Ask a Professional Bridesmaid: I Just Got Engaged – Now What?

Jen Glantz is a “Professional Bridesmaid” and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She’s the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates. For her Brides.com column, Jen tackles a bride’s burning question: I just got engaged – now what?

Bet it’s been a while since you’ve felt this much excitement, right? While you probably just want to hug and kiss your fiancé and spend time letting your newly engaged self marinate over the adventure to come, you’re being pulled in so many different directions! Should you rush and tell family, friends, post on social media and let the whole world know about? When is too soon to start planning? You’re probably even feeling a little bit of pressure that if you don’t pick a date and book a venue in the next five days, you wont be able to get married until 2018.

 

The first thing you should do is turn your phone off. That’s right. It’s probably the opposite of what you want to do, but the truth is, if you don’t, you’re going to be inundated with so many phone calls and text messages and Facebook likes from the people in your life that matter, but that can also wait. Let your first moment of wedding stress be over whether you should have a winter wonderland wedding or one in the darling springtime. Enjoy a few hours or even days with your fiancé and only let immediate family know about your engagement. Then spread the word in doses, so that you wont feel overwhelmed with your phone blowing up.

 

As far as planning, know that there is no rush. Some people want to get their wedding planning done immediately and some take four months just to pick a wedding date. Start the adventure whenever you feel it’s right and ask the people around you (I’m talking about your mom, your best gal pals, and the wedding Pinterest boards) to let you breathe a little bit and enjoy every moment of this engagement bliss.