I'm Engaged! Now What?

CONGRATULATIONS! You are ENGAGED! Whether you've thought about this day your entire life or only a short time (seriously who are you kidding), it is HERE. We've heard TONS of engagement stories. Some funny, some romantic, but all of them have been completely special and unique for our brides and their sweetie pie/honey bear/bae/boo thang.

Bella Minneapolis Owner Briana and her gorgeous maids

But what did these love birds do RIGHT after they got engaged? Most of them had NO CLUE what they were "supposed to do" so we thought we'd turn to some seasoned veterans (our very own Bella owners and stylists) to see what they did right after and what they think you should do before you start planning.

Meghan, Bella Baton Rouge and Bella Lafayette:

"He got the ring 2 sizes too big. So our first hour of being engaged were spent at the jewelry store getting it sized down."

"We got engaged at Bella! It was a week before Valentine's Day 2013. My husband showed up (without an appointment...rude!) with a dozen roses. My first words were "Babe, you're a week early!!" He giggled and then turned white as a ghost! He put down the flowers and said he had gotten something for me. I still can't remember what he said once he got down on one knee but I surely screamed out YES! Not shocking, he got the ring 2 sizes too big. So our first hour of being engaged were spent at the jewelry store getting it sized down."

Meghan and her husband on their wedding day.

Meredith, Bella New York City and Bella New Jersey:

"I got a great photo and sent it out, but in my excitement I didn't realize Dan was in the background napping in just his boxers (Whoops!!)"

"True story­ Dan was exhausted from the stress of planning the engagement so while I was painting nails, he took a nap on our couch. After I did my nails, I was trying to get the perfect photo of the ring to send to my family and friends. I got a great photo and sent it out, but in my excitement I didn't realize Dan was in the background napping in just his boxers (Whoops!!) It made for a good story."

Meredith and her husband having a sweet moment after the wedding.

Eva, Bella San Francisco:

"I highly recommend quietly creating the guest list with your spouse before all of the opinions started clogging your brain and testing your patience."

"We got engaged in Italy! The next day we laid by the Mediterranean and hand wrote our guest list on graph paper! We didn't realize at the time that A LOT of drama revolves around the list. It was so nice that we had already determined who we wanted at our wedding and we asked our families to respect that. I have had so many friends deal with SO much drama around the LIST. I highly recommend quietly creating the guest list with your spouse before all of the opinions started clogging your brain and testing your patience."

Eva and her husband enjoyed every minute of their big day!

Jamie, Bella Las Vegas: 

"I hoped his 'surprise' was a Rachel Ray 30 minute meal cookbook. He reached in his luggage and pulled out my dream ring instead! Totally trumped the cook book."

"He said he had a surprise for me­ and he asked me what I wanted it to be. I was pretty obsessed with Rachel Ray at the time,­ so I said I hoped it was a Rachel Ray 30 minute meal cookbook. He reached in his luggage and pulled out my dream ring instead! Totally trumped the cook book. My advice is to insure your ring. I've almost lost mine twice! Insure your ring and get a manicure!"

Jamie and her husband couldn't have been more excited for their wedding day!

Bridget, Bella Pittsburgh: 

"We had a long dinner and drank a lot of bubbly. Since both of our families were there we didn't pick up the phone to tell anyone until the next day."

"I was completely surprised by my thoughtful husband. We were on vacation for the 4th of July, flying in from separate locations. I arrived first and when I went to get the door to get what my Dad said was a flower delivery (liar!) there he was with a bouquet and champagne. He popped the question and afterwards we went back inside to celebrate ... with my family and also his family who were secretly flown in too. It was quite the party! We had a long dinner and drank a lot of bubbly. Since both of our families were there we didn't pick up the phone to tell anyone until the next day."

Bridget and her husband sneak a kiss during photos!