Whether you saw it coming or not, you're officially an engaged woman! Congrats! So, now what? Once the overall excitement dims down a bit, there's 7 things you and your husband-to-be should do the night you get engaged.
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Call your parents. Mom and dad will want to be the first ones to know that their little girl is engaged—and so they know to whip out their checkbooks. Traditionally, the bride's parents foot the wedding bill, so the news will amaze them both emotionally and financially.
Tell your closest friends. Informing your parents definitely necessitates a phone call, but you have way too many gal pals to give a ring. Maybe give your absolute BFF a call, but stick to texts or super short phone calls to notify everyone else. You need time to celebrate with your fiancé, so don't spend your entire engagment night sitting on your phone. You can also wait until the next day to share the news.
Start thinking about a date. It's never too early to start wedding planning (read: start immediately). You might think it's way too proactive to formulate plans the night of your engagement but, at the very least, start brainstorming potential wedding dates and venues. Make sure you're both on the same page in terms of season and destination. If you want a fall wedding in Florida but your fiancé envisioned getting married in the spring, now's the time to start hashing things out and compromising.
Plan an engagement party. Although it's optional, many couples use their engagement as an excuse to throw a party. Anyone can host the engagement party, from parents to friends, but start coordinating plans if you want your nearest and dearest to celebrate the two of you. If this isn't your style and you don't want a big affair, make your own party of two and celebrate accordingly with just your significant other.
Take a selfie (and tastefully show off your new bling). After you've called or texted your friends and family to share the big news, the rest of the world obviously needs to know, too! Take a selfie with your beau to commemorate the moment and share on social media. Naturally, everyone's going to want to see your rock, but don't come off as too braggy. There's no harm in flaunting your ring finger, but keep it classy, not flashy.
Get your ring sized (and insured). You'll be flashing your new jewel left and right, so make sure you get it resized ASAP. You definitely don't want it to slip off, or cut off your circulation. You also want to consider ensuring your ring in case the unthinkable happens.
Notify your local newspaper. This is more of an old school tradition, but some couples announce their engagement in their local paper. If this falls on your engagement checklist, start looking into newspapers and learn about their policies. Some publish photos, some don't. Certain newspapers might charge for the annoncement, and others might not. Research ASAP so you can spread the exciting news to your community in a timely manner.
