So you're engaged, now it's time to go on with the wedding planning. It can be a huge project costing a lot of money. What are you going to do?

Step one, no hyperventilating. Take a few deep breaths into a paper bag and remind yourself that you've got months, maybe even years before the wedding. You also have a lot of relatives giving advice on dates, florists and reception halls. While this may be annoying, these relatives are actually a valuable resource. Try redirecting their advice with specific questions asking what it was about their weddings they liked best and most importantly what it is that nearly ruined them. I once knew a woman who spent a lot of money on her wedding but neglected to keep the liquor in a guarded location. At the end of the wedding reception some staff stole several cases of unwatched, unused alcohol that she had to pay the caterer for. It's the little things we forget that can upturn a carefully planned event.

Step two; decide just how much you and your soon-to-be spouse are willing to pay for this event. There are ways to cut costs. Outdoor receptions bring people back to the beauty of nature without the high cost of reception halls, but be careful not to schedule on a day when it's likely to rain. It might be helpful to look up specific dates in almanacs detailing the weather for previous years.

Step three; organize, organize, organize. Set up a timeline of major events that you need to have accomplished before the wedding day. That way if something is running behind a few months early you can adjust your schedule. Creating a down to the minute timeline for the day of the wedding is important too. As it can help prevent last second mix-ups.