Get engaged recently? According to Condé Nast Bridal Media's American Wedding Study, this is one of the most popular times of year for proposals. Twenty-five percent of brides get engaged between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

With all of the excitement comes the planning and countless decisions. To simplify the process, follow these helpful tips to ensure that preparing for the day of your dreams is a piece of (wedding) cake:

n Mind Your Money: The first step to planning a wedding is establishing a budget. According to the American Wedding Study, 32 percent of couples pay for their wedding themselves. You don't have to compromise style just because you're keeping finances top of mind. Try a store such as David's Bridal that offers affordable luxury with fashion-forward and designer gowns from $299 to $1200, allowing couples to save more funds for life after the "big day."

• Be Prepared: Bridal magazines, Web sites and bridal shows exist for a reason. Take advantage of these sources to determine what type of bride you are and what type of wedding you want to have before you hit the stores. Try Dress Your Wedding, an online tool that recently launched on the David's Bridal Web site (www.davidsbridal.com). Here, brides can create the "virtual" wedding of their dreams, experimenting with themes, colors, fashion and accessories, while customizing the skin tone, hair and facial features of their wedding party. With every bridal gown, bridal party dress and accessory, as well as floral arrangements and tuxedos available in a wedding-album format, it's a breeze to coordinate wedding fashions. You can even e-mail a shopping list to your wedding party so that they can print it out for a stress-free shopping experience.

• If the Dress Fits: Squeezing into a gown that is not the right size can take away from the evening and make dancing and mingling with guests more difficult. Be sure to purchase a gown that fits properly and allows you to move freely. Look for a store that carries a wide assortment of gowns in all sizes so that you can try on a gown in your actual size. In addition, allow at least six to eight weeks before your wedding for alterations. Remember to wear the proper foundations and shoes during the fitting so you can envision exactly how the gown will look on your wedding day.

• Inquiring Minds Want to Know: To assist in the decision-making process, it's always a good idea to bring one person along whose opinion you value to assist with bridal gown shopping. Having someone with you will make the experience more enjoyable, ease concerns about selecting the right gown and provide an extra hand when changing from dress to dress. Also, listen to the advice of educated consultants, as they are there to help and to suggest styles that will fit and flatter your body type.

• Keeping it Coordinated: Every aspect of your wedding should reflect your personal style. To ensure a customized look, try a one-stop-shop that allows you to carry a preferred color theme throughout all aspects of your wedding. From a splash of color on the bridal gown and complementing bridesmaids' dresses, to matching accessories, invitations and even reception favors, David's Bridal offers color coordination both in store and online, ensuring a seamless look.

• The Icing on The Cake — While the bridal gown is the focal point of wedding fashion, no ensemble is complete without accessories. Many bridal retailers carry coordinating accessories or can recommend options that work well with your gown, so it's always good to explore this option first. From tiaras and veils to shoes, handbags and jewelry, it's the small details that are essential to complete the wedding day look.

• Time Saving Solutions: Many women don't have the luxury of taking time off to plan their wedding. To save time, look to the Internet for solutions. Sites such as OurWeddingDay.com have a variety of helpful wedding planning tools such as e-mail-able "save the dates," a personalized wedding Web site and an online wedding planner that helps with task lists, table planning and gift tracking. Try purchasing smaller items on a site such as DavidsBridal.com that includes hundreds of creative ideas, as well as the option to design, preview and order invitations online, a key time saver.

• It's Your Party: Advice from friends and loved ones should be taken into consideration, but you should never let their preferences dictate your choices. If you want to get married on the beach but Mom wants a big church wedding, talk it out, explain your feelings and ask that she be supportive.

It is important to remember that this is your day, every aspect should be 100 percent "you."