How do i start??

If you can afford a wedding planner, I think hiring one is a good idea. For full blown wedding planning, I got quotes for $3,000-$10,000 depending on all they did. I ended up doing 100% of the planning by myself and hiring a DOC instead. I wouldn't depend on friends & family for planning, there are a ton of posts on these forums about family & friends not coming through and not being as involved. It's way better if the bride & groom do most the planning. I would start with an overall budget, a guest list, and a time of year you guys want to get married. Then tour & book a venue. After the venue is booked, you can focus on other big vendors (caterers, photographers, DJ, officiant, etc.), your dress, your wedding party, etc.

Hi Nakisha!

On this site there's a checklist under the Planning Tools tab that will help out tremendously! The holy trinity (as I'd like to call it) is your budget, venue and guest list! If hiring a wedding planner is in your budget then go for it. Friends and family are always a plus when it comes to needing things done.

If you do end up looking at wedding planners, they do offer full wedding planners, partial and even just day of coordinator. The less help you need from a wedding planner, the less money you'll end up spending on one so keep that in mind as well.

Good luck and happy planning!

A wedding planner is helpful if you've the budget for it. Like pp said ww has a great checklist and tools to help you. Feel free to post questions and concerns here too and brides can help ya !

Hey Nakisha! We are date twins!! 10.10.20 is a very popular date! We are in the same boat I have never planned an event to this extent, and I am the first of my family and friends to have a "big" wedding. I am a planner by nature and I personally did not feel a wedding planner was necessary for me. I have been doing a pretty good job of beginning the planning on my own, I suggest doing a lot of research here on WW and other sites as well. WW has a great checklist that I've been utilizing! It is all in how you want it to be! I am however hiring a day of coordinator to assist with the hectic big day, because the people I would normally task with that job, I want to be enjoying the day with me! Good luck you've got this!!

View Quoted Comment My budget is around 8,000, so a wedding planner at that price would not work at all. I had that feeling about family and friends helping would be a tricky situation, but didn't want to become overwhelmed with doing it by ourselves. Thanks for the start!!!

View Quoted Comment Thank you!!!! It looks like a wedding planner would put us over our budget.

The Budget Savvy Bride by Jessica Bishop (its on Amazon) is a great wedding planning book! I've been using it throughout my planning! Good luck!

View Quoted Comment Thank you!!! Looking it up right now!!

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Of course!!

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I know that feeling. We don't have one. At least not yet. I'm trying to see how much I can actually get done and if I'll only need a day of coordinator because after all this, the last thing I need is to be focused on other little duties instead of enjoying my wedding day lol