Newly engaged what to do next: the ultimate guide! Here are the top things you need to tackle + do (for fun) right now! Subscribe for the latest to your inbox!

Newly engaged? Congratulations! There is nothing quite like that feeling of that new sparkly engagement ring on your finger.

While you may have a thousand questions spinning around in your head right now, hang on just a second.

The best answer to what to do after getting engaged: saaaaaavor it.

And rock this mug, because its amazing. By ByTracey.)

Because pretty soon, you’ll be knee-deep in tulle and favor ribbons and invitation styles, trying to figure out how to seat your guests and drinking wine while cursing to yourself, so catching your breath right now and letting the moment sink is one of the best things to do after proposal — and before your latest snaps or reels make their way onto your favorite social media platform. :) Ha!

Whether you’re wondering the most important things to do after engagement and before marriage, what to do after the proposal, how long after engagement to set the date, or what not to do when you get engaged, we have all the answers for you right here.

And we don’t want to waste your time — you have a wedding to plan! Um, after savoring that newly-engaged feeling, of course.

So, take a deep breath, and let’s get started!

P.S. This is also a helpful article if you are wondering, my daughter just got engaged now what. Just send it to her using the social links at the bottom of your screen (you can even click the SMS/text icon to send it this link via text message! So easy!)

Your partner asked and you said yes. Yay! It’s no surprise that the first question people usually ask is, I’m engaged, now what?! Even if you feel prepared in planning your wedding, the overwhelming feeling of where to begin can feel daunting, but it should be fun! Plus, we’ll cover an important topic: how to behave with fiancé after engagement.

Enjoy!

Here are some tips to help you navigate and decide what to do after proposal — and what not to do when you get engaged.

1. Tell your family.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when getting engaged is sharing it with everyone before telling the most important people in your lives.

Step away from your social media accounts! Before you post about it online, tell your family in person or with a phone call! This is very important. After family, tell your friends. And finally, tell the world (i.e. social media).

If you have grandparents, give them a phone call (or visit in person, if you can) and share the news.

Then, by all means, go crazy on social, if that’s your thing. :) You may even want to get a manicure first to show off that bling the best way you can. (Read: How to Get the Best Wedding Nails in 3 Easy Steps.)

2. Insure your engagement ring.

If you’d like to insure your ring, now is the time to do it!

For more on the topic, read: Engagement Ring Insurance 101.

3. Does your ring fit?

Wearing your engagement ring at first feels great, but also sort of funny! If you’re not used to wearing a ring all the time, it takes some getting used to.

After the initial week of wearing it constantly, you’ll probably feel like it has been there all along.

If not, it could mean your ring does not fit properly.

One of the best things you can do after getting engaged is to get your ring fitting perfectly.

• If your ring is too loose, get one of these to keep it from spinning.

• If your ring is too tight, bring it to a jeweler to have it possibly made larger, which depends on the ring itself.

While you’re at it, get one of these ring dishes so you can keep your ring in a safe spot when you do need to take it off (for cleaning, gardening, washing, working out, etc.)

You don’t need to spend a lot to get a cute ring dish on Etsy. This one is under $15, personalized! By SimpleSentimental.

4. Don’t act weird with your fiance.

You may be wondering how to behave with fiancé after engagement. The answer: the same as always.

So, yeah, stop being awkward! ;)

Yes, you’re engaged to be married, but that doesn’t mean your discussions must now shift to 100% wedding talk all the time. Don’t stop going on fun date nights together, trying your local new restaurants, playing some mean board games, going for walks, hikes, etc. Don’t fill up all your spare conversation with wedding talk. I mean, yeah, obviously you’re going to talk about it a lot, but don’t make it the ONLY thing because that will get old pretty quickly and you do not want to go all bridezilla. Ha!

Date night is fun, can be inexpensive, and will keep the romance alive. Plus, everyone needs a wedding planning break. Don’t get obsessed in the planning process — have fun with it, enjoy the process, and make time for your soon-to-be spouse. Read: 50 Best Fun (+ Cheap!) Date Ideas for inspiration.

5. Decide on a date.

If you’re not sure when exactly, think about your favorite season when you’d like to get married. Here are some suggestions to see what season is best for you!

• Fall

Do you dream of getting married in an outdoor (or indoor) fall wedding? YOU MAY LIKE: seasonal colors like rich gold, red, and orange; apple themed weddings; fall favorites like a hot apple cider or pumpkin spice coffee bar; donuts; pumpkin themed everything; caramel apple favors for guests to-go, and cozy blankets for guests to stay warm. Sunflower bouquets, velvet bridesmaid dresses… ahh, there’s so much to love. We have our top Fall Wedding Trends here for inspo — and don’t forget a denim jacket for you, obviously. :)

• Winter

Do you like a winter wonderland wedding or Christmas inspired reception? I wsa a December bride myself, so I totally understand. :) You may love sparkly details for over-the-top icy inspiration, or go subdued with greenery and pops of rich reds. Evergreen wreaths; romantic lanterns as centerpieces; a faux fur wrap for you; ornaments as wedding favors for your guests; cookies as take-home favors; gorgeous Christmas-inspired bouquets like this; ultra-plush velvet table runners and velvet napkins; hot chocolate favors… just to name a few. :)

You can browse our top Winter Wedding Ideas for more inspiration.

• Spring

Spring flowers blooming, the weather is finally getting nicer… spring weddings are obviously one of the most popular times of year to tie the knot! You may be dreaming of a lemon themed bridal shower or perhaps honey themed wedding; pops of yellow in your color palette and bouquets of wildflowers and daisies; cool hedge backdrops; fun, fruity lollipop escort cards; rose petals tossed down the aisle; floral centerpieces in boxes like these, and so much more. Read: The 20 Best Spring Wedding Favors for 2020 for additional inspiration.

• Summer

Ahh, summer weddings: the most popular time of year to get married! You’re dreaming of warm weather, a nice hot ceremony outdoors, perhaps even a beach wedding; nautical themed weddings are popular around this time of year, along with beach bachelorette parties (or pool parties). You may be picking out short bridesmaid dresses, picking out beach bridal sandals to wear; for stationery, floral patterned invitations, programs, and menus are in; since many outdoor weddings are perfectly temperate, things like wedding aisle signs, passed appetizers and cocktail hour with lawn games, and outdoor receptions with a tent like this and dancing under the stars are all fair game! This is the perfect time of year for a starry night wedding. For more ideas, read: browse our summer archives.

You’ll also want to discuss your guest list and the size of your wedding (along with budget).

For help on budget, I highly recommend this wedding budget book. It has been around for a long time but continues to impress us with how thorough it really is. Planning on a budget is so much easier with this book. You can buy it here.

Your budget will determine what size venue you will choose.

Once you’ve narrowed down the season and chatted about the guest list, start looking for venues and secure your date.

Once these two things are put in place — the venue and date — the rest will fall into place… and you won’t feel too rushed or stressed out to do anything else right away.

And you can start browsing save the date cards to tell your family and friends — if you need them, of course. See: Save the Dates: Optional vs. Necessary?

I love this one! By SecretCreation.

Browse more save the date cards (cheap!) → 9 Places to Buy Cheap Save the Dates.

6. Pick a wedding theme.

Need inspiration for wedding themes? We’ve gathered up our favorites all in one convenient spot. Check out the 50+ wedding themes and use it to help you pick your favorite. Once you do, planning will be smooth like buttah.

You may also like reading my book on wedding themes. Yup, I wrote the book on it! Read: The Inspired Wedding by Emma Arendoski. It is a terrific book to read right after getting engaged. You’ll be inspired by seven wedding themes, each a different chapter; you’ll find beautiful easy-to-apply ideas, creative twists, and gorgeous Real Wedding photos to inspire you and walk you through planning from start to finish. You can buy it here.

7. Have engagement photos taken.

Hire a photographer (browse our Wedding Pros List to find one locally!) for engagement photos + have them taken soon. You’ll be happy to have photos from this memorable time in your life AND, if you like his or her work, you’ll already have your wedding photographer picked out. Easy!

You can also browse Real Weddings to see how other couples made their dreams come true. We have a huge archive, so grab some coffee + dive right in.

And now… breathe. That’s a lot to do for now. Take a break! :)

When you’re ready to pick up more to-dos, read: 50+ Things Not to Forget at Your Wedding (CHECKLIST) and 50+ Things Not to Forget at Your Wedding (CHECKLIST).

They’ll both help you tremendously as you plan.

SUBSCRIBE

And of course, subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates from Emmaline Bride. We’ll help you plan from start to finish! Need something? Just ask: we’re always here to help! :) Plus, we have weekly wedding giveaways, and who doesn’t love that?!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Like podcasts? You’ll love “Getting Married with Emmaline Bride”. Fun, stress-free planning with your hosts, Emma + Andrew — the co-founders of Emmaline Bride (+ happy married couple). Listen to episodes here!

So, tell us: are you newly engaged? Wondering where to start after getting engaged or what to do after proposal? Let us know if you have additional questions in the comment box below.

Hope it helps!

xo
Emma

P.S. Do you know someone who is newly engaged? Send them a gift! Read: 50+ Most Unique Engagement Gifts for Her or 50 Best Wedding Gifts for Couples 2020 for the best newly engaged gifts.