Today we want to talk about creating a basic overview that you can use as a guideline as you walk through the motions of getting your big day in order. As we discussed last week, it can be overwhelming to get engaged and move into the planning phase when you don’t know where to begin. We walked through what to begin with directly after your engagement and now we will take a step further to look at the process as a whole. Let’s get some major tasks pinned down!

Guest list. The guest list is probably one of the most important facets to planning a successful event. You need to know how many people will be attending, including how many kids. This will help decide how kid friendly you will need to design your reception and what your menu will look like. It will also aide in beverage decisions (i.e. open bar vs. cash bar).

Bridal party. Make a complete list with your other half of those you want in your bridal party. Make sure to follow through with this step all the way and include who will be walking down the aisle with who. During this step, also think about who else will be walking down the aisle. Do you want the officiant to already be in the ceremony area? Or would you prefer him/her to walk down the aisle to begin with? Who will be escorting your grandmother or grandfather? Lastly, agree on a flower girl and ring bearer.

Venue shopping. After you’ve gone through the beginning motions of finding your season and setting a date, begin to brainstorm where and what kind of venue you’re looking for. When you have an idea of the style you like, begin to search around the area you’re aiming to wed. Budgeting is important during this step, so be aware of your spending limit.

Find that dress. Next up; the dress. You’ve got the styles you like and don’t like and you know what will flatter your figure best. Choose one dress shop you’re curious about and make an appointment. Take it one appointment at a time. If you don’t find anything you like at the first shop, pick out another and make an appointment a few weeks later. You want time for your brain to decipher why you didn’t like any of the dresses at the first shop and help you gain some perspective of what you’re specifically looking for.

Catering/dessert. Now that you know what your guest list looks like and how many people you’re expecting, you can begin to narrow down catering options. Getting recommendations from someone you trust is important. Pick two different caterers and set up a tasting. If you like neither, pick two other catering companies you want to try and make a tasting appointment for a couple weeks later. Like finding a dress, it will give you some time to marinate on what you’re looking for. Use the same technique for choosing your dessert.

Florist. Go through magazines and photos of flower scenes that best match your taste and color choices. Then, pick out a florist that has great reviews near the venue you chose. You want them to be nearby so the flowers don’t have to be in transit for an extended period of time.

We hope this guide gives you some relief as you begin planning your special day. This is only the beginning and on Thursday we’ll expand this overview to highlight what’s to come next. Stay tuned everyone!