Getting started...

Good morning brides !

Getting started, as some of you may know, is not always easy ! We don’t always know where to begin, what to do first. Of course, you will have to figure out your budget, as that will an important factor in many of the decisions to come. I know it’s not fun to have to think rationally about your wedding plans, but it’s even less fun to dream too big and than feel disappointed when you can’t afford the $12,000 dress you saw on that episode of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress.

Here are some links to budgeting tools you may find useful:

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning-tools/tools-wedding-budget.aspx

http://www.yourweddingcompany.com/templates/planning/budget_calc.php/action/showProject/planId/3/

The website www.weddingchannel.com also has a good budgeting tool, but you will have to register to have access. It’s worth it !

Now that the money issue has been addressed, let’s get to the fun stuff ! In my opinion, the first step in planning your wedding is to sit down and really think about what is most important to YOU. And by you, I mean both you and your fiancé. Brides often think the day is all about them, but really, grooms want to feel part of the decisions and respected in their opinions as well. Trust me, it will not always be easy, but it is far better to compromise than to start a marriage with one partner feeling resentful.

That being said, we’ve all heard that a wedding is the best day of your life, but many will agree that it is very stressful and can cause a lot of tension between family members and close friends. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, will have an opinion about EVERYTHING. They all think they know what you should wear and how you should do things and what will make you happiest. It is important to take time to think of your priorities, so that you can (first) discuss them with your future husband and find common ground and (second) make your choices clear to loved ones.

Here is an exercise to help pinpoint your top priorities. Close your eyes (after reading this), and picture your wedding day. What are the things that you automatically see there ? The things you can’t picture any other way ? For example, I knew from the start that two of the things I could not live without were: my dream dress and natural lighting in the ceremony and reception halls. My fiancé did not understand my fixation for windows, but I could not imagine it any other way.