Be Engaging

So, you're engaged.  Mazel Tov!  Now what?

I was once engaged, and now have friends who are or who will be, and maybe you are, or you have friends/sisters/daughters who are or will be.  Here is where I am going to share some frank advice.

When you are engaged to be married, that is the time between "Will you marry me?" and "I do".  You might have one of these on your finger, or a string, or maybe you're not a ring kind of girl - hey, Carrie wanted a closet, no judgement.

Ali Fedotowsky's Neil Lane Engagement Ring via Stylist.com

Anyway, after you move beyond the proposal and calling your parents, siblings, friends and families, there is a lot to do and consider.  The first thing to remember, tell people before posting on Facebook - some news is worthy of a phone call!

Take the time to enjoy your engagement.  Before buying a magazine, looking at dresses (this might be hard to resist), before even booking a date, take time to enjoy your engagement.  

Be silly, take kissy face pictures, talk with your hands more than normal, tell people you're affianced, introduce your "fiancee", get a manicure.

Happily Ever After by Essie

Taking time helps get you ready to plan, which can sometimes feel like the other definitions of "engaged" such as:

• having ones attention or mind or energy engaged; "she keeps herself fully occupied with vendor phone calls and magazines"
• involved in military hostilities; "she was engaged in a heated battle for the perfectly pink peony bouquet"
• booked: reserved in advance; "she has engaged a room block at every hotel within a 10 mile radius of her reception"
• busy; "she was engaged in all the planning, she forgot to work out, see friends, relax"

To the newly engaged meet some of my favorite friends on the Internet:

• For honest, funny, sad, stress inducing/relieving stories from real brides: Weddingbee.com and APracticalWedding.com
• For the traditional wedding resources, and helpful tips on calendars, budgets, etc: theknot.com, brides.com, weddingchannel.com
• For the drop dead images and inspiration: kissthegroom.com, stylemepretty.com and local favorite ritzybee.com

And when you're ready to start planning and talking and looking for inspiration, don't forget to come here!