You've decided to get married – congratulations! Planning a wedding is an exciting time, even though it may seem overwhelming at first. If you cannot afford to hire a wedding organizer, or if you want to do it on your own, the most important item you will need is a list of all the important details of your wedding. Make up your list as soon as possible…the sooner you have a list of your plans, the less stressed you will feel!



A wedding planning list really can contain any and every detail of your special day. Start with the big items first: wedding date and location, budget, number of wedding guests, bridal gown, people in the wedding party, food for the reception, wedding rings, etc. You will notice that finding a bridal gown is near the beginning of the list; that's because most bridal shops require at least six months to order in a dress to meet the needs of the bride. As soon as possible, begin planning where you will get your wedding gown – whether you will order it from a bridal shop, have one made for you, or have an antique or family gown altered to fit.

Your list can also include details about the various places you have to choose from for your wedding reception. Write down anything you want to remember, including what choices of food each place offers, how many guests can be accommodated, if there is a dance floor, and any other details you think are important for your reception. It will be easier to choose a location if you have all the information to compare them to each other.

Don't forget about your bridal party: where will their suits/dresses come from, will they need alterations, where are their shoes and jewelry going to be purchased, what will the bouquets and corsages look like and who will be making them, and will suits need to be returned to the rental location at a specific time, among other details.

If you are having a difficult time finding just the right clothing/decorations/wedding favors for your wedding day, you may want to attend a bridal show. These events are helpful tools for people trying to planning a wedding, because there are representatives there from all kinds of businesses, often with some of their merchandise. This saves you having to visit all of these businesses, since you can talk with them at the bridal show and find out what they have to offer.

It doesn't matter whether your wedding day is in six months or two years – start planning now! Even if your list changes after you first write it down, you will always have a great reference tool that will help you to remember the many details that you would otherwise forget.