I'm 100% Clueless?

Question

Me and my soon to be husband:) just decided today for sure what day and all we are getting married. He wants to get married next year in may. I know there is so much to do with planning a wedding and all. What do you plan 1st? i need all the help i can get:) I need details:D

I just wanna thank everyone for your helpful info. :) I have heard everyone talking about "The Song".... Anyone have any idea's about a good song?

Answer 1

Now that you have set a date, start looking for ceremony & reception venues. Check out as many in your area as you possibly can and ask for contact info of previous clients so that you can get unbiased opinions. The reviews and testimonials they have are helpful but, of course, they're only going to be the good ones so if a place has screwed up a lot with past customers you are never going to know this unless you ask for previous clients contact info.

After that is arranged, your dress comes next because most places need 6 months minimum to get your dress made. Probably the easiest way to handle this is to pick up a couple of bridal magazines at a local convenience store. By looking at the pictures, you can get an idea for what kind of dress you like and then when you actually go to the shops, you'll have some sense of what you're looking for. Not only will they have thousands of dress pictures, they also normally have a planner inside so you know what has to be done by what time frame. If you want something with more detail for a planner, visit a local book store (Staples or Barnes & Noble) and in their wedding section, they should have more detailed planners you can pick up for like $20-$30.

One thing to keep in mind, if you think you don't have the time to dedicate to planning this or just want the help, is consider hiring a Wedding Planner. They are not completely necessary but they do a lot of the "grunt work" so you have more time to relax. Keep in mind, not every wedding planner is some high priced, opinionated guru. I'm a wedding planner and a lot of my colleagues (myself included) are fairly laid back and are only interested in helping you out.

Another thing you can think about doing is signing up for an account at The Knot. It's free to sign up and they have a variety of services, including e-mail reminders, help for those in your wedding party concerning showers and speeches, a listing of local vendors for every state in the US as well as Toronto, Ontario, Canada and tons more.

Hope all these suggestions help. Happy planning and congratulations on your engagement.

Answer 2

The first things you need to do are start your guest list (because the size of your list will affect a lot of planning), book a reception site and church (because these fill up fast), and find your dress (because this can take a while).

Then, get the bridesmaids dresses (because this can take a while), and photographer/videographer (because these vendors can only do one wedding a day).

Then, look for a florist, transportation, and cake baker (these are later on the list because these vendors can do more than one wedding a day). When the date, time, and place is completely finalized, get your invitations.

Once all of the dresses and vendors have been chosen, then focus on the little things like songs, decorations, bridal party gifts, and accessories.

Best of luck!

Answer 3

First of all get the place where you want to be married secured. Lots of people get married in May so you need to book it early. Go to a Walmart store or a smiliar store and look at bride magazines. There are lots of plans in them and they tell you in what order to do things. That is much cheaper than hiring a wedding planner.

Answer 4

First you need to buy a RELIABLE wedding etiquette book from an established expert (do not rely on Internet. bad advice abounds!) like: Miss Manners on Weddings. Read it well. Don't do anything else until you know your etiquette, because when it comes to weddings, people remember your etiquette mistakes for generations.

Then, decide how much you have to spend on the wedding. Take that total amount and plug it into one of the budgeting tools at theknot.com or weddingchannel.com, and it will help you decide how much of your total to allocate to each expenditure (food, decor, dress, photos, etc).

Then, go into the rest of your planning, with your budget in mind.

Answer 5

First you need to book a place for the reception, because places fill up quickly. Also if you are using a church you need to reserve that as well. Once all that is done, send out invites, and while you are waiting for those to trickle in look for a caterer. In the midst of this pick a dress for yourself and brides maids. Let your husband worry about the ushers and himself. But of course see what they are buying. Then anything else, hair style and all of that work it in when you have time. But get the big stuff done first.

Answer 6

I got married this past May and the very first thing you need to do (in my opinion) are to find a place/date that are available. We got married in a local park and when I called (in August the year before) the only date available was the 6th- so that's what nailed the date down for us. We didn't hire a wedding planner- I find them pointless if you have the time and family & friends to do it yourself. Plus they cost too much. Congrats!

Answer 7

Congratulations...the hard part is over..the date! Pick you up a bridal magazine and they have list of things that you are going to need and to do. Please sit down with your soon to be husband and talk about what each other wants for this very special day! Make sure you talk honestly, because you don't want to choose peach as your color, when he thinks peach is the ugliest color in the world. Do you want a large wedding? Or something very informal? Figure out your dream wedding for both of you, and then budget comes next! Money is a major problem with weddings, unless you are rich, there is never enough, especially if you are going to have a formal wedding with hundreds of quests. My daughter got married in May, we went over at least $3,000, and I use to do wedding for a living, but I found it so hard to say no...maybe that's just being a Momma...
You got the date, ideas for your perfect wedding, and a budget, now comes the fun part---making it happen! If you can afford to hire someone to do it for you, that would be the way to go, less stress on you, but doesn't come cheap. I used the money that would have paid for that service on renting a anteabellum home.
Get you a notebook for each other....lists, prices, info on places, anything you think about goes into this notebook. Now, make a game plan..right down everything you need to do from purchasing napkins to rice or birdseed bags, and each time you do something off your list mark it out. It's nice to see that list get smaller and smaller as time gets closer. You have less than a year, so best get busy! Remember also, that weddings are very stressful and busy ..people are going to disappoint you, people aren't going to want to do things your way all the time, people can be real pains in the butt, but hold on to each other...and try PLEASE try to remain calm...Take time for yourselves, don't forget one another in all the planning, make this your most perfect day, do want you can now, pack things away, and keep a list on what you have all ready, anything you can do now will be a time you focus on those last minute details, and believe me there's always last minute details to be taken care of. Have a bar-b-que for the people in your wedding, and all the parents, and be honest with them, this is what we want, and we are going to need you to help us, and apologize that you might be come a little unreasonable at times, but you just want this to be what you and your fiance believe will make your wedding your dream come true. Never hurts to make nice, before asking for favors....lol Congratulations, and best wishes.....
God bless us all....

lots of good websites for brides!!!

Answer 8

fist step after you pick you're date is to find some place that you want to get married at.then you get a reception hall,then the cake and last but not least you get a wedding dress.and then you plan on how many people you want to have at the wedding.good luck e-mail me sometime at [e-mail] and i will help you out anyway i can

Answer 9

Go to the library and get a few different wedding planners and use the ideas and timelines that best fit your personalities. Remember it is your day and to do as YOU and YOUR LOVE decide...not what everyone else wants.

Answer 10

Find a place and book it. the times will fill up fast!!! Find an priest. then wedding party, catering, decor, rentals, dresses/tuxes, the cake, flowers, A GOOD BAND!!! and the rings...

Go the www.theknot.com it'll help you through everything and show u local vendors near you. My best friend just got married and i helped so i know how it is...