It’s no secret that with Christmas, New Years and the Summer breeze surrounding us that engagement stories are in high rotation right about now. Which also makes this time of year my absolute favourite!

So if you’re new to Polka Dot Bride, I thought today I would share some of the top articles which might help you if you’re newly engaged and new to our little site!

If you’re newly engaged and completely stuck or overwhelmed, check out What You Need To Know About Engagements and Nine Things To Do When You Get Engaged

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Photo by Leo Farrell from Anitra and Ben’s Whimiscal White Engagement Party

Wanting to throw an engagement party? Read my Ten Engagement Party Tips and get inspired by the fantastic engagement parties we’ve featured on Polka Dot Bride

Anitra and Ben’s Whimiscal White Engagement Party

Becky and Simon’s Engagement Party

Cathleen’s Glamorous Engagement Party

Ombre Engagement Party

Katie and Morgan’s Picnic Lunch Engagement Party

Print Hall Love Story – The Celebratory Engagement Party

Cyndie and Chris’s French Style Engagement Party

Krystal and Greg’s Relaxed Engagement Party

An Enchanting Engagement At The Melbourne Aquarium

Sarah & Craig’s Rustic DIY Engagement Party

How To Throw A Glamorous Engagement Party For 250 Guests On A Budget

There are plenty more where that came from too – just check out this link to our engagement inspiration!

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Photo by Emma Steendam Photography from Engagement Cork Shadowbox

Looking for some fun DIY Projects for your celebration? Pop over to Polka Dot Made and check out our engagement party projects!

Engagement Cork Shadowbox

Concrete DIY Candle Holders

DIY Cake Buffet + Free Printable Labels

DIY Photo Booth – Tutorial

Pretty Bauble Paper Garland – Tutorial

DIY Straw Flags with Printable Template – Tutorial

Autumn Paisley Wishing Tree – Tutorial

Wool Pom Pom Tutorial

DIY Heart Cupcake Toppers

DIY Ribbon Cake Bunting Tutorial

You can, of course, find more DIY tutorials here.

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Image via What Would They Know? Clare Wall of Empire Events

Now if you’re already well on the way to booking vendors and ticking off lists, perhaps these handy information posts are just the ticket for your afternoon cuppa? Our vendor blog, Polka Dot Wisdom is all about vendor’s sharing their insights and is definitely worth a read!

How To Choose The All Important Wedding Date

The Wedding Countdown – Planning Your Wedding

How To Kick Off Your Wedding Planning!

Choosing The Right Photography Package – 11 Essential Questions To Ask

Why When You Put “Wedding” In Front Of Anything It Increases The Price

Weddings Are Not A Competitive Sport

Selecting the Perfect Vendors

Outsourcing Like A Boss – Why DIY?

The Wedding Expo Experience – How To Make The Most Of It!

7 Common Wedding Planning Mistakes To Avoid!

An Open Letter From Your Wedding Vendors

Or try our twenty questions series:

Twenty Questions: What To Ask Your Wedding Reception Venue

Twenty Questions – What To Ask Your Marriage Celebrant

Twenty Questions: What To Ask Your Dress Designer

Twenty Questions – What To Ask Your Cake Designer

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Photo by Fifteen Photography from Justine and Sam’s Mornington Peninsula Engagement Photos

One of the first things a couple does when they’re engaged is book a photographer – with that often comes an engagement shoot which is such a fun way of commemorating what is a really special time in your life. They can also be a wonderful reminder or symbol of what you love to do together as a couple, The photo location could be the park where you were engaged, your home, a cafe you love to visit together. You could take to drinking a bottle of wine if that’s your favourite pastime, cooking in a kitchen, or bush walking.

Now let it be said I am a sucker for engagement photos – the stripped back love story of a couple and their engagement glow gets me every single time. So here’s just a few of my favourite engagement shoots we’ve featured over the years (see more engagement photos here)

Holly and Jason’s Retro Inspired Coolangatta Engagement

Natalie and Phil Engaged

Allie and Tom’s Relaxed Engagement Shoot

Flor and Brett’s Wollongong Beach Engagement

Serena and Paolo’s Silent Film Inspired Engagement Shoot

Irene and Ray Engaged

Ana and Luke Travelling Hearts Engagement Shoot

Janet and Darrell’s Whimsical Engagement Shoot

My and Janssen’s Bonnie & Clyde Style Engagement Shoot

Kristine and Chris’ River Engagement Photos

Tehan and Mandeera’s Relaxed Engagement

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Photo from Unique Engagement Rings By Julia de Ville

 And finally, when it comes to engagements, there is one important token that is exchanged (though really, the token can be anything you like, one of my friends received a piano she had dreamed of instead of an engagement ring and her engagement piano? It was perfect!) But in the spirit of this post, I do like poring over a beautiful piece of jewellery so here are some of my favourite engagement ring posts that just might inspire you if you’re yet to decide on the token of your own dreams!

Choosing The Ring

The Shape Of Your Bling

Coloured Engagement Rings

Rose Gold Engagement Rings

Fit For A Princess

Custom Engagement Rings From StyleRocks

Cartier Bridal Collection

Opal Engagement Rings

Black Engagement Rings From Jan Logan

Maniamania Fine Jewellery Collection “Immortalia”

Lannah Dunn Unique Engagement Rings

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Now after all of that, if you want to read real stories by brides and grooms – head over to Polka Dot Weddings and Polka Dot Groom! We have plenty of brides who have shared their engagement stories, their wedding plans and their weddings with us (and a few grooms too!). But we would love to hear yours in all it’s glory, so pop over to Polka Dot Weddings and register if you’re a bride to be or newlywed or Polka Dot Groom if you’re a groom to be or newlywed. We’re always looking for stories and experiences from all kinds of people with all kinds of weddings – because that’s what we love about you our readers!