First Steps in Wedding Planning

You finally have that ring on your finger… now what? Below are some steps to ease you into the wedding planning process, and actually have fun with it!

1. Think about what YOU AND YOUR FIANCE want - and you better do it quick. As soon as you announce your engagement, everyone in your life will all the sudden have an opinion about how to plan your wedding and what it should be like. At least get the basics down - inside/outside, large/small, local/destination, formal/informal.
2. Set a realistic budget. There are hundreds of wedding budget templates out there that will help you record everything from the huge catering bill to the tiny ribbon used on the invitations. Be realistic with yourselves and everyone involved in paying for the wedding - it will help avoid the shock when the bill comes after the wedding. This will also help you determine the number of guests for number 3 below.
3. Start the guest list. This means starting a list for you and your fiancé and asking your parents to start putting together their lists. Its okay to give them guidelines (if you want them to have 80 people on their list, tell them 65 and then you'll be the hero when you let them have those extras!).
4. Start your wedding book - get a binder and make dividers for each section on your budget. Print out one of the hundreds of checklists available online and use these to create dividers as well. The checklist goes in front BEFORE all the dividers so its easy to check-in on.
5. Date & Location - You'll need to choose these before you can move forward too fast. Make sure you have spent ample time on #1 on this list - the venue will dictate what your wedding is really like. The time of year will dictate a lot of things on the budget (avoid June-September if you're trying to save money). Make sure to check your city calendar for city events or parades you might be competing with.

After those five steps are complete, you are well on your way to planning your dream wedding. Next come the big details of choosing your wedding party, the dress, setting up your registries and more! Take it step by step and you'll actually be able to enjoy planning your wedding!