Just Engaged? Here are 7 Important Things to Do Next
Just engaged? It’s official! You’ve got a shiny new ring and a huge smile to prove it. He asked the big question and you had an easy answer, but now you have a lot more questions and not so many easy answers.
We’ve got you covered with the first 7 items to check off your “just engaged” list.
Celebrate (enjoy that “just engaged” feeling)
This is a moment you will remember – so enjoy it! Take a photo (or several). Celebrate with just the two of you and with the people closest to you.
If your fiance planned a post proposal party, enjoy that time!
You can also plan an engagement party for later to celebrate with your favorite people.
Your engagement will pass by quickly, so try to take some time to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Tell people – family and close friends first, social media to let everyone know
How do you announce you just got engaged?
Call your parents, siblings and best friends first. Some of them may already know it was coming but make sure you let them know – they are probably waiting on that call!
Feel free to text your close friends. You don’t need to spend hours on the phone telling everyone.
Post to social media to let others know. A quick photo and short caption is all it takes.
Quick pep talk – your wedding is for you and your fiance. You will have lots of conversations with family, there will be different opinions and advice. Figure out what is most important to the two of you and keep those as the priority. Have some flexibility on other things, but do your best to communicate the reason behind your choices and ask others the reason behind their choices. It’s good practice for marriage!
Choose Your Wedding Season and Possible Dates
Sometimes the season you want to get married in (dreaming of Fall colors?) can determine the length of your engagement. And sometimes how quickly you want to get married can determine the season you are married in. Choose what works best for you and your fiance.
In North Georgia, Spring and Fall are the most popular seasons for weddings. In each of those seasons, there is a Peak month. October is the busiest month for weddings in North Georgia. If you are dreaming of a Spring wedding filled with sunshine and peonies, then May is often popular.
If you have flexibility on the month or exact date, that will give you more options for venues and help manage your budget.
Consider a Friday or Sunday to help with your budget. Saturday evening weddings are the most popular and the highest priced.
Talk about the Budget
Speaking of which – figure out a budget. Start with a range you can work with. $30,000 – $35,000 is easier to figure out than a flat $35,000. Aim for the lower end of the range (because there will be things you don’t expect that will add on to the price later).
This is when you have the (sometimes hard) conversations on who is contributing to the budget and how much they are contributing.
For 2025, the average cost of a wedding in Georgia is $33,000. For comparison, the average cost of a house in Georgia is $370,000. You can use that to give you an idea of a range for your wedding. If the houses you love in your area cost more, you will probably spend more on your ideal wedding in that area. If houses you are considering cost less in your area, you could probably spend less.
Knowing your priorities and keeping those as the most important things can help manage your budget.
Post: Building Your Wedding Budget
Determine a Guest Count Range
Are you dreaming of a big wedding with everyone you and your family knows attending? Or something smaller with just your immediate family and closest friends?
This is another conversation you will need to have with your fiance and both sets of parents.
Your guest count is a big driver of your budget, so keep that in mind.
Book your Wedding Venue
How soon after getting engaged should you set a date?
Your wedding venue is typically the first item booked for your wedding. This locks in your wedding date which you will need to book your other vendors.
Most wedding venues in North Georgia host one wedding a day. This means there is a limited number of availability if you have an exact date you are looking for.
The sooner you can book your venue, the sooner you can get the other items started.
Go on a Date (keep up the “just engaged” feeling)
Remember why you are planning this wedding! Spend time with your fiance (and don’t talk about wedding planning!)
It can be easy to get wrapped up in planning, but your engagement will go by quickly. Schedule time to relax and spend time together.
Ready for the Next Steps in Wedding Planning? Check out website for all the tips!
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Owner, chief dreamer and assistant farmer at Pleasant Union Farm
