Well now it’s time to sit down and hit the books and by that I mean get on the same page. Whether or not your fiancé and yourself have sat down and discussed the details before your engagement, it’s now time to act. Below is a basic guideline to start you off in the right direction and ensure you have begun one of the most important parts of your relationship: communication.

1. 

   (Photo: Stephanie Moore)
   Budget - Make sure you have both agreed upon a budget. In doing this you can see what you are able to afford and where to start off. For example, don’t start looking for a venue and fall in love with something that is unattainable. You don’t want to feel disappointed right off the bat, because I guarantee you will find something that you will fall in love with just as much, that will feel right and you are comfortable spending your hard earned money on. You are providing an amazing day, not just for yourselves but for your guests also. There are so many incredible places in the Okanagan to choose from and many fantastic vendors that are more than willing to work within your budget. In doing this it will lead to your next step...
2. Date - Some couples already have a special date in mind. Perhaps it’s something significant that happened on this date. For example getting married on your grandparents' wedding anniversary because they have been fantastic role models for you or, maybe it was the day you first said, "I love you." This will make it easy for your next step...
3. Venue for ceremony and reception - Once you have a date in mind look for venues that are available on this date. Sometimes it’s easier if you are flexible but usually venues start booking their summer months a minimum of a year in advance. Not to panic though, there are usually more popular weekends than others. Also, ask about food and beverage minimum spends as they tend to be on prime days of the week or on long weekends. Once the venue is chosen it is pretty much sliding into second at this point - you can start to book your photographer, videographer, DJ and florist.

Now, last but not least, depending on if you are the do-it-yourself bride or if you need a little help, sometimes just sitting down with a planner for a consultation makes everything seem a little more clear and they can start you off in the right direction. There are the brides that are just lost and have the picture in their mind, but with the help of a planner it can come to life, even in a three hour consultation. They offer you security and assurance that it will be done accordingly as well ensuring you are staying on your Step #1’s BUDGET!

I hope this helped to take a little bit of stress off the first steps of planning your wedding as we know it’s not something you do every day, that’s why there are people out there to help. Check back next week where we will get into detail on Budgeting Basics.