The First 9 Thoughts You'll Have Upon Your Engagement

- “Is this happening?” For whatever reason, our first thought is typically to question the legitimacy of the moment. Perhaps this is to protect us from getting over excited, in case he’s simply tying his shoe or asking you to look at something funny on his phone.

- “Oh – it is!” This is the pinnacle thought – what a moment!

- “I want to remember what’s being said so badly!” Through the tears and nervous/happy laughter, you’re going to try and focus in on the sentiments being expressed, which can be extremely difficult when you’re also preoccupied with letting the realization sink in. Hopefully, the speech will be short and sweet – just try and listen for key phrases!

- “People are seeing this happen!” Of course, this is only applicable if your sweetie chose a public or semi-public venue in which to pop the question. If you’re alone on that mountaintop, you might be thinking, I wonder if anyone is going to come up the trail and spot us. Hopefully, the thought of an audience won’t deter your joy in the moment.

- “I wonder what the ring looks like.” If your beloved is still on bended knee, holding the closed ring box in plain sight, there might be a part of you that wants to peek inside before the speech is over. The good news? You’ll be laying your eyes on it in a few moments, so enjoy the words before the sparkler!

- “I’m going to have to call…” It begins. Perhaps the most overlooked portion of wedding coordination is the very first step: letting people know that you’re engaged! If you’re an inherent planner, you’ll start going over the list of friends and family – in the correct order – that you want to notify.

- “If it’s April now, and I’ll need around 11 months to plan…” And you’re off. While you can’t officially begin any kind of solid planning in these few moments, thoughts of venues, color schemes, dress styles, and maybe even a spending limit might find their way into your mind. You may have even had some of these options in mind for months, maybe years! Resist the urge to go over that list.

- “Oh, I have to answer.” Here you are: the question itself. Hopefully, you can form the words. If not, a vigorous nod has worked wonders for many!

- “I am so happy!” You’ve said “yes,” the ring is on, and you’re in a tight embrace. What an incredible feeling.

Discover the differences between public and private proposals, see photos from a beautiful engagement shoot at Joshua Tree National Park, and discover some of our real couples' sweet proposal stories. 

Opening photo by Jamie Levine Photography