How Do I Begin

So he got down on one knee and you said “Yes!”  It’s a few days later, or a week later, and people start asking you, “So when’s the big day?” and you don’t know how to answer!  Eek!  You have to plan a wedding now?!  Where do you start?  Here are the first few things to consider.

• ·         Date When do you want to get married?  How much time do you need to plan and pay for the wedding you want?  Is there a particular month and day that really stands out for your relationship, or in your family?
• ·         Budget How much money do you want to spend, and how can that be executed to fit your ideas for your wedding?  I’ll make a separate post regarding how to figure out your budget.
• ·         Wedding Planner I’ll post later about how to decide if you really need a planner or not.  I planned my wedding without one, but in some cases they are valuable partners in putting together your big day.  If you decide to hire one, this will be your first step towards planning.
• ·         Bridal Party Who MUST be in the party?  Be sure to ask the future groom about family and friends, and consider how the size of your party will impact your budget.  Jayme will post more about how to select your attendants.
• ·         Guests How many people do you think will attend?  While this number is very important, it’s OK to do some guess work in the beginning.  Consider family from each side, school mates, coworkers, etc.

Once you have some of these basics covered, I suggest signing up with a wedding website to help you organize the information, even if you will hire a wedding planner.  TheKnot.com is an amazing place to start recording the guest list, look at design ideas, and find vendors.

Congrats on your engagement, and let’s get the ball rolling!