The day has finally come and you are officially engaged — congratulations! Now what? Well, outside of beginning to plan for your upcoming wedding, there are a few things that go along with being engaged that most people don’t talk about, so we thought we would take a few minutes to cover them with you.
Don’t Down Play Your Proposal
However it happened, wherever you were, it was special and was about the two of you, so don’t downplay your story or try and compare it to the lavish experiences of others. When people ask, share all the details of the moment if you want or simply say something like ‘it was quiet, intimate, and perfect’ and leave it at that if you prefer to keep the details of memory to yourself. And be prepared to repeat the story because people will ask.
It’s Polite to Stare
I know your mother always told you it was impolite to stare, but in this case, stare away at your ring all you want! For many newly engaged, things are still a bit surreal — even if you were expecting it. Enjoy staring at your ring as the reality sinks in.
And be prepared to show it off! Get a manicure immediately because people are going to ask to see the ring and you want to be prepared.
It’s Okay Not to Know
Right out of the gate, people are going to ask you if you’ve chosen a date yet. It’s okay to say ‘no’ or ‘we haven’t even started planning yet.’ It is more than acceptable to take a step back, let the reality of your engagement sink in, and just enjoy being engaged for a while before you select a date.
Remember, this is your engagement and your wedding, so it’s fine to take things at your own pace.
Happy and Unhappy
While you know the majority of people will be as excited as you are about your engagement, be prepared for the occasional nay-sayer. For whatever reason, some people are down on marriage or might be less supportive than the rest of your friends and family.
When you run into a negative reaction, just be polite and move on. Don’t dwell on it and don’t let it ruin your excitement.
Know-It-All Married Folk
Be prepared for your married friends to start shelling out advice immediately about how to plan or who to call. Just remember that they mean well. Graciously accept their advice and take their suggestions in stride.
Remember they are just trying to be supportive. At the end of the day though, it’s your special day and you can take or leave their advice because you’ll be planning a wedding that is a reflection of your love story and not their’s.
Enjoy Being Engaged
Don’t try and rush the process or become so consumed by planning your wedding that you miss out on enjoying being engaged. Even if you’ve been living together for a while, becoming engaged will feel different and your relationship will need some time to adjust to this new level.
It’s a wonderfully unique and special part of the getting married process, so try and soak up every moment of it.
