A Timeline of Events After the Engagement (and How to Make It Extra)

For many couples, the road between saying “yes” and “I do” is full of activities, planning, friends and family, and a dizzying sense of excitement. But it can also be a little stressful as there’s so much to organize, think about, and decide on. To help you out, we’ve created the ultimate timeline of events for brides and grooms-to-be who want to make the journey from proposal to betrothal absolutely unforgettable. 

The Announcement

Once you’ve both said “yes” to getting married, it’s time to make the announcement. 

It’s always best to start with something meaningful with those nearest and dearest to you as a couple. These should be the people you truly love—your closest friends and family. It’s so tempting to post your big news all over social media immediately. But it’ll be far more meaningful if you have a gathering with those closest to you first.

You can opt for a small dinner or cocktail party or even a high tea. If you want to add an extra dose of excitement, make your announcement a surprise for your guests. 

The Engagement Party

Once the initial announcement has been made, you should start planning your engagement party. These parties are typically held within three months of the engagement date and are hosted by one of the couple’s parents. 

Having your parents organize and host this party can take a huge amount of pressure off you because there are plenty of other things that you’ll need to organize. This party should not rival the actual wedding and shouldn’t be open to your entire wedding guest list. The best engagement parties are small and intimate, but can go a bit beyond the guest list for the initial announcement. 

Choosing Your Bridal Party

The bridesmaids and the groomsmen play a major part in most weddings. These are the people who will support you through the whole planning process and be there on the day to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. It’s important to discuss who you want to pick as a couple first so that the wedding is balanced and you know you both have the right people around you.

It’s always a nice touch to plan something special for the people you want to ask to be in your bridal party. Many couples look at this as another type of proposal and get gifts or cards that ‘pop the question’. Alternatively, you can host a small dinner and ask everyone at once.

The Bridal Or Couple’s Shower

Next up in your timeline of events is the shower. The bridal shower is more common, but these days a lot of people opt for couple’s showers. After all, why should just the bride get spoiled? This is another event not typically planned or hosted by the couple themselves. Rather, it’s planned by the bridal party and can even be a surprise to the bride or the couple. 

The key to making this special is to remember to make it about the bride (or the couple) and not about the many personalities that make up the guest list. If the bride is the type of person who doesn’t want to be the center of attention, don’t make the shower about playing games or putting them on the spot.

The Hen Night And Stag Do

This is one of the biggest traditions for a wedding that doesn’t seem to ever go out of fashion. Traditionally, the bachelors and bachelorette parties are big blowouts. They’re also usually planned by the groomsmen and bridesmaids and thrown as surprise parties for the couple. Girls’ weekends or boy’s getaways are a popular choice for hen and stag dos and there are some incredible destinations that cater specifically to those in groups.

It’s important to plan these parties in advance of the wedding. At least a week before is a good rule, but they can be held even earlier. Having the hen or stag do the night before the big day is a recipe for disaster, and no bride or groom wants to feel tired or hungover when saying their I dos!

The Rehearsal Dinner

This should be a small gathering with the couple’s immediate families and the bridal party. Most weddings will have a rehearsal of the ceremony in the days before the event so that everyone knows what to expect. 

Afterwards, those involved head to a quiet dinner to enjoy each other’s company before the excitement of the big day. It’s best to keep this dinner light and casual. You don’t want to eat too much the day before the wedding or risk having anyone get food poisoning if you try something too exotic!

The Wedding

It’s best to break the wedding day itself up into a series of events. Think about the different stages of the day and plan those accordingly. You have the time when everyone is getting ready, the ceremony, photographs, cocktail hour, reception, the meal, speeches and toasts, tossing of the garter and bride’s bouquet, and the party. 

By breaking each part down, you can find the right timings for the day and create ways to make it extra special for the two of you. It’ll also make it far easier to see how you can incorporate your family and friends in ways that make sense. You could plan a first look photo with the father of the bride, give your wedding party and extended family flowers for bouquets, corsages, or boutonnieres, play your friends’ or siblings’ favorite songs, or add any other small touches that add meaning.

The Morning After Brunch

The fun doesn’t have to stop after the last guests leave the dance floor at the reception. Having brunch the day after the wedding is a popular option, especially if you have a destination wedding or several of your guests have traveled for the event. 

It’s definitely best to keep this brunch casual and informal. A buffet works really well because it offers a relaxed structure where guests aren’t pressured into being seated at a specific time. This is especially useful if you’ve had a really good party that went into the early hours of the morning!

Planning all the pre-wedding announcements and events is part of the process. Follow these tips to create the perfect timeline of events and enjoy every second of the lead-up to your big day!

This post was contributed by Katie Colon.