Forever has a nice ring to it!
My husband and I have quite the love story – but I’ll save it for another day. Long story short, after three blissful months of dating, he popped the question.
It was quick, it was passionate, and it was everything we both wanted at that very moment. Fast forward to six years of marriage, we’re still incredibly happy with our relationship’s timeline. We wouldn’t change a thing.
I was the first to get married amongst my circle of friends. However, weddings were not unfamiliar to me. Growing up, I attended tons of them: ranging from large-scale to intimate ceremonies and most importantly, stemming from all sorts of cultures. So once I became engaged, I had a good idea of what kind of wedding I wanted to throw.
My Love for Love
I have always been infatuated with the idea of celebrating love. I am no stranger to parties, and my fascination for weddings continued long after my own nuptials. I would stay up late at night, researching the latest wedding trends through blogs and forums.
As I write this particular article, do know that’s coming from a good place. Consider it friendly tips stemming from my personal experiences – things I wish I knew before (and after!) Joe popped the question. Here are a few pointers:
7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting Engaged
Research the Ring
Now, don’t get me wrong – I absolutely love the engagement ring Joe chose. I was particularly baffled by its yellow diamond pave setting. It’s incredibly unique and I love the fact that he picked it out all by himself.
However, I do wish we did a bit more ring research together. To make such a large purchase, it’s important that the buyers are fully educated on their upcoming investment. Plus, there are so many diamond alternatives on the market now, allowing couples to get the ring of their dreams for a fraction of the price.
You Will Get Stressed Over Planning
…and it’s normal. There is SO much to do, and it’s not always going to be sunshine and daisies.
Truth be told, I am a very anxious person but the wedding planning didn’t affect me much. It kept me busy, and I thrive off of jam-packed schedules and artistic projects. There were definitely stressful moments, but in the end, everything paid off. I had the celebration of my dreams!
You’re Not in a Rush
Do everything on your own timeline! Don’t let social standards/pressure from family and friends make you rush everything. My husband and I decided to be engaged for one year, and this included wedding planning.
I had some peers questioning our timeline, stating that it was too long. In my personal experience, a one year-engagement is standard, but timing varies from culture-to-culture and couple-to-couple.
Whatever anyone says, I encourage you to stand your ground and do what’s best for you and your partner.
Utilize Pinterest
Pinterest is THE destination for planning out any sort of party, celebration, and of course, wedding!
I absolutely love the platform’s layout, making it easy to organize ideas. I highly recommend it. It’s also easy to add other users on your “boards,” so sharing ideas with other family members, bridal parties, etc. is a breeze.
Psst: speaking of Pinterest, are we following each other yet?
Stick With What YOU Want
I wish this was something I told younger me: Stand. Your. Ground! Do things because YOU want to do them, and not because you’re being swayed by other people’s opinions.
People will always have something to say – and especially when it comes to weddings. Sure, opinions are always welcomed and recognized, but that doesn’t mean you have to go with them.
At the end of the day, it’s YOUR celebration. Do what’s best for you and your partner!
People Will Have Their Comments
Be prepared for the unsolicited comments! Truth is, you’ll never make everyone happy. Unfortunately, I had a handful of guests comment on food, venue… even my wedding photos!
The rule always stands: “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” At the end of the day, the wedded couple (and/or their family) is the one paying for their guests to join their celebration. Wedding attendants, please mind your manners and keep things to yourself. Of course, if like me, you find yourself receiving tons of unwanted commentary, just smile and walk away. I said it and I’ll say it again: your wedding is your and your partner’s day – don’t let anyone else soil it.
Enjoy the Moment With Your Partner
While planning your wedding’s itinerary, I highly recommend scheduling some alone time with your partner. It’s so easy to get caught up with the entertaining aspect, that couples often forget that this wedding is all about their union.
If I had to do my wedding over (I put it this way because I love the way mine turned out!), I would definitely enjoy appetizers alone with hubby! This would give us time to enjoy our food (which, by the way, our venue’s was amazing!) and just be in each other’s company. You’re busier than you expect on the day of your nuptials!
To Summarize:
Just got engaged? Congrats! Here are some things I wish I knew:
- Research the ring as a couple – educate yourself on the jewellery industry so that you know exactly what you want!
- Getting stressed over wedding planning can happen – that’s okay! Embrace it and enjoy the process as much as possible (ie.: ignore the haters!).
- Don’t let social standards or pressure from family and friends make you rush everything.
- Sign up for Pinterest and use it as much as possible – it’s a great tool for planning parties and events.
- Do things because YOU want to, and not because you’re being swayed by other people’s opinions.
- People will have their comments, just smile and walk away.
- Schedule some “alone time” with your partner (yes, during the wedding!). You’ll thank me later.
Are you recently engaged? What are some things about wedding planning that you’re most nervous about? Let’s chat about it in the comments below!
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