Paul McDonald Is 'Pumped Up' About Marrying Nikki Reed

By Lorenzo Benet

06/21/2011 at 08:00 AM EDT

While Paul McDonald is busily preparing for American Idol's summer tour, he's got another big event in the works.

"I'm getting married – yes – to the lovely Nikki Reed. That's been really exciting," McDonald, 26, tells PEOPLE. "I'm really pumped up about that. She's an amazing lady, and I'm very lucky to be hanging out with her."

While McDonald is keeping mum about wedding details, he did confirm that the planning is indeed underway. "I'll let you guys know those plans as soon as they are allowed to come out," he says.

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The couple began their whirlwind romance in March after meeting on the red carpet of Red Riding Hood and have been inseparable ever since.

"We crossed paths on this random American Idol journey," McDonald says. "That led me to my future wife, so that's cool."