By Andrea Phillips

If you've finally made up your mind, congratulations! This is not only a life decision; it's a life-changing event, of course, and you want to take the right steps towards the altar. That's why planning a wedding is so important. An improvised wedding won't be successful. You can improvise in art, but not in weddings. This has to be thoroughly planned, and it's better if no detail is left unchecked.

Granted, this is not as easy as it sounds. Before going to wedding vendors, then, let's set the grounds for some items you don't want to overlook. From the basics to more specific points, these five tips will get you started on your own wedding planning:

1. Relax, take it easy, enjoy.

The first step towards wedding happiness is to take it easy. Planning is good. Rushing, stressing out, isn't. Kiss each other, let love grow, let yourselves grow into the idea this is actually going to happen. You're finally getting married! Enjoy this moment, it's as beautiful as it gets. A good idea is to take a few days off work, if you can, and go someplace where you can be together, alone. There, you can start thinking about all the preparations and -most importantly- how much you're going to be spending.

2. Tell relatives and friends.

Not only your parents, but they would like to be the first to know, of course. If possible, don't do it over the phone (nor by e-mail, by the way): they like to be surprised in person. Tradition says the bride's parents are told before the groom's, but that's just convention; you're free to do it your own way.

3. Keep a journal.

This is typically a bride's activity, but there is no harm if the groom intervenes. It's just a great way to organize yourselves and plan everything ahead. And, by the way, it's a great way to let go of your worries and preoccupations, just like when you were a teenager. It's amazing how much relief you can get by just writing what you think and feel.

4. Tell the world!

Now it's time to tell everyone. This consolidates the decision even more: when you go public, then you're telling the world you're really into it and that reassures the commitment. To formalize this, you can make an announcement through different means: in newspapers, mailing the news or by creating a wedding web site, a growing option for Couples 2.0

5. Set a date.

This is utterly important. Set a date you both feel comfortable with, and keep in mind your closest relatives' and friends' locations and ways to get there. They will have to organize for the date you set, but make it easy for them. Also, it's better to set a date in spring or late summer, so that you can, for a change, have the whole party outside (and also save some money).

These five tips are just the starting point for a well-planned wedding. After this, comes the heavy stuff, so you'd better get yourself ready!