Are you tying the knot soon? To help kickstart the preparations for your big day, Alison McGill from Weddingbells magazine shares 8 of the most important elements you need to plan.

Budget: Before you start doing anything you need to establish how much money you’re working with. The B-word may not be your favourite part of the planning process, but, nonetheless, this is the first question you need to answer. No matter what your magic number is, it’s completely possible to achieve the wedding of your dreams.

Style: When it comes to assessing your style, it’s more than just what colours you want or which dresses your bridesmaids will wear — although those do play a part in the overall look. When we’re talking about style, we mean how formal is your wedding going to be? Will you be planning a destination wedding or an intimate party at home?

Venue: Some brides may be content with having the ceremony at the same place as the reception, while others may opt for a different location for religious purposes. Either way, you should keep in mind that you can’t pick a wedding date until you know what’s available! The reality is that many dates are selected at least one year in advance. Remember, the reception site you choose is a huge decision. It will not only reflect your wedding style, but also the majority of your budget will be used on the reception.

Wedding party: Once you know your style, date and location, now’s the time to select the people who will be by your side through the entire planning process. When it comes to choosing these important people, there are no rules for how many bridesmaids or groomsmen you can have (unless the ceremony site has space restrictions). Our suggestion? Make sure you choose people who are close to you now and whom you know you can count on.

Wedding website: One of the best ways to communicate with your guests and keep them up-to-date with your planning is via a wedding website. You can customize your own site for free using tools like Wedsite.com. Choose your template and add a personalized website address — it’s the easiest way to keep your friends and family in the loop.

Guest list: When you determined your budget, chances are you had a ballpark number of guests in mind. Great! Now it’s time to start figuring out who exactly is on that list. As you get into more specifics (like invitations, meals, etc.) you’ll realize that the number of guests plays a big part in how much you’re going to spend. Take the time to make an “A” list of for-sure guests and a “B” list of maybes, so when it comes time to solidifying the list, you’ll have an easier time cutting and confirming.

Your dress: We know you’re going to start searching for your wedding dress pretty soon after you get the ring, but don’t buy the dress until you have cemented the wedding day details. Why? A cocktail reception calls for a very different dress than a lavish affair in a castle.

Photography: Your pictures will last long after the big day is over. Finding a photographer that suits your tastes, and also clicks with you, is super important. The reality is many great photographers get booked up at least a year or two in advance so if you have someone in particular in mind, make booking your photographer a top priority.

For more wedding planning advice from Alison, watch the video below:

Courtesy Alison McGill
www.weddingbells.ca