1. Dream Together
Before you announce your engagement to the entire world and they all assume that they’re invited to your wedding, we suggest that you sit down with your fiance and discuss the date, time, size, formality, venue, and style of your wedding. All of these things reflect your taste as a couple, and are decisions that need to be carefully considered. To stay true to what you really want, keep your plans on the down-low for awhile.
2. Create a Planning Notebook
Pictures tell a thousand words. Gather images of things that inspire you and organize them in a way that’s easy to share with others. Search the web for real weddings that are similar to your style, including decor details and color combos. Print out each inspiration so you can be prepared to share it with vendors and a planner (if you decide to hire one).
3. Make Your Guest List
What's a party without the guests? Remember that many of your guests will bring a spouse or significant other and count for two people. Also keep in mind that the more people you invite, the more expensive your wedding will be. Create a "must-have" A-list, and a "would-like-to-include" B-list, and mail your invitations early. That way, if A-list guests can't make it, you can then mail out invitations to B-list guests early enough that they won't feel like last-minute additions.
4. Commit to a Budget and a Plan
The fact is, all that wedding glitz and glam costs money, and setting a realistic wedding budget will save you from heartache after the honeymoon. So take out that calculator, call up your folks and decide how much you’re willing to spend on the big day. Before you start crunching numbers, set your priorities. Is the number of guests you invite more important to you then the venue? Once you know what elements you can't live without, you'll have a much clearer idea of how to allocate your money.
5. Select Your Wedding Date
Do you envision a thick blanket of snow lining the streets as you snuggle close to your new husband en route to the reception? Or, how about a warm summer's night where you and your guests dance together under the stars? Decide what time of year you want to get married and select two tentative wedding dates -- it's important to have a backup in case your first choice isn't available. Don't forget to check your calendar to make sure a holiday or major sporting event doesn’t fall on your desired date -- otherwise you and your guests may be competing with tourists and sports fans for scarce, or more expensive, hotel accommodations and services.
6. Choose Your Venue
Wineries, zoos, botanical gardens -- let your imagination run wild when selecting a wedding location. But remember, the best spot may be one that’s nearby and can accommodate your guest count and travel needs. You'll want to find out how many events each site hosts per day. If it will bug you to bump into someone else’s wedding guests in the bathroom or lobby, you’ll want a venue that hosts one wedding at a time. To be sure that the venue really is within your budget, look out for any hidden fees in the contract.
7. Select Your Wedding Party
She's been your best friend since kindergarten; it's a no-brainer that you would want her to stand up with you on your big day. But the rest of the gang? Ask valued friends or family members to do a reading, be an usher, or oversee your guest book or escort card table. Remember that the more people you have in your party, the more expensive your wedding will be (think: bouquets, gifts, and the like).
8. Shop for the Dress
If you’re planning to tone up or slim down some before you wedding day, you should be aware that most dress shops require at least six months between making the order and receiving your dress. When you arrive at your first appointment, be prepared to find your dream dress. Don't forget to bring stockings, shoes, a strapless bra, and a hair clip to your appointment to help you envision the whole picture.
9. Book the Basics
Top wedding locations and vendors are sometimes booked more than a year in advance, so as soon as you've agreed on the type of wedding you’d like to have, find a venue and book your major vendors. Make reservations in the following order: ceremony and reception locations, ceremony officiant, caterer, reception band or DJ, photographer, florist, cake designer, videographer, stationer, and finally, any rental companies.
Note: While reception sites go particularly fast, many places will allow you to put a courtesy "pencil hold" on the date with no deposit needed. Finding your ideal spot isn't easy, so if a site meets 80 percent of your requirements, reserve it!
10. Set up Your Wedding Website and Registries
The easiest way to share information with all of your guests will be through a personal wedding website. Think of it as your online wedding headquarters. You can share your engagement story and wedding details, and get the word out about your wedding registries. WeddingChannel.com offers a free wedding website with membership, and a chance to create an online registry with gifts from top retailers. You'll enjoy the convenience of viewing your registry and making changes any time, day or night. And, your guests will be thrilled to have one place where they can find all your gift choices and insider wedding info.
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