So, you’ve been subtly hinting (read: aggressively forwarding ring inspo) to your partner for months, your Pinterest board is overflowing with ethereal garden wedding vibes, and your family has been not-so-casually asking, “So, when’s the big day?” every time you so much as blink.
And now, it’s happening. The proposal is looming on the horizon, and instead of basking in the glow of soon-to-be-engaged bliss, you’re spiraling into a full-blown existential crisis. Welcome to engagement anxiety, babe. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
Here are eight easy (and slightly ridiculous) tricks to handle it like an absolute pro:
1. Stop Trying to Predict the Proposal Like It’s the Season Finale of The Bachelor
Yes, your partner has been acting suspicious. Yes, they asked about your ring size three months ago and have been weirdly secretive about their bank statements. But do yourself a favor and stop overanalyzing every single date night. You are not a private investigator; you are a soon-to-be bride. Let them surprise you, or at least pretend to be shocked when it happens.
2. Prepare an Emergency Instagram Caption in Advance
Let’s be real: the moment the ring is on your finger, the pressure to craft the perfect engagement announcement will hit harder than your mom’s “I told you so.” Avoid a social media meltdown by drafting a few options now. Something simple like “Forever starts now ” or, if you’re feeling spicy, “Finally put a ring on it. Beyoncé would be proud.”
3. Get Ready for Unsolicited Advice (and Learn How to Tune It Out)
The moment people hear “engaged,” they transform into wedding planning oracles. “You have to book your venue two years in advance.” “Don’t even think about a buffet, it’s tacky.” “If you don’t have a fall wedding, what’s even the point?” Just smile, nod, and internally remind yourself that you are the bride, and they can keep their opinions for their own weddings (or lack thereof).
4. Rehearse Your Response to the Baby Question
You’ve been engaged for five minutes, and somehow, people are already asking about kids. How? Why? Who gave them the audacity? Keep a cheeky response in your back pocket, like, “First comes the wedding, then comes the honeymoon, then comes me taking a nap for three years.”
5. Have a Code Word for Family Interrogations
Your aunt at Thanksgiving: “So when’s the date?” Your grandma at brunch: “Have you picked a dress yet?” Your cousin at literally any gathering: “Can I be a bridesmaid?”
Set up a code word with your partner that signals ABORT MISSION so you can gracefully exit these conversations. (Pro tip: Something ridiculous like “avocado toast” works great.)
6. Channel Your Inner Wedding Zen Guru
Repeat after me: Not everything has to be perfect. Wedding planning can turn even the most chill girl into a Pinterest-fueled lunatic. When the stress starts creeping in, take a deep breath, sip your overpriced oat milk latte, and remind yourself: at the end of the day, you’re marrying your person. Everything else is just glitter and cake.
7. Make Peace with the Fact That Something Will Go Wrong
Whether it’s an awkward engagement party toast, a misplaced RSVP, or your cousin bringing her plus one who turns out to be her pet iguana, something will go wrong. And that’s okay! The best way to handle wedding-related chaos is to laugh it off. Trust me, your future self will appreciate the funny stories.
8. Remember, You’re Not Alone in This Madness
If engagement anxiety has you spiraling, reach out to your besties, binge-watch Say Yes to the Dress with a glass of wine, or vent in the comments below. This is supposed to be fun (or at least mostly fun).
At the end of the day, you’re about to say yes to forever with your favorite person, awkward proposal nerves, unsolicited opinions, and social media pressure be damned. Now, go forth and get engaged like a pro! And tell me, what’s your biggest engagement-related anxiety? Let’s swap stories in the comments!