Congratulations!! You’ve just made one of the most life-changing decisions that some people only dream of: You’re engaged to be married! Once the initial haze of bliss fades it might be overwhelming thinking about wedding planning and invites and flower arrangements, oh my! But fear not, with a little planning, a great attitude and a lot of gratitude, the next major steps you take after you become engaged can be a breeze. Here is a list of a few concrete steps to take first:

1. Celebrate!

Take as much time as you want to just bask in the joy of it all.

2. Insure Your Ring

Back to reality. Anything can happen. INSURE YOUR RING! We cannot stress that enough. Engagement rings are an investment. Get all your paperwork in order, get your ring appraised, your center Certified and get everything insured. Of course nothing means more than the powerful statement of love and devotion behind your engagement ring and that is even more of a reason to insure your beautiful, new engagement ring.

3. Think about the Particulars

Start daydreaming about when and where you want your wedding to be. Do you want a big wedding in the country in the middle of Summer? Maybe a small, elegant affair in the heart of your favorite city? Your thoughts might wander to the inconvenience of your guests but don’t let that deter you. This is YOUR wedding. You can have it any way you want it to be. And if you really don’t want to inconvenience anyone, elope!

4. Set A Budget

If you got it made like Heisenberg.. well you wouldn’t be reading this to begin with. But if you’re like the rest of us, you need to set a budget. Budgets aren’t sexy but saving money is. Do your best to put as little as you can on credit. You don’t want to spend the next decade paying for one day, even if it seems worth it at the time. It’s not. Be reasonable and have a little fun with it. DIY wedding projects are a blast if you do them with some fun bridesmaids and wine!

5. Pick a Dress

The best part!!! Once your budget is set and you have an idea of how and when you want your wedding to be, you can start thinking about your dress and even your bridesmaids dresses. Soooooooooo many choices! Great resources are The Knot’s Lookbook they have in every issue, and Brides Magazine.

We hope this tiny guide helps you in the scary initial phases of wedding planning. Congratulations on your engagement! Just remember, this is your day. You can have it anyway you like! Have some tips we missed? Share them in the comments!