As I’m writing this post for December 19th, I have a secret. Some of you are getting engaged THIS WEEK. Seriously – did you know the holidays are one of the most popular times of year to get engaged? And while I know you are just engaged and likely excited to jump into wedding planning (don’t worry – I have a lot of tips for you here!), I wanted to kick off the holidays with a post sharing some of my favorite ways for you to CELEBRATE your engagement!

I know you are so ready to get to the next part (I don’t blame you!), but take a breath (and at least a week) to celebrate this time too! I will be here for you when you are ready to start wedding planning and booking your wedding photographer!

Looking for a little wedding planning advice and inspiration? Here are my favorite places to start:

• 7 first steps to planning a wedding in 2023
• Read this before booking your wedding venue 
• My favorite wedding color palettes for 2023
• 5 easy tips for creating your wedding guest list

Now, let’s get back to celebrating your engagement!

Book yourself a date night!

Yes, even in the middle of winter! I know we all have a tendency to curl up and get cozy but whether you dress up and hit the town or you decide to do something adventurous and outdoors in our Michigan winters, you deserve to get out and celebrate. One of my absolute favorite winter engagement photoshoots was with Kristen and Jake! They drank hot cocoa and made smores in the middle of winter. It was a BLAST. Grab the closest pen to you and scribble a date night on your joint calendar. You are CELEBRATING.

Tell Your Family & Friends Before Posting on Social Media

Trust me – they will be thrilled to hear the news directly from you. I know when you just get engaged, it can feel like you two are the only people in the world. It SHOULD feel like that! But once you are done celebrating just the two of you, give your family and friends a chance to celebrate with you too!

Then, book your engagement photos!

You don’t need to have it all figured out yet. Often, couples will come to me saying “we want to book engagement photos but we aren’t sure where” or “we are afraid we will look awkward in our engagement photos”. Let me just reassure you: you don’t have to worry about that.

All you really need to do is find someone whose style you like (whether your search engine of choice is Instagram, Pinterest, or even a Google search!) and then reach out and see if you connect with them. If that’s me – hi! Get in touch here. A professional photographer should have no trouble putting your mind at ease (no – you won’t look OR feel awkward in front of the camera). With my couples, I’m also more than happy to brainstorm engagement photo locations too (whether your engagement aesthetic is city or country!).

Just engaged? If you found this post looking for engagement photo ideas or a Detroit engagement photographer, I have a few more resources on the blog that I think might help you:

• 10 tips for engagement photos you’ll love
• Choosing the perfect location for your engagement photos
• Some Pose Ideas for your Engagement Photos Here!

Okay, now you are ready to start planning your wedding!

When you are just engaged, it’s easy to throw your blinders on and start thinking all about your wedding day. In fact, it’s encouraged! But trust me, the season of your life that is your engagement goes quickly (whether it’s one year or two). I really hope you take my advice and celebrate this time (even if it’s just with a date night or a champagne pop or two!). If you are ready to start planning your wedding, I’m here to support you as your wedding photographer!

For more information on working together, head here. Or, if you are still gathering information (I get it!), I have a ton of advice and wedding planning tips here. While I definitely recommend booking your wedding photographer sooner rather than later, I also understand if you want to take it slow. Say hi over on Instagram and let’s be friends first! Congratulations on being just engaged!