Where to start?

First of all this is your day! While it is nice to have parents close by for help you will want to make sure the wedding reflects your style and wants! So don’t lean to much on family to help with planning! That being said there are so many good apps! Start with the Wedding Wire and The Knot app. Once you put your wedding date in it will give you a time line of when certain events need to be done by! It’s been my best friend during wedding planning! Then during the process you can discuss tasks with you mom and Skype/text with ideas! Also get her on Pinterest and create a secret group board! You guys can share ideas back and forth. Good luck planning!

First off, my fiancé is in the USAF and is in Guam. I am considering moving to him because I am almost done with college and we've been long distance for 3 years too long and it's tiring yet we are still committed to each other. Regardless if your family is close in proximity or not, they should still support you even if it's not what they want. I have my mom to help, but I haven't asked her for help anyway. I suggest going to your closest friend/family member, someone you consider a sister or mom and asking them. If it's in your budget, hire a wedding planner!

Good luck girl! You'll be just fine. Don't stress it

If the two of you are old enough to get married, then you are old enough to plan your own wedding. You don't expect Mom to help you buy your house, do your job for you, or raise your kids, so why would you expect or want her to help you with your wedding, even if she were right there?

And frankly, it sounds like there are some boundary issues that planning your own wedding will help with. Your family doesn't have a right to expect you to live where they do, and to get upset with you when you don't. Showing them that you can handle a grown up responsibility without their help would be a good way to establish some boundaries.

How do you do it? Just the way you would if you were planning any other party. Start by figuring out budget, guest list, and type of wedding (e.g., jazz brunch versus Saturday night dinner and dancing). Then see whether all those line up. If they don't, you'll need to adjust something. For example, if your budget is insufficient to pay for Saturday night dinner and dancing for your guest list, you could:

1. Cut your guest list.

2. Have a less expensive type of wedding.

3. Take a second job or cut expenses to increase your budget.

4. Push back your wedding, to give you more time to save.

Once you've managed to get those three things to balance, there are lots of timelines online that will tell you what to work on each month.

I would start with budget and guest list. Then start touring venues, and get a couple dates in mind you want. I'd tour as many venues as you can! I would look at vendors after the venue is booked, since some have certain vendors they require. My family is supportive but they are all in CA and I'm in CO. My fiance will help however he can, but I haven't really asked. I've done a lot myself, being organized is the best thing I've done. And start a wedding email to keep everything in one place!

Hi Yeximani,

Also, Check out our WeddingWire Planning Tools!!!!

It's easy and fun, AND if you want your Mom to sign on and help with it, she CAN! Just add a user to your account and they can share your info and use the tools!

Thanks to YOU and your FH for your service!

Definitely start with the budget!

Figure out what the two of you can afford. Then come up with a preliminary guest list. Who are VIPs and must haves, and who are people who you'd like to invite but aren't necessary. That will allow you to lower the guest count if necessary.

Then shop for some venues! See if you can find an all inclusive one that covers the ceremony/reception, bar, food, tables, and linens. Ask how much it is per person. That'll help you choose something that's still within your budget and leave room for flowers, dress, tux, rings, DJ, deco, etc.

That should be your starting point! I know it's a bummer when your family isn't interested in helping out with ideas and such. This is when you turn to good friends to help you through!

Also, check out the wedding wire checklist! Complete lifesaver, trust me!