The Vow · the week after

After the yes

Congratulations. You have about a week of loose ends and then you're allowed to stop planning things for a while.

  1. The first hour

    Enjoy it before you broadcast it

    Have the drink, take the photos, sit with it. The internet can wait until tomorrow.

  2. Day 1

    Tell people in the right order

    Parents and siblings first, then close friends, then everyone else. Call the people who'd be hurt to find out from a post. Post last.

  3. Days 2 to 7

    Get the ring resized if it needs it

    A ring that fits should slide on easily and need a little twist to come off. Resizing takes a few days to two weeks. Go back to the seller first, since the first one is often free.

  4. Week 1

    Confirm the insurance

    If you skipped it earlier, do it now. The ring just went from a hidden box to a hand that washes dishes, goes to the gym, and swims in the ocean.

  5. Week 2 and on

    Deflect the wedding questions

    Everyone will ask about the date within minutes. "We're just enjoying being engaged for now" is a complete answer, and you can use it for months.

Looking after the ring

Cleaning

Warm water, a drop of dish soap, a soft toothbrush, once every week or two. Lotion and soap film are what dull a diamond.

When to take it off

The gym, heavy lifting, gardening, pools, and the ocean. Cold water shrinks fingers, and rings come off in the surf more often than anywhere else.

Checkups

Have a jeweler check the prongs once or twice a year. It takes five minutes, is usually free, and is how you avoid losing the stone.

If the ring isn't quite right

It happens, and it isn't a verdict on you. If they'd like a different setting or shape, most sellers will exchange inside the return window, and a stone can be reset into a new band for a few hundred dollars any time after. Ask early and ask kindly. "Do you love it, or would you change anything?" is a good question to ask in the first week, while changing it is still easy.

What comes next

Rough timing, when you're ready: most couples in the US are engaged for 12 to 18 months. Venues book about a year out, so that's the first real decision. Wedding bands can wait until two or three months before the day. Until then, your job is done.

Still have questions

The FAQ covers the awkward ones

Read the FAQ