The Untold Truth: Navigating Life After Being Proposed To

Congratulations! You’re engaged! Those words can either spark butterflies in your stomach or send a wave of anxiety through your veins. For me, it was a mixture of both. Being proposed to is such crucial moment in both a man and a woman's life that can evoke a rollercoaster of emotions - from joy and excitement to fear and uncertainty. As a woman who has recently been proposed to, I can confirm that the world suddenly seems different, but so much more enriching and life as a fiancé is a blend of euphoria and apprehension I never quite anticipated.

I've been with my now Fiance (still feels so weird), for 10 years. We both had the conversations way before getting to the big 10 about what we wanted our future to look like and luckily we have always been on the same page. So, it's not like it should be a massive shock to me, right? Well it bloody was! The cheeky buggar convinced me so much that it wasn't going to happen during our anniversary holiday amid my suspicions months before. I genuinely, hand on my heart, did not expect him to propose so perfectly at the most beautiful place and I will forever feel like the luckiest woman.

So let's talk about the all important moment. THE PROPOSAL. The moment he got down on one knee, time seemed to both stand still and move at lightning speed. The flood of emotions that followed was overwhelming - the panic of the unexpected, the happiness of the anticipated, the shock of the actual proposal, and the anxiety of what comes next. It's incredible how one question, one simple "Will you marry me?" can alter the course of your life indefinitely. I thought I would be a blubbering mess but instead only a few tears, a shocked face and I recall my first response being "you bastard". So I think it's fair to say, you truly never know how you're going to react until it happens to you. I recall all of my tears flooding out a couple days later randomly at dinner with him, the overwhelming happiness I felt which equalled to everything feeling almost too good to be true. How something so incredibly perfect could happen to little old me.

Becoming a Fiance is not something I thought would make me feel too different, but it really has, in the best most weirdest possible way. Suddenly, you’re not just a girlfriend, but a Fiance. The transition from one title to the other is more profound than you might think. It’s an adjustment that impacts not only your relationship but also your identity. You start envisioning a future together that no longer feels like a distant dream but an incredible reality that you can now actively create. The realisation sinks in that your relationship won’t ever quite be the same again – it’s both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.

I can't quite put my finger on what and how everything feels so different since becoming a fiance. It's almost like everything is doubled and halved all at the same time. My love for him, my happiness with him and our inseperable bond has doubled in strength, but so has my fear of ever losing him (as morbid as that sounds, it's true). The way in which things have been halved is the negativity we see, problems at work for example or people's opinions - even more irrelevant than before. It's almost like I've gained this obnoxious superpower where I truly feel unstoppable in life. It's crazy how one singular moment has changed so much. I'll be honest, my anxiety had also doubled days after it had happened. I struggle with a mild form of anxiety which can increase when a major life event happens or a big unexpected change occurs; which, is very fitting in this case. I had all the worries and expectancies alongside this unspeakable happiness.

'Everything feels too good to be true'

'I don't want my anxiety to ruin anything'

'Everything should be perfect from now on'

'I should only be feeling happiness, why am I feeling anxious'

I can't say for certain, but I think it is okay and pretty normal to feel like this. Maybe I was naive because I honestly never expected to feel more than one emotion; happiness. Although that was the leading emotion, all the other emotions that popped up out of nowhere like the anxiety of what the future holds, the sadness that the proposal was over and the fear of change; took me by surprise, is an understatement.

As the emotions fade and feel more settled, the logistics of planning a wedding loom large on the horizon and now it's our bank accounts that are scared. From choosing the perfect dress to deciding on a venue, the to-do list can seem endless. I'll probably be doing a lot of writing based on the wedding theme, so I'll be able to talk to you all about the planning process which is equally exciting as it is overwhelming. For now, we just have to remain excited and think about what's important; that beyond the wedding lies a lifetime together. The engagement period is a time of growth, reflection, and building a foundation for the future. It’s a beautiful, crazy, and surprisingly transformative journey that unravels before you each day.

So all that is left to say is that life post-proposal is a dance between embracing change and cherishing the familiar. Every decision feels scarier but easier as you navigate uncharted territories with your partner. The bond between you deepens, communication becomes even more crucial, and your love story evolves in ways you never imagined. It’s a delicate balance of preserving what brought you together while embarking on a new chapter that will reshape your relationship forever.

To all the women who have recently been proposed to, remember this - the journey ahead is a mix of joy and uncertainty, laughter and tears, love and growth. Embrace the unknown with an open heart, knowing that the path to 'happily ever after' is uniquely yours to craft. Take a deep breath, hold onto the magic of the proposal moment, and step forward into this new chapter of your life with courage and grace.

Here’s to love, here’s to growth, and here’s to the wonderful, terrifying, and transformative journey of being proposed to.

Let the adventure begin!