Ajanta Roy

First things first: CRY, SAY YES, KISS, and CRY again! Call Mom and Dad, Text Friends, CRY and KISS again. Jump up and down saying “We’re Engaged”. Stare at the engagement ring and kiss each other a dozen more times. Then start thinking about planning the wedding, your wedding! Here’s how to get started.

Take perfect engagement photos: Can be done anytime at your convenience but do create a record of the occasion and preserve those special memories. Another reason is to spend some quality time getting to know your wedding photographer (and vice versa), so everyone feels less like strangers at the big event. Also consider hiring a cameraman to hide in the bushes and record the joy, the tears, and the kisses as they happen.

Announce your Engagement: Tell everyone the good news! There are many ways of doing this, and no way is more correct or better than another. Consider- announcing your engagement in print publications, mailing announcements to your family and friends or creating a wedding website.

Figure out the big picture: Agree upon date, time and place. Not only will it be the first question everyone will ask you, but you'd be surprised how difficult it will be to make any progress on planning your wedding without knowing the date.

Identify your style: Every piece of your planning will seem much easier if you know what would be your distinct wedding style. Decide if you're having a formal wedding, a casual affair, or a theme wedding. Sit down with your fiancé and come up with a description of how you love to relax. That will give you the perfect wedding setting describing you and your partner in the best possible way.

Ask for money: Talk about the awkward now so that you have a clear picture of your position right in the beginning. Approach your parents to see if-and how much-they are willing to contribute to the wedding. Discuss with your folks minus each other as no one is comfortable talking about money matters in front of somebody who is not yet a family member.

Come up with a budget: Figure out how much you can spend for your wedding. Then establish how much you can realistically set aside by the wedding date. Pulling any number and planning around that number won’t work. Instead first research what the elements are likely to cost and then reach that goal by the set date.

Choose your attendants: As your attendants do a lot more than just stand next to you on the day of the wedding, now is the time to get them involved. Sharing the responsibilities with the bridesmaids and the groomsmen will surely lift a portion of your burden.

Shop for your dress: This tops the list of “Fun Stuff To Do When You’re Engaged”, and it is smart to get started right away.

Find great vendors: Since most venues are booked a year in advance, so the earlier you start looking the more likely you are to get the time, date, and cost that you've planned for.

Figure out the guest list: Once you have determined your budget, reception space, and how many people you can include, figure out how you are going to plan up the list.

Organize everything: Besides putting your Blackberry and smart phone to store numbers and snapping Facebook statuses, use your e-calendar and pop-up reminders to keep track of appointments. Keep yourself on track and you will have more time for weekly manicures and ring flashing!