I want to let you in on a few things I’ve learned in my years in the wedding & engagement world that will help you get the most out of your engagement. It’s a one of the most special times of your life, but it can feel so short. So let’s talk about how to enhance your engagement!

Ways to Enhance Your Engagement

So instead of the usual wedding tips, I have 5 suggestions for you today. I’m a big encouragement, self help book kinda gal, because I’m an optimist by nature. Which means I think things that are already good can almost always be even better!

If you’ve already passed one of these points in your engagement and you haven’t done what I’m suggesting, it’s by no means a bad thing. I just want to share some really good things that may inspire you to capitalize on your engagement season even more!! It really is such a special season of life with the excitement and anticipation of a major life event right around the corner. It’s filled with SO much love, and it’s the BEGINNING of a lifetime with your favorite person. The majority of your favorite memories are yet to come!

Okay. Off my romantic soapbox lol. Here are the ways I think you could enhance your engagement!!

Date Nights with NO WEDDING PLANNING

You’ve probably already heard this one, but make sure you schedule in date nights that are a wedding planning FREE ZONE!!!! You can do literally anything except talk about wedding details. Bc even though planning is exciting, it can sometimes feel like a chore when it comes down to the nitty gritty details. SO make sure you are still connecting on things other than the wedding day!

Journaling Date Nights

Please don’t roll your eyes – guys, I’m talking to you – but have journaling date nights. Being able to write down your thoughts and emotions during this special season together is such a cool opportunity to document where you’re at. Like, imagine looking back at these journal entries on your 5, 10, 30 year wedding anniversaries. How freaking cool!!!! And this might help bring to light any feeling or emotion you haven’t yet put the words to … and maybe even spark some ideas for your vows … but more on that later. And while we’re on this topic, I wanted to plug a FREE resource I have for you – journaling prompts for engaged couples!!! If you are not a journaling person and the thought of writing on a blank page scares you instead of excites you, then this free PDF is just for you. It contains about 8-10 questions to answer to get you started with journaling during the season of engagement, specifically. You can find the link to download that in the show notes!!

Have a Vow-Writing Date

Okay so along the same vein here, the third tip is to have a vow-writing date!!! Separately, but together. Like, you can be in the same space but no peeking allowed!!! Get the vibes right for your individual relationship – so if you’re cozy homebodies, light a candle, get your fav snacks and play your favorite music as you brainstorm and write on opposite sides of the couch with a fuzzy blanket. If you’re more the adventurous type, grab a box of pizza and a pack of sparkling water and bring a blanket to watch the sunset or sit lake-side as you write your vows!!! The opportunities are endless, but it’s a fun way to connect during your engagement instead of trying to find time when your partner isn’t around to write your vows (especially if you live together).

Practice Important Wedding Moments

This is probably the most fun one – practice important moments!!!! Practice going from holding hands ceremony-style straight into a kiss!! Also for this, you can set up a phone to video what it looks like for different types of kisses – hands on the cheeks, arms around the neck, giant bear hug, dip kiss, etc. You can also practice walking down the aisle and swinging into a dip kiss holding a fake bouquet in your hand. And practice your first dance!!! If you do this – guys, wear a suit jacket, and gals, wear something that mimics your wedding dress and shoes!! If you listen to Episode 7 of The Busy Bride Podcast, one of my brides from last year, Alicia, talks about practicing her first dance while wearing a legit comforter!! She put a belt around the comforter and had it poof out while she did her spins – genius idea.

Check In With Each Other

The most boring, yet the most important one of them all – schedule periodic check-ins with each other. Planning a giant party, especially if you don’t have a wedding planner, is a LOT. There’s a lot of money, a lot of family drama, a lot of decision fatigue, a lot of late nights working after you finish regular work … so make sure you’re both doing well and enjoying the process. And if it ever gets to be too much, schedule some fun time to reconnect and refresh your brain!!! And keep reminding yourself that your wedding day isn’t the finale … it’s the beginning of a lifetime together. 🙂

I hope you learned something that you can take back to your partner!!! Keep infusing joy into everything you do together. Life is awesome, especially when you get to marry your best friend!!!

More Resources

If you use one of these tips and enjoy it, I’d love to hear about it in the comments! And if you have any engaged friends that would benefit from this blog, make sure to share it with them. For more tips, check out 6 Factors That Affect Wedding Timelines and 8 Ways to Include Your Loved Ones in Your Wedding Day. And don’t forget to check out my podcast, The Busy Bride!