Engagement Anxiety: “Where do I start?”

Over the past few months, I have had handfuls of friends, clients, and relatives get engaged.  One of the first things that crosses a bride’s mind is, “I don’t even know where to start!”  It can be easily overwhelming when you start thinking about all the attention that planning a wedding requires.  Let’s start from the very beginning.  I’m going to tell you the very first 5 things you should do as soon as you accept your man’s proposal.  (You will thank yourself in the future!)

1. Get a manicure.  This is a must.  If you feel a proposal coming, get one before (or at least polish your own nails!)  You are going to want to take photos of your ring and show it off to friends and family.  Your hand is about to be the center of attention and there is nothing that makes me cringe more than seeing a gorgeous ring on chipped, dirty nails.

2. Sign up for sale alerts.  There are websites that will send you alerts for sales on your favorite designers (try ShopStyle or RueLaLa.) Bridal shops have sample sales, trunk shows, and special deals for people that plan ahead.  My friend saw a beautiful bridal belt in the shop for over $600 and got it through a wholesaler for less than $200.  It’s not being cheap, it’s being smart.

3. Sign up for Pinterest.  I’m not sure how weddings were planned before this site.  Seriously, I have my wedding all planned out thanks to Pinterest and I’m not even engaged.  Heck, I’m not even dating anyone!  Pinterest makes it so easy to gather all your favorite ideas into one place and start getting an idea of what you like.

4. Follow bridal boutiques and dress designers on Facebook.  You will be able to keep up with styles and events without even having to search!  (And, another plus: most companies reward their “followers” with special promotions or discounts!)

5. Choose a diet and exercise plan.  How many times have you thought to yourself, “I’ll start dieting once I get engaged.”  Well, now you’re engaged, so no more procrastinating.  You will be so much happier gradually trying to lose weight or tone up rather than crash-dieting two months before the wedding.  Start by creating a plan that works for you, one that isn’t too demanding, and that you are excited about.  Don’t overdo it, make it fun!

-Ashley Carlevato