The wedding proposal is a catalyst for a million other things that need to happen within the next few weeks. Of course, first and foremost, is spreading the good news to close friends and family. Everyone will want to know when, where, and how. While you may be only more than happy to call every single person you know and relay the details moment by moment, others may find the task to be tedious and time-consuming. A great solution: create your own wedding website with pictures and stories recounting the events. This can be used from now until the wedding day to keep guests posted on upcoming bachelor/bachelorette parties, and nuptial news.
Another good idea is to have formal announcements created at a local print-shop; you can then mail these to each family. This will save you from hours of spreading the word in person or over the phone, and in addition, everyone will have a memento that they can keep as a reminder of the upcoming celebration. If you already know the date of the wedding, you can even include this in the information and or send out the announcement in the form of a magnet that guests can hang up on their refrigerator until the big day.
Now is the perfect time to get your pictures done. Most couples opt for professional prints that they can use at the wedding reception, but taking them yourself can work just as well. If you plan on having a professional photographer at the wedding, take advantage of this situation and use it to find an ideal professional who both you and the groom really like. Use the engagement pictures as a practice session to feel him/her out and see if you really like the work.
An engagement party is a must. Traditionally, the family of both the bride and groom attend and the father announces the engagement during the festivities. This can be as elegant as a private party at a local French bistro, or as casual as a backyard barbecue. You can invite close friends at this time; just make sure that you don’t invite anyone who you don’t plan on inviting to the wedding. This is a great time to get the parents acquainted with one another for the wedding. Make sure that they get along (they may need supervision!) as the planning will run much smoother if everyone is in each other’s good graces.
While the wedding may not be for another year, it’s never too early to register for gifts! Take some time out with your fiancé to visit all of your favorite stores and window shop for the necessities. Ideally, you should register at more than 2 stores, making sure to pick a low-end alternative for guests who are tight on cash. If you and the groom are already living together and have most of the basics, consider a honeymoon registry that guests can contribute to and help with the post-wedding expenses.