Get a Ring this Engagement Season? Here's What to do First!

There’s a reason why close to 40% of engagements happen between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s day. This season has plenty of inspiring opportunities to pop the question with the cozy atmosphere and joyful feeling all around. If you’re one of the lucky ladies who received a ring this engagement season and now you’re wondering what’s next, you’re in the right place! Let’s break down the things that should be first on your to do list as you start wedding planning.

Start a New Pinterest Board

Even if you already have a Pinterest board full of wedding inspiration, it’s a good idea to start a fresh one now that your dreams are becoming reality. A new board can help you narrow down your vision to something more concise and realistic. But don’t get carried away about making your wedding “Pinterest perfect”. Although Pinterest is helpful for communicating your vision to vendors, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by unrealistic expectations after hours of scrolling.

Assemble Your Planning Team

It’s time to start thinking about the people you’ll want to rely on during this exciting time. Start researching vendors, especially wedding plannerswho will be able to guide you through the whole process. Look through their online presence and try to meet in person to determine if they will be a good match for your wedding style. You’ll be spending one of the most special days of your life with this person so you want to make sure you get along with them and are able to be open and honest.

Take Care of Your Ring

Now that you’ve got some new bling on your finger, make sure you treat it right so it lasts a lifetime. Get your ring correctly sized if it isn’t already and make sure you take it in for cleanings and inspections. Having your ring examined regularly by a professional will help catch any loosening stones or other damage early. You may also want to look into insuring your ring so that if anything catastrophic happens you’ll be covered. This is much easier to do early on when you have receipts handy.

Go On a Date

With all of the excitement this time of year, don’t forget to take a moment to celebrate with your new fiancé. Go out for a fun date with just the two of you and focus on the reason you want to get married in the first place. During the holidays especially, your friends and family might move on from your engagement to other festivities, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take some extra time to bask in the moment.

Figure Out Your Budget

Before you start signing contracts and picking dates, determine what your budget is. Consider your savings, any contributions from family as well as personal wedding loan optionsto put together the number you’ll be working with to finance your dream wedding. Don’t be afraid to ask your families for a specific dollar amount if they are planning on contributing. To ensure all aspects of the costs are covered, sit down with everyone who is contributing to delegate the payments. This will help alleviate some stress and give you a sense of clarity moving forward.

Start Preparing for Marriage

While you’re obviously excited to plan your wedding, it’s important to remember that the marriage that follows is even more important. Now that you and your spouse-to-be are building your future together it’s time to invest in the foundation of your relationship. Whether that means attending premarital counseling or reading some marriage advice books together, keeping the focus on your relationship will help cut down on some of the stress that comes along with wedding planning.

Did you get a ring this engagement season? Feel free to reach outand see how Gold Leaf Event Design can help with all of your wedding planning next steps!