In case you weren’t aware, we’re about to be in the thick of proposal season. By that, we mean a whopping 37 percent of engagements happen from November to February—perhaps it’s the holiday cheer that gets people in the mood. And who’s to say it won’t be you this year? So if you think a ring might be coming your way this season, these are the things you need to know.
You’ll need to decide how long you’ll want to be engaged.
If you get engaged in fall or winter, it can be tricky trying to figure out what length engagement you want. You have the option of a quick or short engagement by opting for a wedding that spring or summer (you’ll have to get started on planning almost immediately). If you’d rather enjoy the engagement but you’ve always imagined getting married surrounded by cherry blossoms, you can set a date for the following year (and enjoy a much longer engagement). Envisioning a rustic fall or winter ceremony with cozy details? You’ll have about a year to plan, which is normal (most engagements last 15 months).
You might want to put off planning until 2018.
That said, you need to keep in mind you’ll probably have a lot going on this time of year. Between Thanksgiving, the holidays and New Year’s—and all of the traveling and catching up on work you’ll likely be doing in between—this may not be the best time for you to dive into the wedding planning trenches. While deciding on a date, that factor should come into play.
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Speaking of the holidays…
They’ll be understandably crazy. If you haven’t already strategized to celebrate the holidays with both of your families, there’s a chance you’ll need to make a change of plans in order to celebrate your engagement too, with both sides. (That might mean extra travel.) Get ready to show off that ring to all of the aunts.
Understand that your ring might not fit properly right away.
Yes, really. Scientifically speaking, cold weather makes your fingers contract, so your ring will be looser than normal. Don’t get it resized unless it seems way too roomy. Fun fact: Your fingers actually swell in the heat, so if you do decide to size down, it’ll be very, very snug (and you could risk having it not fit at all). You might just have to adjust it to its proper position every time it swings around your finger. Annoying, yes, but it’ll look perfect once spring rolls around.
You’ll need to take extra care of your hands.
It’s no secret that winter takes a toll on your skin, but your hands, especially, tend to get extra roughed up this time of year. Prepare for ring photos by doing some double-duty moisturizing. Slather up your hands every night before bed (with gloves to lock in the moisture, if you so choose) to make sure they’re looking pretty and perfect for those professional photos, as well as Instagram ring selfies.
