Pop the champagne! Before you begin any planning, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment with the people that you love. Look into the eyes of your fiance and get excited, this is going to be so fun! With wedding planning, there are so many different routes that you can take depending on the day that you have been dreaming of. 

For many, the first stop is a wedding planner. Most wedding planners have different packages as far as what services are provided. Whether you need a full wedding planner or just a day of wedding coordinator to make sure everything runs smoothly, this is a good place to begin your journey. You can look for your wedding planner on platforms like The Knot, or Wedding Pro. Ask a friend or check out our preferred vendors list! The next three big items to check off are the dress, venue, and date. The route you take from here depends on what your biggest priority is. If you have a dream venue that you have been picturing since you were a little girl (cue Bride Wars) then I would suggest seeing what dates they have available before selecting your date or picking your dress. If you have a dream dress that you know takes 6 months to make, then I would base the date and venue off of that. If there is sentimental value in getting married on June 6th, then I would begin there. Prioritizing what aspects of your wedding mean the most to you can help you make decisions on what to book first. This is also true with your photographer and videographer as these vendors can book up to a year in advance. I may be biased, but I think that the dress is something that should be at the top of the list as they can take more time to come in (read more about the timeline for your dress here). Your dress can also set the tone for your wedding, and it can help in making more detailed design choices later. 

Once you check off those big-ticket items, it is time to assemble your bridal party and find an officiant! I would recommend asking your friends once you have the date and location so that they have all the information to be sure that they can attend. Bridesmaid's dresses can take 3-4 months to ship so we would recommend getting them ordered at least 5-6 months before the wedding in case alterations are needed. (Check out more information on bridesmaid's dresses here). For groomsmen, we recommend having everyone's measurements in 3-4 months before so that we can reserve the exact size and style needed for your date. If you are getting married in the spring, then we recommend coming in sooner as prom dances occur during those months. We recommend waiting until 2-3 months before to order flower girl dresses, as kids are constantly growing. I would find the style that you want but wait to order for the most accurate size. 

Once you get everyone’s formal wear, it’s time to dig into the details! The food, decorations, invitations and more! This is where your vision really comes to life. Finalizing colors, picking table settings and trying cake, what could be more fun?! This is where you can add pieces of your love story in adding sentimental touches to the ceremony and reception. Save the dates are typically sent out 8 months in advance for a destination wedding and 6 months out for a local wedding. Invitations are typically sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding. Most vendors will need the final head count 2-4 weeks before the wedding (this varies by the vendor, be sure to ask them when booking), so you will want to make sure that your guests have RSVP’d by then. 

If this all seems a bit crazy, The Knot has a wonderful tool that gives you a timeline/checklist for every month leading up to your wedding. You are going to be such a beautiful bride and your wedding will be amazing!