One of the perks to planning your own wedding is celebrating each landmark step. So naturally Chris and I are embracing every single one.

We have toasted everything from the arrival of the save the date cards, to choosing the castle, to finding my wedding dress - admittedly celebrating something we couldn't talk about was an odd experience.

And there were more smiles in the Hollingsworth/Strong residence this week. Chris chose his best man. Make that best men - his two younger brothers Al and Steve.

This is good news for me on a number of different levels. For starters my future brothers-in-law will do an amazing job on the day. They both know around ninety per cent of our guests so they will have no problem bringing everyone together and helping organise the weekend.

And, loathed though I am to admit this and risk further increasing their egos, their speech will no doubt be absolutely brilliant - a real double act. As Chris put it, they will bounce off each other like Penn & Teller. Hmmm.

But, of course, we won't just benefit on the day. Oh no. With his best men chosen, Chris actually has a chance of having a stag do which, frankly, would never have happened if it had been left to him to organise.

And then there was the problem of the groom party's wedding outfits. For the last two months, my man's 'sole' contribution to any clothing-related discussions has been to inform me - in no uncertain terms - that he will be wearing spats to our wedding. As in the black and white shoes.

Needless to say he definitely won't be. So having the input of his two brothers, one of whom is so immaculately groomed he could be a Topman mannequin, can only be a good thing.

By the time we get married, I will have known Al and Steve for ten years and there is no-one who I would rather have standing by Chris' side at our wedding...provided they follow my rules!

On Tuesday it was my 26th birthday. Unlike my other half who will be hyperventilating come his 30th, getting older does not freak me out - although I think I might start screening out any potential new 'younger' friends.

But this year I did feel a little funny about it. And not one to let such a prime opportunity pass by, Chris took great pains to pick my birthday card this year.

Scanning over anything vaguely romantic that might act as a nod to our impending nuptials, he not only picked up the very first card he's ever given me referring to 'old age', but in fact the first one I have ever received. Ever.

Perhaps he forgot about turning 28 in December?! Watch out Mr Strong...

Anyway, I think the real reason behind my birthday-related worries is because I have now reached the age I will be when I become a Mrs.

And I don't feel any wiser, or any more or less ready than I did last year, or the year before that, or the year before that.

But, on the other hand, it is hugely exciting. Every girl has some kind of a plan - any ladies who deny it are probably lying - concerning life's milestones, namely babies and marriage. And I guess this is my first step.

So this time in ten months, yes just ten months, I will be a 26-year-old wife... one who is, hopefully, still on her honeymoon. And this gives us approximately three years before we move to stage two of Gemma's life plan. But we are definitely not ready to talk about that just yet.

Good news on a lot of fronts this week. Firstly our 'save the date' cards finally arrived on Tuesday which is a huge relief because my daily interceptions of the postman were beginning to make me look a little - very - desperate.

We have also arranged our first proper wedding meeting at Bickleigh Castle which, for me, is beyond exciting.

I've been holding back on really committing to anything wedding-y until the first meeting was done and dusted. But come the end of the month I will finally be fully unleashed on the bridal community - friends and family, you have been warned.

The other very exciting part of arranging the visit is that it also marks the start of Chris' pre-wedding fitness regime. So he tells me. Which, as far as I am concerned, is a good thing - I bought him some new trainers five months ago that have never seen the outside of their box let alone the light of day.

And finally on the subject of new news, Chris and I recently took the plunge and opened our first ever joint bank account especially for the wedding.

It was the obvious and sensible thing to do and it's going to make keeping our budget on track much easier. There is, of course, the one downside, but I will just have to find another financial source for those very occasional sneaky purchases!

I am having a dilemma when it comes to my hen night. Last month I was pretty certain I knew what I wanted, but one magazine article later, and I am struggling with my decision.

I have never been to New York before - correction, I have never been to America - so a girly weekend in the Big Apple sounded perfect - think Sex And The City chic.

And then I read a real 'spanner in the works' article; two women arguing the cases for and against what are considered 'extravagant' hen and stag do's. Apparently mine falls into that category.

After nodding along to the pro's, I was struck by feelings of guilt half way through the con's article. The writer was asking why brides expect their friends to spend big sums on a hen night when they already have to pay up for things like wedding presents - though we don't want any - and accommodation.

Am I being incredibly selfish? While there are plenty of good deals around, a New York event would definitely cost more than, say a night out in Southampton...

But then I really don't want a hen night that could in effect be just another Saturday night out minus the obligatory L plates, bunny ears and veil. For the record none of these novelty items will be coming anywhere near me.

With a little help I think I have come up with a solution - a spa weekend. That way the girls can choose to just pay for their accommodation or add on treatments depending on their pay packets.

Anyway, as I continue to overanalyse every single decision - I know I am doing it but I can't seem to stop! - Chris informs me the plans for his stag do will soon be underway. His choice? A lads' weekend in Vegas...yes, it really is so much easier being a boy!