Congrats! Now start planning

By Sarah

Over the holidays, a friend of mine called me in panic. She had gotten engaged last Valentine’s Day and now the reality that she would have to plan the wedding was finally setting in as the deadline loomed nine months away. She had a list – invites, dress, rehearsal dinner site, music, food, cake – all these things that have to get done and not one clue about what to do first.

Hearing her concerns reminded me of just how daunting the task of planning a wedding is. Sure there are plenty of sites and books that tell you what to do, but ultimately, you still have to decide what you want your wedding to be and whom you are going to work with to make that happen. Few people have experience putting on an event of this magnitude until they are faced with wedding bells in their near future.

Here are a few tips for getting past the shock stage to actually checking things off your to-do list.

1. Buy a wedding planning book that offers a timeline of when things need to get done and use that to prioritize what needs to get done first. The list is probably more detailed than you want, but pick the items that apply to you and start working.

2. Buy, borrow from friends, or check out from the library several wedding-idea books – not ones that tell you how to plan, but rather books with tons of photos. Go through and bookmark the ideas that appeal most to you. This will help you start to form a vision for your wedding and have something to show vendors when you meet to talk about what you want.

3. Make a budget. Before you make any major decisions, you must decide how much money you have to spend on the wedding. This will determine whether you can book the Des Moines Embassy Club downtown or have the reception in your back yard. Keep in mind the average cost for a wedding is more than $20,000.

4. Attend a bridal show. Even though they are the most stressful and overcrowded events I have ever been to, suck it up and go to at least one. They are a great way to get a sense of local vendors and pick up the business cards of the ones you like. After the event, call the places you liked most to set up appointments to talk with them more in-depth.

5. Sit down with a friend who has been through the wedding planning process and get tips and ideas of where you should start.

Once you’ve developed a good sense of what you want your wedding to be, what you can afford and where to start, get working!