Just got engaged!?

Question

I just got engaged tonight! Can anyone give me some wedding planning advice? I have no clue where to start?!

Answer 1

Best wishes!  First, set a date.  Then you and your fiance need to know approximately how many to invite, family and friends, so you have an idea of a count.  Are your parents paying for the wedding?  First thing, is to book a reception hall.  Hotel banquet rooms are good, as they can also provide catering.  Then book the church or chapel or minister if you want it outdoors.  Book a photographer.  Pick a theme. Then, get your wedding party together, your bridesmaids, your maid of honor, ushers.  Then go shopping for your dress, and their dresses.  Order invitations, thank you notes, and announcements, and buy lots of stamps!   (Announcements are sent out to the people you have not invided, and they are mailed out the day after your wedding.)    Make or buy favors, arrange for flowers, get your blood test and apply for the license at city hall.  Plan a honeymoon.  Get a DJ or someone to play CDs for music for the reception.  Usually the caterer can also do your cake.  (Don't forget the grooms cake either.)  And most of all, have fun!  They do have some good wedding planning books out there, great for keeping notes and list of things to do.

Answer 2

Make a list of everything you think you'll need to do or get or plan for. From invites to the dress to the location. Start as soon as possible because it never fails, things that you thought you couldn't have possibly forgot pop up at the last minute. Accept anyones help with anything, and google wedding plans, there's lots of links with helpful tips. Congrats!

Answer 3

all of the answers on here are helpful.  But here's something no one thinks about:  start collecting addresses RIGHT AWAY!!! LOL.  I waited until it was time to mail out invitations, and it was torture!!!  The location and attendants are obviously super important, but get an address book and start getting those now!!  Have your family collect what they can for you, too

Answer 4

start with the date you want to get married and look for your dress, pick out the colors you want and the flowers that will go with that and look for a place to get married. congrats

Answer 5

Congrats!!

Im in the same boat as you! No idea where to start..

Im guessing that the guest list is at the top of the list, then the venue-most places need at least a year in advance notice to book (so i hear) then the bridal party, then the dresses. Then all the rest such as food, alcohol, cars, photographers etc all come after that.

One of my bridesmaids made a ring binder for me with dividers to categorise all parts of the wedding and has put clear files in it to put ideas etc in which is a huge help.

Answer 6

Congratulations! First you need to pick a date. Then make sure the ceremony and reception sites are available for that date and book them. Then worry about the other stuff! :)

Answer 7

When you get enough plans, email them to me so I can suggest them to my future fiance.

Good luck~

Answer 8

theknot.com - it has almost everything, get a wedding planning book and stock up on bridal magazines...

also... brides.com

Answer 9

step one,

~jump up and down cause your excited

step two,

~pick a date,

step three,

~read bridal magazines...they always have a check list on what to do.

Congrats!

Answer 10

First off Congrats!  First things first, is setting a date...next go to theknot.com

I found a lot of useful things there!  

Good Luck!

Answer 11

Congratulations!

Enjoy the week of being engaged, then sit down with your fiance', and create a wedding vision--what do you see, hear, taste, feel, and smell?

After that create a budget that would suit that vision, and a savings plan to suit the budget. You MUST have a budget set before buying so much as a roll of ribbon, and STICK TO IT.

Set up a notebook with dividers for Ceremony, Reception, Music, Traditions, Guest List, Attendants, Attire, Venues/Vendors, Biling/Receipts, etc to keep yourself organized.

Set up an account with The Knot (it will save your sanity, I promise!)

Choose a color palate. I went to a local paint shop, and chose my colors from their paint chips =]

Pick a date.

Start booking venues and vendors about a year before (you may need longer depending on your area).

Start researching dress styles and cuts you like.

I found these books to be extremely helpful:

Wedding Planning for Dummies (a Christmas gift from my parents, haha).

Priceless Weddings for Under $5,000

The Knot's Guide to Wedding Planning

I used them in conjunction with these websites:

http://www.theknot.com

http://www.offbeatbride.com

http://www.marthastewart.com

http://www.weddingbee.com

http://www.diybride.com

http://www.etsy.com

http://www.thingsremembered.com

http://www.exclusivelyweddings.com

If you ever need anything, let me know =] I'm great with a budget, haha.

Answer 12

congrats!!!! the first thing I did was create a wedding list then sat down with my fiance and asked how big of a wedding he wanted and then set a budget. it is important to ask everyone involved how much they are willing to give you for the wedding. afterwards I would look at your list to see where you can cut corners on spending. For instance, my dad and my best friend are great photographers and they took pictures for me. (if you cannot do this, try looking at a local university to see if there are any photography majors who are looking to build their portfolos). see if there are any culinary art majors who want experience who may be able to help you cater.

best of luck. email me at [e-mail]

Answer 13

Congrats!

I would start with a location and a time of year and work from there

Answer 14

dont wait until the last mintue to start getting things, like dresses, tuxs.  because its takes a certain amount of time to get it in.

And dont be a bridezillia lol

CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK