As the holiday season ends, it is time to take stock of all the things that happened. Looking back on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, I’m sure a number of your Facebook feeds sprung up with news of engagements. What do you do if you are one of these soon-to-be brides? Don’t worry – I have some tips for you:

Time, Time, Time – The first thing you need to do is sit down with your fiancé and determine when the wedding should be. Once this is decided upon, you can work on a schedule for the rest of the plans you need to make. Whether or not you plan on getting married in 6 months or 6 years, everything needs to fall into place.

Make a List – Start your wedding planning by making a list of all the things you will need to have the wedding of your dreams. If you want to have a small ceremony, pick out a spot. Large ceremony? Call a wedding banquet facility that can hold everyone. Decide on the food setup you want. The more things you add to your list, the better prepared you will be.

Big Green – As you look over your list, consider the amount of money that you have to spend and how you will budget for everything you want. This is an important decision for you to make and should involve your fiancé and family, especially if your parents are willing to help out.

Let Everyone Know – Find a wedding photographer and have a set of engagement pictures done. Once you receive the final prints, announce your engagement in local newspapers, your college magazine, Facebook and anywhere else you can think of. Your family and friends want to share your joy with you!

Maybe Get Someone – If all else fails and the planning is too much for you – hire a consultant to take care of all the smaller details of your big day.