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As the initial excitement and delight over getting engaged turns into the somewhat dreary planning phase, the transition can be a bit overwhelming. Everyone loves getting engaged, not everyone loves planning the details. There is so much to do and just getting started can be an ordeal. Here is what I suggest.

1. Start announcing. After you and your fiancé have enjoyed sharing your moment together, start telling people the good news. I found that I really only needed to tell two people: my mom and my best friend, and they did the rest of the announcing.
2. Pick a date. You need to know how long you have to plan for the wedding before you can outline the necessities. Pick a time of year that works the best for both of you and a time that will be easiest for most of your guests. For instance, if you live in Maine and expect several out of town guests, winter might not be the ideal season for them. If you still live in your hometown and most of your friends have moved away, Thanksgiving weekend works well. Most people will come home to see their family and will have time to attend your wedding on the Friday or Saturday following Thanksgiving.
3. Make a list, outline, or spreadsheet. If you are an engineer like my husband, you will definitely make a spreadsheet at this point. Whether you go high tech with a computer or low tech with a calendar, make an outline! This is essential to organizing you for the remainder of your engagement journey. Outline everything you will want to accomplish for the wedding and try to attach a date to each item to keep you on track. To help with this, many wedding websites, like knot.com have extensive outlines and timelines. You can use these as a guide and add or leave items as you see fit.
4. Find the place. The first tangible thing that needs to be accomplished is booking a location. Sites for receptions and ceremonies can be booked full a year or more in advance, so this is one thing to tackle as soon as possible.

After finishing these four steps, relax, breathe, and prepare for the rest.