Congratulations on taking the plunge and making the decision to propose. By rights, this should be a brilliant time but more often than not it’s marred by worries over how and where to get engaged. Everyone’s got a horror story about rubbish proposal scenarios, when what you really need are ingenious suggestions for the perfect proposal. Helpfully, Newbury Racecourse has launched a dedicated ‘lover’s bench’, boasting a stunning view of the finishing straight.

We’ve got some new writers sharing their stories on Staggered and we thought you might like to meet them. After all, just like you they represent the grooms, brides, best men and fathers of the brides who are soon to be getting married.

We’ll be following their journeys as they take us through the joys and pitfalls of planning a wedding and preparing for the biggest day of their lives.

Dan Sweryt had to learn the hard way that going all out to make a romantic proposal doesn’t always work.

Pete Boyland wants you to know that he’s getting married. He also wants you to know about the big pile of clothes in his bedroom, the current state of English rugby and why cats aren’t allowed at weddings. Meet him here.

Joel brings us up-to-date on the story of his romance with Han and how they drove to South Africa, when they should have been in Australia.

Along with strip clubs and pulling, beer is an essential component of any self-respecting stag-do. For a stag weekend to remember (although perhaps not for all the right reasons), beer afficionados might want to stock up on some of the world’s strongest beer. Aberdeenshire brewery, BrewDog, claims that it’s new tipple, aptly named Sink The Bismarck!, ‘takes beer to a whole new level’ and at 41% volume, we’re not arguing with them.

When it comes to deciding on your stag-do there are some classic activities that will always be up for discussion. Here we look at taking the stags to enjoy the Sport of Kings – air-hockey. Ok, horse racing.

Happiness is… marrying a lady who’s smarter than you. Ever mulled over the secret of a happy marriage? Boffins from the Geneva School of Business claim to have developed a formula for marital bliss. Apparently, to ensure the best odds on a happy and long-lasting union, the bride should be five years younger than her groom, from the same cultural background and at least 27% more intelligent.

The ladies are getting palpitations about flowers, favours and frocks, but is there any aspect of the wedding planning process than can pique the interest of the average groom for more than a few minutes? If you want to arrive at the Big Day in style and you prefer two wheels to four, how about getting to the church on a chauffeur-driven Harley?

Given that the average UK wedding costs a cool £18,636, wouldn’t it make you feel all warm and fuzzy to know that at least some of that dosh is going to a good cause? To make sure that your Big Day makes a big difference, read on…