You have a stunning diamond on your finger, the love of your life by your side, and a wedding to plan. Now, what are the things to do after engagement and before marriage?

Before diving headfirst into the deep end of wedding planning, enjoy your new status as a fiancée. Then, follow our complete engagement checklist so you can make the most of this time together.

Key Takeaways:

• Take moments during your engagement to celebrate and relax with your fiancé.
• A wedding planner will relieve most of the pre-wedding stress.
• Start planning your wedding at least 12 months before the day, starting with the big details and moving to the smallest details.
• Send out your wedding invitations at least 12 weeks before your wedding.

1. Celebrate the Moment

What should you do immediately after engagement? Relax and celebrate!

Setting aside the first two weeks of your engagement allows you to savor the moment before you’re caught up in wedding planning.

Here are some ideas to celebrate the moment:

• Take a selfie and share it on social media and with family
• Take professional engagement photos
• Share your good news in person
• Have an engagement party

With all the buzz around your ring, you might pamper yourself with a new manicure, so you can proudly display your left hand.

2. Start Thinking of Your Wedding

How long should you wait to get married after engagement?

The average engagement is 12-18 months long. This is just the right amount of time to plan the spectacular wedding of your dreams. However, you’ll want to start planning immediately to ensure you don’t run out of time.

You can start by getting yourself organized. Pick out a day planner and inspiration notebook. You’ll use the notebook to write a to-do list and important dates. You and your fiancé can also list ideas for your wedding and add images to capture the mood of your day.

You can find inspiration on sites like Pinterest, bridal boutiques, and wedding websites. Consider talking with other couples who had a wedding recently for ideas and advice.

3. Plan the Initial Details

How soon after getting engaged should you start planning?

Wedding planning takes 12 months on average. However, some couples start even sooner, so you have more time to plan each detail. For example, if you have a longer guest list or are planning a destination wedding, you may want to start planning 18 months before the wedding.

The first items to plan are:

• Your budget
• Wedding date and time
• Venue
• Guest list
• Hotel bookings for out-of-town guests

These items are most time-sensitive, especially booking the venue. At this point, you can also book a wedding planner. The wedding planner can help with some or all of the planning. A wedding planner will relieve most of the stress.

Otherwise, you can plan the wedding on your own.

Once you have the initial details sorted, you’re ready to create a wedding website. The wedding website will have the wedding details and your registry on it so friends and family can start sending gifts.

4. Send Out Save the Dates and Invitations

At least 10 months before the wedding, send your save-the-dates to the guest list. Save-the-dates tell your guests to expect a formal invitation in a few months. That way, they can mark the date on the calendar, especially if it lands during a busy season, like around the holidays.

You’ll also start looking at wedding invitations and other wedding stationery, as formal invitation suites take time to design and put together. However, you don’t send the invitations out until three months before the wedding.

5. Go Through Pre-Marriage Counseling

Couples counseling isn’t just for couples who have troubles. Many happily engaged couples choose to attend pre-marriage counseling before the wedding. Research shows that pre-marriage counseling improves marriage success rate by 30% or higher.

Some venues or officiants will require the couple to take pre-marriage counseling, so you will want to double-check whether it’s a requirement with your venue and officiant.

There are many benefits to pre-marriage counseling, including:

• Learning how to communicate
• Understanding and celebrating each other’s differences
• Addressing any past issues that might impact the marriage
• Talking through potential problems

Learning healthy problem-solving techniques Discussing your marriage expectations like household duties, careers, kids, and financial expectations

The counselor will give an outsider’s perspective on your relationship to help you see it in a new way. Counseling also ensures a seamless transition into married life so your honeymoon phase lasts even longer.

6. Book Your Vendors

You’ll want to ensure you book most of your vendors at least six months before your wedding. However, you can book some high-demand vendors, like popular DJs and famous wedding photographers, up to a year in advance.

Get a jump start on selecting your ideal vendors, so you’re more likely to have your first choice. Your wedding planner can help with these details, or you might ask close family to assist with visiting, calling, and booking vendors.

7. Plan the Details

As the wedding draws closer, you’ll focus on your big day's smaller details. You’ll work with your wedding planner to finalize flowers, wedding rings, wedding party, wedding signs, table numbers, seating charts, and décor.

You’ll also decide on the schedule and speeches, like personalized vows or a post-wedding speech thanking your guests.

8. Attend Pre-Wedding Events

Several wedding-related events will happen before your ceremony. Here are some of the most exciting ones you can anticipate:

• Bridal shower
• Bachelorette party
• Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

While these aren’t events you’ll plan, you will attend them as the guest of honor. They’re a time to celebrate with close friends and family.

9. Take Time to Relax

You want to start your new marriage refreshed. So as your wedding approaches, take some time to get away with your fiancé. This helps relieve the stress and keeps you focused on what’s most important: your relationship.

Here are some fun things to do while engaged before your big day:

• Book a couples spa day
• Plan a romantic date night to the movies
• Spend the day hiking, playing mini golfing, or visiting a museum
• Go through old pictures to relive your romance or childhood

Wedding Stationery Things to Do After Engagement and Before Marriage

Shine Wedding Invitations helps with wedding planning by designing and creating stunning traditional wedding invitations. In addition, our design experts work alongside brides to write, create, and print entire wedding suites.

We also provide other essential wedding stationery conveniently in one place to remove some of the stress of wedding planning.

Explore our collection of luxury wedding invitations.

Photo Credit
Couple with Champagne + Couple on the Beach: Kaleigh Moore Photography | Couple Under Cherry Blossoms: Winnie Dora Photography | Stationery: Shine Wedding Invitations