Three Steps in Planning your Wedding

1 - Get Organized

Even out whenever organization isn't your thing, no especially if organisation isn't your thing, you need to make "getting organized" your top priority. You'll want a place to collect pictures, magazine ads and notes and there has no better way to do that than in your personal wedding binder.




Sure you could buy a pre-made wedding binder at your local bookstore. They've inspirational pics, checklists and wedding ceremony planning tips that might get in helpful through your planning stages.



All the same, I recommend making your own binder. Buy a three-ring binder, dividers, plastic protector sheets and erasable tabs. The parts of your binder will change as you get closer to the Big Day, so having erasable tabs and sections you'll be able to easily move around will be essential to staying organized.



On another note, organized brides make a better impression on wedding vendors and they will be more expected to take you seriously and possibly offer you a better price, than your unorganized counterparts.


2. Finance

Before you are able to make any major wedding-related decisions, you've to ensure you and your fiance are on as is page. You might not be able to discuss a wedding date at this point (you'll need to confirm with vendors and venues first) but you should discuss a general wedding season, or better yet, a wedding month.



Ask your fiance what he looks on when he sees your wedding day. Discuss the "feel" of your wedding, estimate the number of guests you prefer to invite and set a budget.



It is also a good idea to ask him upfront how involved he wants to be in the decision-making process. Some grooms defer most details to the bride and only prefer to help with major decisions - such date, location and guest count. I've seen other grooms who would like to help choose linens and fonts.



See where your guy stands so there are no hurt feelings down the line.



3.Brainstorm

If you aren't on a strict time limit with your wedding planning - lower than six months, e.g. - then allow yourself time to dream. Peruse magazines, websites and bookstores and save anything that might be remotely interesting to you - and put it in your new binder.



Dream big at this point. If you fall in love with a $2,000 bridecake you can't afford, save the picture anyway. You are able to likely find a local baker who can recreate the cake at a fraction of the cost. Don't think in terms of what you can't do - dream up what you will be able to!