I’m Engaged! Now What?

Like most gals, I always dreamt of the day the man of my dreams would get down on one knee and pop the big question, “Will you marry me?” I envisioned where he would do it, the scenery, if I would cry, if my friends and family would be there to witness it…

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to experience this last month when my boyfriend of three and a half years (finally) popped the big question. That night he took me out to my favorite Italian restaurant and brought a bottle of wine. It was a Wednesday night so I thought “What’s the occasion?” But it wasn’t the first time he randomly took me out for a nice dinner. After finishing our meals I was ready to go home since it was late and we both had work the next morning. Instead, he said, “Let’s go ice skating.” We hopped on the next train to Philadelphia and headed to Blue Cross Riverrink. The scenery was breathtaking. The giant Christmas tree, the light show, the festive music, hot chocolate, big wooden rocking chairs to sit on and blankets to keep warm…it was all so beautiful. We put on our rentals and after just twenty minutes of ice skating, our feet were in agony. We then decided to walk around and enjoy the scenery. We made our way up a few steps on a bridge where you can look over the skating rink. And that’s when Matt proposed.

He was nervous, for sure, but it was the most romantic amount of nervousness I’ve ever seen in a man. He stumbled on words and spoke rather fast. When he was in the process of saying “Will you marry me” he began opening the box and he wasn’t exactly on one knee just yet. He also forgot which hand was my left. But it was perfect to me.

To my surprise, I didn’t cry, but I couldn’t (and still currently can’t) wipe the smile off my face. I immediately kissed him, hugged him and then couldn’t take my eyes off my engagement ring all night. I texted my close friends and family and shared the news. My birthday was two days before and soon it was Christmas. This past December has been the greatest month…so far.

Matt and I had already been living together for just under two years and talked about getting married. In fact, we even looked at engagement rings (something I do and don’t suggest ladies. You may know what you want but when you see the number of different rings out there it can make you go crazy!) So I knew it was coming, I just didn’t know when.

The next day I immediately began thinking about our wedding. When should we have it and where will we have it? Who should I ask to be a bridesmaid? The questions and thoughts began mounting. Although I felt like I knew what to expect since I’ve been a bridesmaid, being the bride is a whole different story. And there’s no such thing as planning your special day too soon. Here’s what Matt and I did or are currently working on since our engagement:

Celebrate your engagement

Whether you want to keep it simple and invite friends and family over for dinner, or make reservations at a restaurant and pop a bottle of champagne, definitely celebrate your engagement.

Get your ring insured

Although nothing can replace the sentimental value of your ring, if something happens to it, the insurance will cover it. If you have renters or homeowner’s insurance, call the company to add the ring to your policy. If you don’t have either,  you can always buy insurance.

Start a wedding savings account

Even the smallest wedding costs money. Open a joint savings account and start saving money as soon as possible. A savings account is an easy way to keep cash accumulating. Deposit money every paycheck that will go toward wedding-related expenses only, and throw in any overtime pay or extra money you make if you can. You’ll be thankful when the big day arrives.

Select a wedding date

Even if it’s not set in stone, you should have a vague idea of when you want to have your wedding. This will help you spread out planning the event, plus one of the first things people ask once you tell them you’re engaged is “When’s the wedding?” Even if you say “We’re thinking September of 2016” they’re sure to keep a mental note of it.

Start your guest list

The number of people you have at your wedding will impact your expenses. Create a list of everyone you would like to invite. You may also want to create a second list, a “B list” for those who you would consider inviting should you need more people. Be sure to ask your parents about your extended family who you may forget to add. Having a set number of people especially helps when you visit venues and you tell them how many people will be there. You will most likely get a more accurate and better price.

Have an idea of the type of wedding you want

If you’re like me, you probably already have your perfect wedding envisioned. Knowing the type of venue or place you want to have your wedding will help you cut time on visiting locations you’re not interested in. Look up the venues online to see what they provide that you’re looking for. Outside ceremony? How about an open bar? Also, knowing how many people you have will help since most will tell you on their website their maximum capacity and minimum requirements.