You’re Engaged! Now What? by Sally Manglicmot

Top five things to do now

Your head must be spinning with visions of your wedding day! Resist running down to the local wedding shop until you and your spouse address these five important topics (and there will be hundreds more as well). Get out a notebook with five clean sheets and start jotting.

Step One. Create a list of important topics to discuss with your fiancée. Here are some to get you started.

• The size of the wedding (large or small by number of guests)

• The maximum amount you want to spend on the wedding ($5,000, $20,000)

• The source of money for your wedding (both of you, or family)

• The type of wedding (religious, civil, theme, traditional, destination)

• The number of members in the wedding party (2, 5, 8)

Step Two. Meet with the parents to discuss the topics in Step One (if appropriate). The tough issues: budget and guest list. Find out what is most important to them. Stick to the topics in your list for now.

Step Three. Pick a wedding date. Consider national and religious holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, school schedules, weather, and vacation days. It is not unusual to set a date one year in advance, especially to reserve a popular site.

Step Four. Start gathering information for creative ideas. If you like to follow trends, check out wedding web sites on the Internet and purchase popular bridal magazines. Find out when future wedding shows will be in your town and plan to attend at least one.

Step Five. Get organized! The more organized you are, the easier the planning, and the less stressful the event. Decide who will plan the wedding (most brides plan the majority), and whether or not a wedding consultant or professional events planner should be hired. Purchase a complete wedding planner, whether it is a notebook, an on-line planner, or wedding management software.

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