Woah, where does the time go? This time last year I was on a beach next to Brighton Marina with my pooches when my other half got down on one knee. It was the absolute perfect proposal for me, so a year on, I want to take a moment to reminisce and reflect.
Your engagement anniversary isn’t an official anniversary. It’s not usually something you’re expected to celebrate, not like celebrating when you first got together or your wedding anniversary. But that doesn’t mean you can’t choose to do something special, or find a way to remember just how magical or meaningful that proposal was.
I always wondered whether being engaged would feel any different. All women who want to get married dream about being a bride to be, and try and guess what it might feel like to finally be engaged. I don’t think it feels quite as I imagined, but it definitely feels different.
Maybe it’s because my ‘fiance’ yells at me every time I accidentally call him my boyfriend. Or it could be because we decided to plan a wedding in just over a year – so the last 12 months have been all about the wedding. It literally takes over your life.
As soon as you get engaged the wheels start turning and people ask you ‘so have you set a date yet?’. And even if you are planning on waiting a little while before starting to plan your big day, it’s so easy to get sucked in and begin your wedding planning journey.
I feel like I’ve learned a lot about weddings, love, relationships, event planning, friends and family in the last twelve months. So I’m going to share a few of my reflections on what it feels like to be engaged and what I’ve noticed over the last year.
Something changes between you and your partner
My fiance definitely treats me different. I guess he’s absorbed the realisation that I’m going to be his wife soon. It’s obviously very lovely when he calls me his fiance or future wife. You obviously feel uber special and suddenly more important to your partner (not that you weren’t important before, you silly sausage).
Wedding planning is epic, and a little ridiculous
Wedding planning is way, way more complex and intense than I could ever have predicted. It’s literally insane how much goes into a wedding. Your mind feels like it’s going to explode because there are so many minor and major details to consider. There will be some moments where you will be like, ‘seriously, is this really necessary?’ And, ‘you’re joking, yet another thing to shell otu £££ for.’
Getting married tests your relationship
There are highs and a few lows. Mostly highs obviously. I get why lots of people do end up breaking up before they reach the big day. It’s not that I’ve had a hard time or anything or we haven’t got along, we’ve actually agreed on most things.
It’s just you both get tested in so many ways. You have to make so many decisions together, and your family and friends unintentionally put a lot of pressure on both of you. Seriously, if you can get through wedding planning without too many major disagreements, you’re off to a good start.
Time flies
Yeah, so we’ve not got just over six weeks until we get married. HOW??? Initially, you can get stuck into planning loads. Then about six months before the wedding you don’t have as much to do, as you have to wait until nearer the time. I’d say the last six months in particular absolutely fly by.
Having a ring on your finger is pretty special
It’s been a year and I still glance down at my finger and take a second to admire my ring. Not just how pretty it is (thanks Number Ten Brighton), but also what it means. You get to walk around knowing that you’re taken and other people can see that. And soon enough you start getting excited about wearing your wedding ring and adding to the sparkles :-)
The proposal is a magical moment lost in time
Soz for getting all fairy tale on you. But it’s true. It is such a wonderful moment. No one can ever take those special few minutes away from you, and it’s something personal that you and your hubby to be will always share. If you want to read about how I was proposed to, check out my engagement proposal here.
