The holidays are a prime season for new engagements. If you were one of the lucky ones who has recently become engaged, you are probably wondering where to begin. With the holidays behind us, it is time to hit the ground running. Use this simple guide to the first steps for the newly engaged to get you started.
The very first thing to do is share the news of your engagement with those special people in your life. Notice that I did not say share the word with every person you have ever met. Naturally, you will be very excited and will also want to show off your fabulous new ring (your very first piece of bridal jewelry!), but it pays to be a little careful about when you tell everyone and his brother that you are getting married. Why? Because there will be many people who assume when you tell them you are engaged that they will be invited to your wedding.
It can be a good idea to get a general idea of the size of your guest list so that you can manage expectations graciously. Of course, if you plan to have a huge wedding and invite everyone you know, there is no problem, but if you might want to have a small wedding, it can be a very good idea to casually mention that around the time you announce your engagement. That way, your casual acquaintances will not be surprised later to find out that they are not on the guest list.
Getting a sense of the size and shape of your wedding budget is the next step. You will really need to have some concept of what you can afford to spend before you make decisions about everything from the number of guests to the venue to the bridal gown, veil, and jewelry. Once you have spoken to all the people who might assist with the wedding and worked out a basic budget, you can begin to prioritize between style and size. Some couples prefer to pick an elegant location and then invite as many as they can afford to host in that space, whereas others will opt to invite as many guests as possible and then find a venue that will allow them to afford all of their guests.
Making a detailed guest list is the next big step. You need a firm maximum head count before you can even consider booking a venue for your wedding. Many families will start by making a list of everyone they might possibly wish to invite and then whittling it down to a reasonable size. In other instances, it might work better to set a firm number, say 150 guests, and then allocate a portion of the total to the bride's parents, one to the groom's parents, and the final third to the bride and groom for friends. Just be sure to keep the divisions equal, with no extra weight given to whomever is footing the bill.
With your guest list set, it is time to start visiting wedding venues! This can be a lot of fun; do you want the opulent ballroom, the romantic garden, the classic club, or the eclectic alternative venue? At this point in the planning stages, your options are wide open. Once you select a venue which is available on your desired wedding date and within your budget, you can move onto the other planning stages. The style of your venue will help you to determine everything from centerpieces to the wedding gown and bridal jewelry to the formality of the invitations. Then you will really be able to get into details, and sail into the New Year with your wedding planning well under way!
Useful Sites~
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Recommended reading~~
Finding the whole process of weddings and all the planning that goes into one fascinating, Laura writes about many of the considerations that brides have to deal with. The friendly staff at http://silverlandjewelry.com/ is looking forward to assisting you find the perfect bridal jewelry for your wedding. As our gift to you, receive complimentary shipping on any jewelry order over $99.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Firenze