Wedding in general

Congratulations on your engagement and welcome to Wedding Wire!

Since you've never been to a wedding, I would encourage you to watch a few reality TV wedding shows (like Four Weddings) to try get an idea for what you envision your special day to look like - do you want something big and grand in the evening, perhaps something casual on the beach, or a weekend getaway in the mountains that is relaxed but sophisticated etc.

Once you have a gist for what you want, you should start with your 'big ticket' items such as your budget, guest list, and date. This will allow you to look at venues (which are available on your date and will accommodate your guest list) and vendors thereafter.

There are some really good wedding planning checklists on the internet too, some which will specifically tell you what to plan and when (i.e. what to do 12 months beforehand, 6 months out etc).

Good luck and happy planning!

Congratulations! The first two things you and your fiancé will want to do are discuss budget and create a guest list then you can start looking for venues. Venues/caterers generally charge per person hence why I recommend knowing how many people you will be inviting so that you don't go over budget. It is also a good idea to create a guest list in advance to make sure that your venue is large enough to accommodate the number of people you plan on inviting. Some venues also have guest list minimums or food/beverage limits. I would also recommend purchasing a wedding planning book. When we got engaged my mom got me The Knot wedding planning book. I found it very helpful. I also watched YouTube videos that were created by a wedding planner by the name of Jamie Wolfer. Since we got married she has released a wedding planning program you can purchase where she will walk you through the wedding planning process. If you don't want to purchase that program she has tons of free videos that are very helpful. Below I've linked The Knot wedding planning book my mom gave me and Jamie Wolfer's YouTube channel.

The Knot Planning Book: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Wedding-Planner-Organizer-binder/dp/0770433367/ref=asc_df_0770433367/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312132076760&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15935818405644321305&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007869&hvtargid=pla-434335069873&psc=1

Jamie Wolfer's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamieWolfer/videos

Congratulations on your engagement!! Everyone is different when it comes to planning, so don't feel like you have to follow something specific. No bride is cookie cutter, so planning shouldn't be either. The first thing we did was decide what season we wanted (December), then the date (9th), a guesstimate of how many people we wanted to attend, the theme, the venue, the cake, invitations, how we wanted the tables decorated, photographer, DJ, entertainment for the reception, and the Plated dinner menu. I got engaged November 2020 and started booking appointments to find a dress for every weekend in March and half of April, and found my bridal look after I found my dream dress. We also aren't having a bridal party, bachelor/Bachelorette parties, speeches, etc. Only a MOH and Bestman. We want it to be a celebration and not a stressful event.

Hi Suarez! Congrats on your engagement and welcome to WeddingWire!! 💍❤️

There's a Checklist in your WeddingWire Planning Tools that walks you through wedding planning from start to finish. The first things you should talk about are a potential timeline, location, and guest list size! Here are a few helpful guides to get you started:

Just Got Engaged? The 8 Things You Need to Do First

How to Plan a Wedding Step by Step

7 Things Couples Should Agree on Before Wedding Planning

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Thank you so much for the tips im go to watch a few shows and start getting some ideas thanks again .

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Thank you for your tips i just ordered the planner and will be checking for more tips in the youtube chanel

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Thank GOD you gave me those links the one with the 7 things couples should agree on one was the most important one i needed

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Yayy!! I'm so glad it was helpful! 💖