5 Reasons to be Thankful You're Planning a Wedding Right Now

Going into the holiday season as an engaged couple can be stressful — how do you decide where to spend the holidays? How will you handle the 500 questions about your wedding, especially from people who may or may not be invited? But it's also a wonderful time to be engaged. Here are some of the surprising benefits:

thank you post it notes
Photo Credit: Rick Stemmier

1. Holiday gifts are a no-brainer for your relatives
If you've already registered, be prepared to start seeing some items disappear from that list as your relatives finally buy you the gifts you really want! And if you haven't asked one of your prospective bridesmaids to be a part of your big day yet, you can make her holiday gift extra special this year. Check out cute ways to "propose" to your bridesmaids >>

2. You have a perfect reason to shop on Black Friday
Shop smart now, and you can save big on your bridal party gifts, wedding-day beauty, and even your honeymoon.

3. You're going to love the biggest wedding trends for 2015
Our January/February 2015 issue reveals the biggest trends for wedding themes, flowers, invitations, menus, entertainment, and more. Pick it up on newsstands until January 19 — or download our digital edition — and turn to page 95.

4. You can find inspiration everywhere
Between Pinterest and Instagram, there are more ways than ever to find wedding ideas. But during this time of year, the best event planners have another focus — over-the-top holiday parties! Follow your favorite wedding planners on Instagram (we love Mindy Weiss!), and you may find ideas more amazing than you've ever imagined for your wedding. 

5. 2015 is going to be a lucky year
If you believe in Chinese astrology, the Year of the Sheep is perfect for a wedding. The sheep is a symbol of peace, harmonious co-existence, and traquility — what could be more perfect for a marriage? And it’s the 8th sign — 8 is a lucky number in Chinese tradition. Getting married before the year ends? 2014 isn't so shabby either. It's the year of the horse — a strong and powerful sign.

Tell us: What do you think is the best thing about being engaged right now?

—Kristen Klein