So, you’ve found a gorgeous, sparkly ring under the tree this Christmas or NYE and you’re wondering what on earth to do now you’re engaged? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Congratulations – that “OMG I’m engaged!” buzz is the best, and you both have so much to look forward to.

“Will you marry me?” – err, yes please!

JUST ENGAGED – WHAT TO DO FIRST

With a whirlwind of celebrations, squeals of “show me the ring!”, and a serious amount of champagne to mark the occasion, the first couple of weeks after your engagement can feel a little crazy. Our advice? Enjoy it! Soak it all up and have fun celebrating with your nearest and dearest before you start the planning process.

Another engagement party? Oh, go on then!

Once the initial excitement has gone down a notch, turn your thoughts to what kind of day you want. Consider what time of year (and WHAT year) you want to get married, what size wedding you want (something intimate or a big party) and where in the country or world you want to hold it all.

All-out glamour or relaxed rustic – what’s your wedding day vibe?

With these basics in place, you and your fiancé/fiancée can start the search for a venue and make that all-important booking for your dream day.

WHEN SHOULD I START SHOPPING FOR MY WEDDING DRESS?

Excellent question! This is probably one of the things we get asked most at Ellie Sanderson. The timeline of buying a wedding dress is a bit different here, as at our bridal boutiques we sell knock-out, made-to-measure gowns rather than off-the-peg dresses, so require more time than you might think.

We love the timeless elegance of Riva by Sassi Holford

We suggest giving yourself around a 9-12 month lead time from finding and buying that dream dress, to your wedding day. There are lots of things that happen from the moment you find ‘the one’ (dress, that is), including taking your measurements, ordering the fabrics, booking in the seamstresses, fittings and final tweaks.

Having said that, Ellie and the team are the busiest they’ve ever been and if you’re looking to get married in 2023 it’s not too early to get in touch. We LOVE helping you find the perfect wedding dress that makes you look and feel amazing, and we want to make the whole process something you’ll treasure. Buying your bridal gown is so exciting and we want you to walk out of our boutiques feeling fabulous.

Bring the romance wearing Gigi by Suzanne Neville

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT KIND OF DRESS WILL SUIT ME?

Look through our website to check out the incredible bridal designers we stock in our boutiques, scroll through Pinterest and Instagram to get an idea of different wedding dress styles and read our blog about the hottest bridal fashion trends for 2022. It’s also important to have a budget in mind, as well as an idea of the kind of wedding day vibe you’re after.

The Victoria wedding gown by Eva Lendel is utter perfection

Soon you’ll get an idea of the kind of bridal style that feels most ‘you’. But don’t worry if it all feels a bit overwhelming – we know everything there is to know about wedding dresses and it’s our job to help make the process stress-free. Buying a bridal gown should be fun and we promise to make it special for you.

HOW DO I BOOK MY WEDDING DRESS APPOINTMENT?

It couldn’t be easier. Have a look at our appointment calendar, pick a date that works for you and you’re sorted! Just click here to get started. See you soon.