Guest Post: Wedding Party

Hi all! Today we have Stephanie from Wedding Party guest posting on thoughtful ways to congratulate a friend who just got engaged. We're doing a blog swap and I'm over on the Wedding Party blog today sharing my gift guide for bridesmaids, so make sure you head on over to check it out!

If you’re my age, it seems like every other day someone is announcing an engagement and posting yet a ring selfie (#nofilter #engaged). While technology has been great for keeping us connected to loved ones near and far, who else thinks it’s made us kind of lazy when it comes to celebrating big life moments? An engagement is a big deal, but when you announce your big news, it deserves more than a few Instagram likes from your friends! Of course, clicking “Like” is a lot easier than going out of your way to send a thoughtful note or congratulations; I’m definitely guilty as charged, as I’m sure we all are.

(Photo credit: Breakfast at Cindi’s)

But I want to change that and bring a little more thoughtfulness back into our digital world. Being a good friend means taking that extra bit of time and effort for those important relationships in your life. If a recent friend has become recently engaged, there’s a lot more you can do to show your excitement than shooting off a quick comment on Instagram!

Don’t know where to start? These no-brainer ideas will take you 10 minutes and cost you less than $20. Oh, and on top of that, your friend will be so thrilled to share her excitement with you!

1. Snail mail

(Photo credit: Julie Ann Art)

Everybody loves getting snail mail, especially when you’ve wrapped up your nice thoughts with a super-cute card. Julie Ann Art makes amazingly hilarious greeting cards for every occasion. Getting one of these bad boys in the mail is sure to bring a smile to your friend’s face!

2. Give a small, thoughtful gift

(Photo credit: Polka Dot Chair)

You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to give your newly-engaged friend a congratulations gift. Send a new nail polish color her way to help her show off the engagement ring, or send her photo prints of your favorite memories together. This is an exciting time in her life, and show her you can’t wait to celebrate it!

3. Take her out to lunch

(Photo credit: Milou and Olin)

If you live in the same city, get together for lunch ASAP! There’s nothing better than spending some girl time together, and she’ll want someone she can spill all the engagement details to. 

Don’t live in the same city? Then you should...

4. Call her!

Once you see the big news, wait a day and call her up to say congrats (that night, she’s going to be bombarded so best to wait it out)! Even if she can’t stay on the phone for too long, she’ll appreciate the fact you took time and were excited enough to call her up.

5. Send her a bottle of champagne

(Photo via Coco + Kelley)

Nothing’s more fun than popping a cork to celebrate a big deal! Sending your friend a bottle of champagne doesn’t have to be expensive. Apps like Postmates or TaskRabbit make for a fairly quick and affordable way to bring on the bubbly.

Like I said, these are no-brainers. Heck, they’re not even that original. But they’re miles better than taking the easy way out and celebrating an engagement with the passive click of a button. So next time you see an engagement show up in your Facebook or Instagram feed, resist the urge! Instead, take a few minutes of your life to celebrate this special time with your friend in a way that she’ll appreciate and you’ll feel good about.