Congratulations! You're about to embark on two amazing adventures - the first being your life as a wedded couple and the second being the exciting process of planning a wedding.

A wedding will probably be the biggest and most involved party or ritual either of you have ever put together. Before you get overwhelmed, take a deep breath, do these things.

Enjoy being engaged

Kiss each other a thousand times. Jump up and down saying "We're engaged!" Stare at the engagement ring. Take the time to write down in detail how you got engaged. Contemplate the wonderful things ahead of you. Take pictures of yourselves with the engagement ring.

Tell your parents

You should tell your parents of your impending nuptials before anyone else. Both of you should be present and ideally you will tell them in person - they'll have a chance to see your happiness up close, look at the rock, and start talking about the wedding.

Traditionally the bride's parents know before the bridegroom's do, but any order is fine. Then share the news with a few close friends - the ones who are likely candidates for maid/matron of honour and best man, or definite attendants in some capacity.

Purchase a journal if you don't already have one

This will be a time of 10,000 moments you won't want to forget, as well as some frustrating times. The journal you keep while planning your wedding will not only help you through this time, but it will be something you cherish for the rest of your life.

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.

Set the date

One of the most important decisions you will make as you plan your wedding. 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.

Set the tone of your event

This is the time to decide if you're having a formal wedding, a casual affair, or a theme wedding. It's also the time to decide on having a religious or secular ceremony. In short, you need to decide what you want your wedding to feel like. A good way to begin is to sit down with your partner and do some free writing about your ideal wedding.

Set the budget

Start off by using a printable wedding budget worksheet. Look at your finances and figure out how much you already have in savings, and how much you can save each month. Talk to each of your parents and ask them if they'd like to contribute to your wedding, and either how much they'd like to give you, or what specific things they'd like to pay for. Lastly, decide how much you feel comfortable going into debt. At this time you may consider opening a new credit card just for the wedding that will earn you airline miles, cashback, or other incentives. It's a good way for you to keep track of wedding expenses, and can help you pay for your honeymoon. Just try to pay it off in full each month.

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. Look over lists of responsibilities for bridesmaids and groomsmen before you make your final choices. If they live nearby, it's nice to ask someone in person, but a phone call is fine for those who live far away.

Start looking for venues

Many venues are booked a year in advance, so the further in advance you start looking, the more likely you are to get the time, date, and cost that you've planned for.

Get support

The successful bride and bridegroom do not plan their wedding alone. Help may come from professionals, respected publications, or trusted friends who've planned their own weddings. Remember to keep a checklist to help yourself stay organised.