10 – 12+ months before
Date: ______________________
Start a wedding folder or binder. Begin leafing through bridal, lifestyle, fashion, gardening, design, and food magazines for inspiration.
Envision your wedding and draw up a budget. Determine how much you have to spend, based on your families’ contributions and your own.
Decide who you want to help you out with the planning. Consider hiring a wedding consultant. A consultant will have relationships with—and insights about—vendors.
Pick a wedding date and time. Decide whether to have separate locations for the ceremony and the reception, factoring in travel time between the two places. Select several options, then check with your venues, officiant and important guests before finalizing.
Reserve your date and venues.
Book your officiant.
Start planning the guest list. Make a head count database to use throughout your planning process, with columns for contact info, RSVPs, gifts, and any other relevant information. (Want to keep costs low? It may be brutal, but the best way to do it is to reduce your guest list.)
Pick your wedding party. As soon as you’re engaged, people will start wondering who’s in.
Research photographers, bands, florists, and caterers. Keep their contact information in your binder.
Optional: Have an engagement party. You may want to register beforehand for gifts. But remember that your invitees should be on your wedding guest list as well.