What To Do When Your Friend Gets Engaged
Getting engaged is an exciting time, and your friend will need your support as they prepare for their wedding. We'll show you what to do when your friend gets engaged.
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Step 1:
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You will need
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Step 2:
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Congratulations
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When your friend first announces their engagement, they are likely to be very excited. It's a big moment in anyone's life, and it is normally important to the newly-betrothed that their friends and family share in their joy. When your friend first tells you their plans, be happy for them and offer your congratulations. Hugs, kisses, tears and laughter are all appropriate. Hopefully this will come naturally!
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Step 3:
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Send a card
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If you can't be with your friend in person, send them a card to let them know you are thinking of them. Address it to both them and their partner, and write a short personal message inside.
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Step 4:
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An engagement present
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You might like to give your friend a present to help celebrate their engagement. Champagne is always a good option. Alternatively you could club together with some friends to treat the couple to an experience they can share together, like a weekend at a fancy hotel.
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Step 5:
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Get to know their partner
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Now that your friend has decided to marry, it will be more important than ever that their friends and their partner get to know each other. If you haven't already done so, make the effort to get to know their new spouse-to-be. Treat them as a unit by inviting them to things together. If for some reason you really can't stand their new partner then you need to put in a bit of extra work. Try organising group events to invite them to; that way you can get to know the partner without having to speak to them all the time. Remember that meeting the friends can be a nerve-wracking experience, so the partner could be acting out of character due to nerves. Give it time. You friend obviously sees something in them, so they can't be all bad!
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Step 6:
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The wedding invitation
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At some point during the engagement you will (hopefully) receive an official invitation to the wedding. The wedding day is traditionally hosted by the parents of the Bride, and so the invitation will often be sent on their behalf. A traditional wedding invitation will often read something like: "Mr. and Mrs. Edward Evenett request the pleasure of the company of Claire Randall at the wedding of Alice and Sam at St. Paul's Church..." and so on. They will often request an RSVP by a certain date. The invitation may instruct you on how to do this, but if not you should reply by writing a short letter to the address on the invitation.
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Step 7:
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The stag and hen nights
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If you are best man or chief bridesmaid, it is traditionally your responsibility to organise the stag or hen night - the "last night of freedom" before marriage. Apart from the logistics, you also have the responsibility of looking after the bride or groom on the big night. You need to walk a fine line between making sure they have a party they will never forget, and stitching them up completely. You should bear in mind though that their partner will hold you responsible for their loved one's safety and well being, and will not appreciate any lasting damage or permanent tattoos.
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Step 8:
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What to wear
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You've been invited to share the most important day in your friend's life, so you should make an effort to look your best. Dress smartly. Men should wear a suit, women a dress with a hat or hair piece. Dressing up is a mark of respect for the Bride and Groom, but you should also remember that weddings are an expensive business, and someone is paying for you to be there. Jeans and a T-shirt are a definite no-no. If for any reason you can't attend, then send a card with a message of best wishes.
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You are now ready to share in your friends' big day. Enjoy it!