Whether You Want to Splurge or Keep It Simple
You’re engaged — cue the confetti, champagne, and happy tears!
Whether your proposal was a total surprise or something you both knew was coming, this is a big moment. It deserves to be celebrated! Not just the day of, but in the days and weeks after too.
But here’s the thing:
Celebrating doesn’t have to mean spending a ton of money.
There are so many sweet, meaningful, and fun ways to mark this milestone, whether you want to go all out or keep it cozy and low-key.
So if you’re wondering how to soak it all in before the wedding planning whirlwind begins, here are 20 ideas to get you started:
10 Ways to Celebrate With a Little Spending
- Plan an Engagement Party
Host a gathering with friends and family — at home, in your backyard, or at a favorite local spot. Add music, good food, and your favorite people, and it’ll feel special instantly. - Book a Romantic Getaway
Even just one or two nights away can help you hit pause and soak in this moment together. Think cozy Airbnb, boutique hotel, or that destination you keep saying you’ll go to “someday.” - Hire a Photographer for Engagement Photos
Capture this chapter with a casual or styled shoot. Don’t do it just for Instagram, but for the memories you’ll treasure later ANDDD these are so fun to include with your Save the Date or Invitations if you want a photo along with the paper goods. - Toast with Something Special
Pull out a bottle of your favorite drinks you’ve been saving for a big moment, or treat yourselves to your favorite cocktails or mocktails at a restaurant that feels like a splurge. - Dinner at That Spot You’ve Been Eyeing
Use this as the excuse to finally go to that place you’ve been meaning to try. Bonus points for a handwritten toast on a napkin at some point during dinner. - Buy a Keepsake Together
This could be matching mugs, a ring dish, custom flutes, or even a little ornament you’ll pull out every year to remember this season. - Spa Day for Two
Celebrate with massages, facials, or a DIY spa night at home. Relaxing together now will set the tone for your planning journey ahead. (And we recommend taking note of ways to decompress together when emotions get high during planning!) - Take a Dance Class
Whether it’s ballroom or country swing, it’s a fun way to connect, laugh, and get in sync before the big day. - Try Something Adventurous
Go ax-throwing, take a cooking class (Airbnb Experiences is GREAT for these), rent a tandem kayak — anything a little offbeat that makes for a great memory (and maybe a great story, too). - Invest in Wedding Planning Tools That Feel Like You
If you’re the organized type, a wedding planning binder or a personalized spreadsheet template might feel like the perfect way to start this chapter with style. If you’re looking for resources like this + education from a wedding planner with over 200+ weddings completed – checking out our wedding planning course that comes with all the downloads, resources, and printables you need to dive in.
10 Ways to Celebrate Without Spending a Dime
- Announce Your Engagement Over Dinner or Dessert at Home
Invite friends or family over and make the announcement in a cozy, casual setting. - Revisit the Proposal Spot
If it happened somewhere you can return to, go back and relive the moment — just the two of you. - Walk Down Memory Lane
Scroll through old photos together, tell the story of your favorite dates, and laugh about the moments or “dots” that led you here. One of my favorite quotes is from Steve Jobs, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.” - DIY Your Engagement Photos
Use a tripod (or a talented friend!) and take photos somewhere meaningful — a hiking trail, your backyard, or your favorite city corner. - Host a Game Night
Invite your people over, order a pizza, and let them ask all the proposal details in between rounds of Uno or Code Names. - Cook a Fancy Dinner at Home
Pick a recipe you’ve never tried, light some candles, turn on some music, and toast with whatever’s in your fridge. - Plan a Cozy Movie Night
Cuddle up with wedding rom-coms (or whatever you love) and let yourselves be in the happy. - Write Each Other Letters
Take a quiet night to reflect and write about what this engagement means to you — what you’re excited for, what you’ve learned, and what you hope for in the years ahead. - Go Stargazing
Seriously. Pack a blanket, drive somewhere dark, and talk about what you want the next year — and beyond — to look like. - Start Your Wedding Playlist
Think dance floor bangers and sentimental songs. Curating it together can feel surprisingly emotional and very fun. (And you can fight over whether or not you’ll be Apple Music, Spotify, or Youtube users from here on out 😉 )
Final Thoughts
The planning will come. The spreadsheets and vendor meetings and timelines — it’ll all be there – (plus we know you’ve already started a pinterest board and hunting for photographers on Instagram). But this little window right after you get engaged? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chapter.So pause. Celebrate. Be present.
Whether you go big or keep it small, this season deserves to be marked.
With love and confetti,
Amanda
