Plan Your Wedding | 6 Steps

Thoughtful Pre-Planning can help you choose the best venue and vendors to create your wedding ... and save you both time and money. So before you start your planning, review these "6 Steps."

1. Decide on your Style, your Theme, and your Type of Wedding Venue

What STYLE do you want for your wedding? (formal, informal, rustic, elegant, etc.)

What THEME do you want? (traditional, party and dance-oriented, buffet station-mingle & meet style, or seated dinner; winter or summer, special color palette, elegantly romantic, or rustic and charming; etc.)

What TYPE of VENUE do you envision? (garden setting, on the water, hotel, historic location, golf and country club, castle, estate, vineyard, etc.)

To help , we've assembled scores of Real Weddings (which you can access by region or type of venue), thoughtful interviews offering still more ideas in this Insights section, and lists of experienced vendors.

2. Determine your Number of Guests and your Wedding Budget

After determining your approximate Number of Guests, you can set your Budget. Decide who will pay for each item, or what percentage of the budget each will be responsible for.

3. Choose your Venue and Date

Knowing your Style, Theme, and Type of Venue, plus your approximate Number of Guests and your Budget, you can start the process of Selecting your Venue. (We have an extensive list under Venues on our Menu Bar and a thorough search tool.)

Visit several venues with the setting you want and meet those who will help create your day. Do you have a “chemistry” with them? When ready, book your Venue & Date. Now that you've met the planners at your venue, given your own preferences, decide if you want to hire your own Wedding Planner.

4. Choose Your Vendors

With your Date & Venue set, now you can select your … Band or DJ, Photographer, Cinematographer, Florist, Gown, Accessories, Bridesmaid Fashions, Invitations, Favors, and any other item.

You're of course looking for professionalism, talent, and pricing within your budget. We also encourage you to choose vendors who best communicate with you and understand your vision. As you consider vendors, we have lists of special Vendors on our Menu Bar.

... Once you've chosen your Venue and your Vendors ...

5. Set Your Wedding Planner & Timeline

To create your own personal planner, we are now creating a Complete Wedding Planner and also a comprehensive Wedding Budget Worksheet for you, which we will launch soon.

6. Create Your Registry and Plan Your Honeymoon