December is a notoriously busy time for engagements — in fact, it is the time of the year for engagements. So, for those of you who are newly engaged, congrats! Getting engaged over the holidays comes with its own special excitements — and challenges.
My fiancé and I got engaged over Thanksgiving just over a year ago. However, because we were on vacation (in Belize!), we got to celebrate our relationship milestone with just the two of us.
There were definitely perks to this: We got some time to ourselves to just enjoy being an engaged couple and we’ll always remember that vacation not just because of the incredible sites we saw but because we returned from it, well, changed.
But, while I was thrilled to be affianced while abroad, I spent the days following our engagement super eager to share the news with our friends and family (I found out later that they all already knew what my then-boyfriend was planning!). In any case, I was still excited to show off the ring and tell the story of my man’s early morning proposal. Waiting to do so, even in Belize, was pretty hard!
Many of you, however, may be in the opposite situation. You’ll be getting engaged close to home or, perhaps, at home, then you’ll suddenly be surrounded by family to celebrate the holidays. On the one hand, you’ll have the chance to share your excitement with those closest to you (and not simply with a Facebook relationship status change!). On the other, you may want some alone time with your new fiancé.
Have the best of both worlds by holding a special dinner to celebrate your engagement (you could even FaceTime or Skype with family and friends who aren’t nearby) so that everyone can be part of this incredible moment in your lives. Then, be sure to get some time away with your partner — whether it’s stealing away for late afternoon hot chocolate or to do some last minute Christmas shopping — so you can make post-engagement memories for just the two of you.
Either way, this holiday season will already be extra special — after all, you’re engaged! My advice would just be to take a moment amid the revelry to have some couple time. You’ll be glad you did.
- A 2020 Couples’ Guide To Summer Romance - July 8, 2020
- How To Celebrate A Socially Distant Anniversary - May 28, 2020
- Ideas For Wedding Planning During Quarantine - May 13, 2020