Posts tagged engagement party
What to Do After You Just Got Engaged
 

First of all - congratulations! You just got engaged, and this is one of the most exciting moments of your life. But after the initial wave of emotions settles, you might be wondering… what now? Here’s a guide to help you soak it all in and take the next steps.

 
 
 
 

1.  Take It All In

Before diving into wedding planning, pause. Breathe. Look at your partner and let it sink in. This moment is yours - celebrate it in whatever way feels right. Pop some champagne, have a quiet dinner, or just spend time together reminiscing about your journey.


2. Share the News (Your Way)

Not everyone wants to do the classic ring selfie, and that’s okay. Decide how you want to share your engagement - whether it’s a private call to loved ones, a heartfelt Instagram post, or a full-blown engagement party. Just remember: tell your inner circle before posting online.

 
 

3. Get Your Ring Insured

Not the most romantic step, but absolutely necessary. Look into jewelry insurance or add it to your homeowner’s or renter’s policy. Better safe than sorry.


4. Start Talking About Your Vision

Before jumping into bookings, have a conversation with your partner about what kind of wedding you both want. Intimate backyard wedding? Grand ballroom affair? Destination elopement? Align your vision before family opinions start rolling in.

 
 

5. Set a Budget

Money talk isn’t fun, but it’s crucial. Sit down together and decide on a realistic budget. In the U.S., the average wedding costs around $30,000, but that number varies widely depending on location and guest count. Prioritize what matters most - whether it’s photography, food, or the perfect venue.


6. Choose a Rough Date

You don’t need to set a specific day right away, but having a general timeframe (spring 2026? Next fall?) helps guide your planning. If you have your heart set on a popular venue, vendor or season, booking early is key.

 
 

7. Research Marriage License Requirements

Every U.S. state has different laws about marriage licenses, waiting periods, and required documents. Check your state’s requirements early so you don’t run into surprises down the road.


8. Plan an Engagement Session

An engagement session isn’t just about getting great photos - it's about celebrating your love story at this moment. Plus, it’s the perfect way to get some professional photos done together, capturing this stage of your life, and also to get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day. Pick a location that means something to you, whether it’s your favorite coffee shop, the city where you met, or an epic landscape that matches your vibe.

 
 

9. Build Your Vendor Dream Team

Photographers, videographers, planners, florists - the best ones book fast, sometimes over a year in advance. If you have must-have vendors, reach out early to secure your date.


10. Enjoy This Season

Wedding planning can get overwhelming, but don’t let it consume you. Make time for date nights, spontaneous trips, and just being engaged. This is a once-in-a-lifetime season - soak it in.

 
 

What NOT to Do

  • Don’t rush into planning. Give yourself time to enjoy yourself before making big decisions.

  • Don’t feel pressured. Family and friends will have opinions, but this is YOUR wedding.

  • Don’t compare. Social media can make you feel like your wedding has to be extravagant - focus on what’s meaningful to you.

Planning a wedding is a journey, and photography is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Your love story deserves to be told in a way that’s real, raw, and authentically you. Let’s capture this season of your life - reach out to book your engagement session or inquiry about your wedding date today!


Ready to Capture Your Engagement Story?

We believe your love story deserves to be told in the most authentic way possible. Let’s ditch the awkward poses and create something real, raw, and uniquely you.

 
 

📖 Want more wedding planning tips? Get our FREE Ultimate Guide to Documentary Wedding Photography! Download Here

 
Engagement Party Turned into a Surprise Wedding - Lilli + Mike

Only a few people knew about it. Their loved ones gathered together to congratulate Lilli and Mike's engagement, but the couple turned the party into something else - a surprise wedding. Lilli and Mike thought about eloping, thought about a small wedding, and then they realized they would have everyone they love at the "engagement party" at the beautiful backyard of their close friend's home. The actress bride and the writer groom played it very well - throwing a hell of a surprise wedding. It was simply the best. Ahhhhhhh, I REALLY love my job!

And because their vows make me so happy that I've decided to share the whole thing here. If you have some time, why not read it? :-)

Lilli;

Moishe! I'm so happy! I can't believe this is happening. Partly because it takes you a very long time to make decisions but mostly because I wasn't sure if you were out there. I've waited my whole life for you and now that I found you I don't know how I lived without you and now I don't have to. Unless you die first.
I love you so much. I think it goes without saying you are the funniest person I know. You make me laugh about everything. I love when we're talking about sad things like Norman Rockwell paintings and you make me laugh and cry at the same time.
I love that you have 1000 pictures of your cats on your phone and that we often have to pause a TV show so you can have some Oscar time, or because Felix is being particularly cute. I love that your Bob's best friend. And the kitty looks to you as a father figure.
You're the most handsome man I've ever seen.
I love how thoughtful you are.
How passionate you are (particularly about inefficient use of retail space. Why aren't all buildings multi purpose). 
I love when I hear your car in the driveway cause it means my best friend is coming over for a sleepover party that lasts forever.
And I love that right now you're probably thinking how much this reminds you of an episode of happy days.
I promise to always be me. And I promise to always let you be you.
I promise to have your back and sometimes your front (that doesn't even make sense I'm just scrambling words up).
I promise to love you forever. To always be the Sally to your Harry, the Pierce to your Hunnicut, and the Oscar to your Felix.
Ani ohev otakh ( ah-knee oh-heav oh-talk). That’s Hebrew for “I love you.”

 

Mike;

I can’t believe I’m marrying the girl from the party!
Pete Townshend has a line in a song that goes: “Now and then you see a soul and you fall in love.”  That’s how it was for me with you.  I saw a soul and I fell in love.  The fact that it was wrapped in this hot body was pure bonus. 
I saw you across the room at a holiday party 3 ½ years ago, almost to the day, and thought, G-d, that woman is so beautiful and she seems so fun.  Everyone she’s talking with she’s laughing.  I said to my friend Jack, “I want to try to go meet that woman.”
It’s one of the rare instances where my instincts were 100% correct.  Maybe the only time.  Who knew that all it takes to get into a great marriage is to simply walk up to the sweetest, funniest, kindest, smartest, prettiest, most “athletic” woman in the world, make a couple of vulgar jokes, and just pray she doesn’t find you repulsive. 
When we were walking from the restaurant back to my car on our first date, you discovered a bag in your pocket to pick up after your dogs, and said to me, “If you need to poop on the sidewalk, I’ve got you covered.”  I knew right away this is a girl for me.
From the minute we wake up in the morning to the moment we fall asleep, you’re just a joy to go through life with. Of the 7 billion people on earth, you’re my favorite.  You and Fred Flintstone.
I am so excited to be going from Mr. Michael Kramer to Team Mr. Michael Kramer.
You once told me I was just the right amount of crazy.  I am so thrilled to have fallen into mutual craziness with you.
You know I have this weird collection of yearbooks from my high school and junior high from before I was there.  Well, to quote some kid Reid Weinman to Leigh Ann in her 1972 Hammarskjold Junior High School yearbook, “You are the nicest, cutest, kindest, prettiest, everythingest girl I’ve ever known.”
I love you.