Getting Started

So, he popped the question.  Or, maybe you're just expecting him to.  Or, perhaps you're a fourteen year old girl dreaming of the day someone will.  Either way, planning your wedding may seem like a monumental task.  Ease the stress by getting organized with these simple steps.

1. Start a wedding notebook.  First things first--get yourself a three ring binder, a hole punch, tab dividers, and page protectors.  Don't spend money on a pre-made wedding planner because you can find everything you need online.
2. Make a checklist. Since this is probably your first time planning a wedding, printing a checklist from a source such as Real Simple's Ultimate Wedding Checklist will ensure you don't forget anything important.
3. Schedule.  Whether in your notebook, your phone, or a wall calendar, you'll want to stay on top of important deadlines.  Your checklist will offer suggestions of how far ahead to book your venue, photographer, etc., and we'll discuss these matters in a future post.
4. Categorize.  What categories you include will differ depending on what's important to you.  You might have a tab for the dress, the reception, the venue, contact information for service providers, or the honeymoon.
5. Print and clip.  Now for the fun part.  Just like Queen Latifah's "Possibilities" book on the hit movie Last Holiday, fill your book with all the wonderful possibilities you might include in your big day.  Clip pictures from magazines.  Print from online dress catalogs or Pinterest.  Tie on ribbons to represent your colors.  Go overboard--you can whittle down the ideas as you go along.

Now you're organized and prepared to start your planning.  Remember, it's not just the destination you'll remember.  The journey is half the fun.