Whether you’ve just gotten up off your knee or you’ve already had your nails done and spent way too much time staring at your ring while pretending to work, it’s worth slowing down for a minute. Before diving into full-on wedding planning, take some time to actually enjoy being engaged.

Here are a few ideas to just be in it for a bit:

The “Wait, What Would You Do?” Test

This might sound a little random, but stick with it.

Going on r/AmItheAsshole on reddit, sorting by “best of all time,” and reading the stories out loud to each other is surprisingly effective. It opens the door to conversations around parenting, careers, family dynamics, in-laws, and expectations in a relationship without it feeling forced.

Some posts are heavy, some are ridiculous, but that’s kind of the point. It becomes pretty clear where you’re aligned and where you’re not.

Also, a top-tier road trip activity.

Podcasts to Listen to

Bridechilla - Wedding Planning

A US based podcast with an Australian host and Canadian writer - about being positive and present on your wedding day. Packed full of valuable wedding planning advice from wedding experts. Listen to how to have the best day of your life and say F%^# it to the small stuff that doesn’t matter. No-nonsense, inclusive, and very funny.

The Unconventional Wedding Planning Podcast

This podcast is for brides, grooms, and anyone who doesn’t see themselves in typical wedding media. It’s for people who haven’t been dreaming about this day forever and just want something that feels like them.

If the whole “bride gene” thing doesn’t resonate, this is exactly who it’s made for.

The Big Wedding Planning Podcast

Two expert hosts covering all things weddings with humour and inclusivity. It’s a solid resource for planning a meaningful, low-stress day that fits your vision and your budget.

Get Wed Podcast

Hosted by a wedding planner and flourist his podcast gets into what actually happens behind the scenes, what matters, and what really doesn’t. It’s honest, a bit unfiltered, and feels more like listening in on a conversation between friends than a formal “wedding resource”.

SAVE, save a little more and Keep saving.

It might not be the most exciting advice right after getting engaged, but it’s one of the most practical

If you’re planning a longer engagement, consider opening a separate account and setting aside a little money each month. It doesn’t have to be a huge amount. Even small, consistent contributions add up—and future you will be very grateful.

You can even assign that savings to one specific thing: your dress, your flowers, or your photographer. That way, when the time comes, it’s already taken care of. One less thing on your mental load.

For context, the average wedding in Ontario in 2026 is sitting somewhere between $30,000–$50,000 for 100–150 guests. If that number just made your stomach drop a little… yeah.

You have more control over that number than you think.

Here are a few ways to keep things manageable without sacrificing the experience:

Choose a Friday or Sunday wedding
Consider an off-season date (winter or early spring instead of peak summer/fall)
Keep your guest list tight
Be mindful of location, bigger cities like Toronto tend to come with higher price tags
Look into community halls or Legions - they may not be glamorous, but they’re budget-friendly
Opt for a cocktail-style wedding with a smaller group instead of a full sit-down dinner

Planning a Smaller Wedding? These Intimate Southern Ontario Venues Are Worth a Look (20–80 Guests)

WAIT ON ASKING WEDDING PARTY

Your excitement might tempt to lock this in right away, but give it a minute. You don’t need to ask your wedding party the week you get engaged. In fact, waiting is often the smarter move… if you even decide to have one at all. More and more couples are skipping large wedding parties altogether, or keeping it simple with just one or two people. From experience, it makes for a very easy and relaxed day. Couples opt for a sweetheart table receptions and it’s really nice.

Between real experiences, conversations with past brides, and the occasional horror story floating around online, one thing becomes pretty clear: weddings can shift dynamics in ways you don’t expect. Long history doesn’t always equal the right fit for this role.

And here’s the part no one loves to say out loud, weddings can bring out stress, and sometimes not the best in people.

The goal isn’t to fill spots out of obligation. It’s to surround yourselves with people who are genuinely supportive, easy to be around, and excited for both of you.

Waiting gives you space to see how people show up during your engagement, not just how long they’ve been in your life.

Give Yourself Time Before Diving Into Wedding Planning

You don’t have to start planning the moment you get engaged.

It happens fast, one minute you’re celebrating, the next you’re being asked, “So, when’s the wedding?” like you’re supposed to have a full timeline ready on day three. You don’t. It’s completely fine to say you have no idea yet.

Let this phase be what it’s meant to be for a bit: a milestone. Not a project.

Take some time to just exist in it before the decisions, spreadsheets, and opinions start rolling in.

That said - some people love planning right away. If that’s you, go for it. Just know what you’re stepping into.

Because once planning starts, it tends to take over. It’s not just logistics, it’s constant decision-making, budgeting, coordinating, and managing other people’s expectations.

One of the biggest stressors you’ll see everywhere, online, in forums, from real couples is navigating family expectations. Who’s invited, who’s paying, traditions, opinions… it adds a whole extra layer that no one really prepares you for.

That’s why a shorter, more focused planning window can actually be a good thing. Less time overthinking, less time stressing, and more time staying excited about what you’re actually planning.

An exception to this would be if there is a venue that books up quick and you have your heart set on - book it asap!

Wedding Planning Books Worth Your Time

Before you book anything, it’s not a bad idea to understand what you’re actually stepping into. Pick up few books for get advice not found on Tik Tok or reddit posts.

A Practical Wedding Planner: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Wedding You Want with the Budget You've Got (without Losing Your Mind in the Process) by Meg Keene

Covers every kind of wedding on any kind of budget. A helpful read in figuring out what it is you really want for your celebration. It’s a non judgemental and down to earth about what your wedding day can look like by giving you a road map to making it your own. It breaks things down step-by-step without making you feel overwhelmed.

The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

Not technically a wedding book, but t might be more useful because of that. It focuses on why you’re bringing people together and how to make it feel meaningful. A great read if you want your wedding to feel intentional instead of just following a template.

One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding by Rebecca Mead

This one takes a step back and looks at the wedding industry as a whole. The book showcases different trends and their origins, and will make you rethink what really matters.

Make Time for Date Nights

This might go slightly against the whole save, save, save mindset—but it matters.

Being engaged isn’t just about planning a wedding. It’s a short season of your life that deserves to be experienced, not rushed through.

Plan a few intentional date nights where you’re not talking about budgets, timelines, or seating charts. Just spend time together and actually take it in. These are the memories that sit outside the wedding day and they matter just as much.

And down the road, these places become meaningful in a completely different way. The kind you go back to years later, maybe with a family and say, “remember when we came here right after we got engaged?”

It doesn’t have to be expensive either. There are so many good options across Ontario for every kind of budget

Pick-your-own farms
From flowers to strawberries to apples, there’s always something in season (except winter). It’s simple, it’s outdoors, and it’s actually fun. Some places even allow picnics!
Restaurants or cocktail bars
Nothing groundbreaking here but making a point to go somewhere a little different or new makes it feel like an occasion instead of just another dinner.
Hiking trails
Quiet, no distractions, and no pressure to “do” anything. Just time together, which is kind of the whole point.
Beaches
Especially in the warmer months, this is an easy win. Sunset, a blanket and maybe a drink.