamin Stuart Photography