You’ve just got engaged! Now what?

Newly Engaged? Start Here Before You Do Anything Else

You’re engaged. Congratulations!

Enjoy the feeling. Take some time to soak it in. Relive the proposal story one more time (yes, even if everyone’s already heard it). This season is exciting, emotional, and a little bit magical.

But once the congratulations start rolling in, something else can follow close behind…

Questions. Opinions. Suggestions. Assumptions.
And suddenly, before you’ve even chosen a date, you’re wondering how on earth you’re supposed to create a wedding ceremony that feels meaningful, memorable, and—most importantly—100% you.

Here’s the good news: before venue visits, guest lists, budgets, or colour palettes, there’s a much simpler (and far more powerful) place for the newly engaged to start.

Newly engaged: Ask yourselves these FOUR questions first

1. What does getting married actually mean to you both?

Not what it means to your parents.
Not what tradition or media influence says it should mean.
What does marriage represent to you as a couple?

Is it about commitment? Partnership? Family? Adventure? A public declaration of love? A legal milestone with deep emotional meaning? All of the above?

Getting clear on this shapes the entire tone of your ceremony. When you know why you’re standing there together, everything else becomes intentional instead of formulaic.

2. What values do you want to bring to your wedding?

Your wedding is more than an event—it’s a reflection of what matters to you.

Do you value:

• Connection over formality?
• Inclusivity and warmth?
• Simplicity?
• Laughter?
• Meaningful rituals over rigid tradition?

When your values are front and centre, they guide your choices—from your ceremony wording to how your guests experience the day. And just as importantly, they help you confidently say “no” to things that don’t align.

3. What’s your vibe as a couple?

Are you playful and relaxed? Deeply romantic? Quietly sentimental? A bit irreverent? Big on humour and light or seriousness?

Your ceremony should sound like you, not like you’re playing characters in someone else’s wedding. There’s no single “right” way to do this—there’s only what feels natural and true to the relationship you actually have.

When your vibe is reflected in your ceremony, your guests don’t just watch it—they feel it.

4. How do you want to the day to feel?

Close your eyes and imagine the moment right after your ceremony ends.

Do you want to feel:

• Joyful and energised?
• Relaxed and ready to celebrate?
• Emotional and teary (the good kind)?
• Calm and grounded?

This feeling matters. A lot. Because your ceremony doesn’t just mark the beginning of your marriage—it sets the emotional tone for the entire day.

Hold onto these answers, they’ll become your compass

Once you start sharing your engagement news, advice will come thick and fast. Some of it may be helpful. Some of it may be less so.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed, let these four answers guide every decision you make:

• Your venue
• Your ceremony content
• Your guest numbers
• Your budget
• The traditions you include—or leave behind

You don’t owe anyone an explanation for choices that feel right to you. Ignore the “shoulds.” If it doesn’t feel like you, you don’t have to do it—no matter how well-intentioned the suggestion may be.

Where a celebrant fits into all of this

A celebrant’s job isn’t just to stand up and speak. It’s to listen, to truly get to know you, and to help you craft a ceremony that feels personal, meaningful, and authentically yours.

My ceremony style is lighthearted but heartfelt—perfect for couples who want to laugh, feel deeply, and kick off their wedding day on a genuine high.

If that sounds like the kind of ceremony you’re dreaming of, I’d love to chat.

Because you deserve a wedding ceremony that is genuinely, authentically, unapologetically you.

And honestly? There’s no better way to start your marriage than that.

Get in touch for a no-obligation chat.