Just engaged: Your ultimate wedding planning checklist

So you’re engaged – we give you the ultimate wedding planning checklist

Once the initial shock and excitement of being engaged wears off (and you take a second to peel your eyes away from the new ring on your finger) you’ll need to start making decisions.

Here is our ultimate wedding planning checklist from “yes” to (the really fun bit) trying on gowns!

Set a Schedule – The booking of your reception venue will most likely set the time frame for your wedding. Break it down backwards from that date to create a timetable and schedule. The average engagement lasts 15 months. Pick a location – Some key questions to consider are; include everyone you know or small and intimate? Outdoors or in? Home or away (destination wedding)? Modern, classic, romantic, vintage, rustic or all-out glam? Dream up Your Style – Once you know the location, it is easier to dream up your perfect wedding day style. It might be a relaxed, boho affair in an old barn on a property or it might be modern luxe in New York City. There are so many different ways to style your wedding and it should be an expression of you and your fiance! Set your budget – this will affect every decision and purchase you make, so sit down with your families at the beginning and figure out how much everyone is contributing. That way you can allocate funds to things that are really important to you. Some brides might put more towards their dress, others might want the best food and wine! Start thinking of the Guest List – keep in mind that more guests means higher prices, as catering costs are generally calculated on a per-head basis. So, in addition to location, your budget will have a big influence on the size of your guest list. Tip – don’t ask more guests than your wedding venue can accommodate as this is a costly mistake and difficult to navigate once the invites are out. Choose your wedding party – it’s your turn to propose to your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Remember, the earlier you ask, the sooner you can enlist the help of those people who know you best and love you the most. Show them a good time and make sure they know how much you appreciate them. There are so many heartfelt ways to ask your bridal party these days, often with a small gift included. Consider a wedding planner – you can hire a full time or part-time consultant to help your planning for the big day, so if you are a super busy couple then it might be worth considering. A wedding planner is especially helpful if you are having a destination wedding as they are on the ground in the country where your wedding will be held and know all the local customs and suppliers. Book the Venue (and set your date) – this will affect everything from your photos to the guest list numbers. Hire priority vendors like photographers, videographers, musicians and caterers. Some companies are booked a year in advance, so make these calls early! Delegate – so all the big decisions are starting to fall into place but there are many small decisions to be made. Everything from wedding cars, flowers, stationery & invites, suits, bridesmaid dresses, shoes, decor, menu and the honeymoon! So delegate some of these jobs or enlist some help from family. Mothers and Mothers of the groom love to be involved and often have the time to do some of the research for you.

You’re almost through your ultimate wedding planning checklist, there is only one very important thing to check off…