I don't know where to start :(

Welcome to WeddingWire! You're not on your own. You've joined a fabulous community of brides & grooms that can help you along the way. It looks like you've picked a date. AWESOME! Next step is finding a venue for both ceremony & Reception site.

I can definitely be overwhelming...start with your venue. Search high and low so that you can get the venue you want. Everything else will fall into place after that...happy planning

First of all take a deep breath.

Now, the first thing I say you should do is pick a buget. Be realistic! For example my budget for my whole wedding was $1,000. Silly me.

Next after you and your FH decide the budget you go through your checklist WW has one for you. It takes you step by step on all that you have to accomplish.

Good luck!

Alondra, my original budget was $5K. For 90 people. In DC, aka, an area where the average wedding costs $33K. I must have been high.

Before you do anything, SET A BUDGET. And the budget should come exclusively from your own funds - if parents can contribute, that's great, but we've seen parental contributions fall through more than once.

If you don't have a budget, you'll spend money willy-nilly without knowing where it goes.

Then sit down and come up with a rudimentary guest list. This is so you have a general idea of how many people to expect. Too many couples imagine a blowout for 200 while forgetting they don't actually know that many people, or they want an intimate gathering of 50 but they have 33 first cousins and they want all of them there. So be realistic.

Once you have a budget and a headcount, you can figure out what sort of event suits your style and is achievable with your resources. Small budget and a low-key guest list? An elegant brunch reception. (more)

Bigger budget and a guest list of party animals? Ballroom blowout. Casual, laid back? Why not have a cookout in a rustic barn? There are so many kinds of weddings out there that it's easy to find a style, whether it's traditional, casual, whimsical, rustic, or so fancy the Queen herself would keel over.

From there start looking at venues. When looking at venues, keep that guest list in mind! Don't fall in love with a small venue if it means butchering your guest list to squeeze everyone in, and don't fall in love with a big venue if it means a half-empty room.

Good luck and happy planning!

Shelia: Shannon S. (above poster) is incredibly helpful throughout the forums & gave fabulous advice!!! :o)

I would say pick a budget that will fit your style and what you want. That way you are able to look at venues and everything else.

Kimi and Shannon are spot on! Pick a realistic budget and figure out how you will pay for the wedding (with your FH). If you have Gmail, google docs has some good templates for budgets (you just plug in your amount and then it suggests percentages of the overall budget to spend in certain categories.) it's very helpful!

I'm happy to send along templates that I've found helpful if you need. Just PM me.

Oh ladies!! I love you all! LoL! Thank you for all the amazing tips! I can't wait to plan it all and share it with you guys!!

Welcome Sheila! These ladies are all fantastic! You'll find plenty of advice and help here. Happy planning! Careful, this site can be addicting!

BUDGET!!!

Once that's taken care of decide what you care more about:

1. Everyone fawning over you and telling you how pretty you are and how beautiful your wedding was

2. Everyone having a great time and telling you how much fun they had at your wedding.

Yes, option 2 can lead to option 1. However if all you hear about is how beautiful you are or how beautiful your wedding was, well guess what, it wasn't a fun one.

Welcome! I agree with the others -- BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET!! Then the guest list...another bride posted this flow and I wish I'd had it when making my guest list. Keep in mind most of your buggest budget items (food, alcohol) will be based on the number of people you have, so if you're trying to keep your budget low, the best way to do that is to keep your guest list to the truly important people. Happy planning!

I started with a couple on tentative dates and then found the places that I wanted to have my reception at and the church I wanted to get married in, ask around for the dates and see whats available. Then plan everything else! Hope it works out of you.