Congrats! You’ve got the ring; you’ve got each other. And – you’ve got a plan, right? Well, hold up a bit. We don’t expect you to know it all, but so many couples have no idea where to start and end up just jumping into planning the wedding straight away. That’s why we’re here, to give you the advice we always give our couples (and wish someone had given us!).

Take some time and bask in the glory of being engaged. Whether you’ve been waiting a while for this day to come or it was a total surprise, being engaged is awesome. So before you dive in to the planning process: let your friends ooh and aah over your ring, have a little engagement party to celebrate, meet your partner’s family and friends if you haven’t already, and enjoy this great time in your life.

Insure your rock! Most accidents with engagement rings happen in the first year you own them. We’ve heard some horror stories of loose settings and forgetful brides – if you don’t want to start out your life together on the sour note of having to pay for your ring twice before you’re even married, it’s always sage to insure it for the first year.

Don’t feel pressured to rush. Everyone in your life is going to naturally start asking a thousand questions about the wedding, they’re only human. Don’t be afraid to tell them you haven’t figured everything (or anything) out yet. This will be lesson #1 in the ‘get-a-backbone’ department, because if you don’t have one from the start it will be a long, hard road to a wedding you’re only slightly happy with. That in no way means brush people off, be rude or not listen patiently. We only encourage you to move at your own pace, and not get caught up in other people’s excitement or plans for your big day.

It’s time to have some serious conversations. No one likes to talk about money. Or family obligations. Or expectations. But trust us, it is very necessary to have these conversations early. Trying to put the genie back in the bottle is easier said than done once your mother decides she’s going to invite her entire bridge club to what you had envisioned as a small intimate affair. Things like the date and location of your wedding, the size of your wedding and bridal party, who will be contributing what to your budget and when are all important discussions that need to happen before any big decisions are made.

Research and discuss the ‘look and feeling’ you’re going for on your wedding day. This will determine so much! Not specific venues, vendors or anything else, but the overriding vibe you want your day to have. Knowing the answer to this question: “How do you want to feel on your wedding day?” can help your planner, other vendors and most of all yourself to make easier decisions down the road and save time, money, hassle and heartbreak.

Start with these tips and you’ll have a great foundation to start your wedding planning!

Credits // Triple Rings Photo: Brian Mosoff. Wedding Party Photo: Laura Pedrino Photo. Hand+Ring Photo: Morgan Hydinger

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