You’ve just got engaged? Congratulations!

Being engaged is one of the most fun, exciting and loved-up times ever, and you should enjoy it fully (we’re just a tad jealous!)

No doubt, lots of people have started giving you advice already, some of it really useful and some not so much.

That’s why we’re going to tell you why you should stop and do nothing for now, to avoid falling into any wedding planning pitfalls before you’ve even set a date.

So read on for our 10 tips on what to do when you get engaged…

1 – Don’t post on social media straight away

While you might want to shout it from the rooftops, telling people in person is much more fun! You get to see their faces light up and they get to share in your joy. Plus, do you really want your mum to find out from her next-door neighbour who saw it on Facebook? Hold off as long as you can, tell as many people in person and call any other key friends and family before you post it all over social media.

2 – Don’t say yes to everything!

Your mum thinks you should get married in church. Your dad wants to invite some of his work pals. And your mother-in-law wants a lavish do complete with ice sculptures. Saying yes to anything and everything at the start becomes more difficult to sort out later, once you’ve had a chance to think about things. So, have a vague reply prepared, such as “We haven’t booked anything yet, but we know we want something small and casual”. Not only is this enough to set some expectations, it also gives a little info with committing to anything.

3 – Don’t wear your ring if it doesn’t fit

We know you can’t wait to show your rock off to the world, but make sure it fits before you start wearing it. If it’s too big or too small, you risk damaging or losing it, or even hurting your finger. Having your engagement ring resized at a jeweller’s only takes a couple of days, and then it need never leave your hand again!

4 – Don’t book anything!

Everyone automatically thinks you need to start booking suppliers and venues as soon as you get engaged, and it’s only natural to start looking around. In our experience, it’s better to be engaged for a while and think (or dream!) about what you want for your big day. Once you have a clear idea, then you can start making big decisions, booking suppliers and thinking about practicalities.

5 – Don’t buy a dress!

Part of the fun of planning a wedding is buying your dress, and it’s so tempting to book an appointment and start trying on gowns straightaway! But, as with suppliers, it’s important to stop and think about what you want and what you can afford before falling in love with the ‘perfect’ dress. Plus, if you buy a gown too early on, chances are you’ll grow sick of it before the big day or find others you love more while you’re still planning – and you may change your body-shape as well.

6 – Don’t start dieting!

All brides and grooms want to look their best for the big day, naturally. But you don’t have to go on a diet, get a boob job, or have any other drastic makeovers you might be thinking about. And besides, how much fun will it be cutting out pasta, or chocolate, or alcohol for the next 12 months, just to drop a few dress sizes? Your partner loves you just the way you are right now, so you don’t need to change a thing.

7 – Don’t invite any guests

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of inviting people without thinking, when you first get engaged, and there’s a kind of person that can almost invite themselves. So be careful saying “oh, you must come” to work colleagues, old friends and even extended family, who might not actually get an invite when it comes to writing your final guest list.

8 – Don’t choose your wedding party

You may already know who you want to be bridesmaids and groomsmen at your wedding, but wait a while before you ask them. Once you’ve decided on the wedding you want, your budget and the date, you might have to change the line-up and it’s easier to do that before asking them than run the of risk hurting anyone’s feelings or damaging a friendship.

9 – Don’t get stressed

The prospect of planning a wedding can feel totally overwhelming, whether you’ve had a secret wedding Pinterest board for years or it’s a total surprise. Don’t suffer sleepless nights or get stressed out worrying about money and how much you have to do. It’s your wedding after all, and you can make it as simple or as lavish as you like. If the planning itself is more than you can cope with, you can hire a planner or if a big wedding is going to overwhelm you, then elope!

10 – Don’t forget to enjoy it!

It’s such a happy time: you and your partner are loved up, everyone’s happy for you and it’s just the best feeling. So make sure you enjoy it! Have a party, celebrate with the ones you love and take some time out before you get stuck into the fun of budgets, visits, tastings and fittings.

Still feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of planning your wedding? Get in touch and we’d be happy to chat to you about how we can help.