| Okay. It's finally happened. Your honey has popped the | | | | or your first home. Depending on your financial |
| question and now you're officially engaged. What | | | | resources (are you paying for this yourself or would |
| next? Well, if you are like most people, the next step is | | | | you get help from one or both sets of parents), you |
| to set a date and plan for the wedding ceremony and | | | | need to take careful stock so that you can adequately |
| reception. What follows are a few tips to help you plan | | | | plan for the costs that your wedding is going to incur. |
| for your wedding on your own. | | | | Depending on your time schedule, it might be |
| Unless it's a good reason to hurry (like an impending | | | | advantageous to attend the annual bridal shows |
| military deployment), take the time to discuss this | | | | offered in many cities. They are usually very good for |
| carefully with your groom. Experts agree that firstly, | | | | new brides. They showcase the different services |
| give yourself time (a year or little more is not an | | | | available like florists, caterers, and bridal shops that are |
| unreasonable amount of time) to make sure the plans | | | | in or near your community. Realize that what they are |
| you make come to fruition. This gives you the | | | | going to show is, of course, the more expensive things |
| necessary buffer you need to make any kind of | | | | they offer, but it can be a really educational experience |
| changes in your original plans that may come up. | | | | both for getting ideas for your own wedding and to |
| Secondly, the busiest times a year to have a wedding | | | | give you a more accurate idea of what the true costs |
| falls around Valentine's Day, the month of June, and | | | | can run you. |
| around Christmas. While it may be cute to plan your | | | | In conjunction with these bridal shows, many times the |
| nuptials around these times for sentimental or personal | | | | brides-to-be are given a copy of a free wedding |
| reasons, you need to be aware that these are most | | | | planning guide to keep track of things. or example, the |
| likely to be the busiest times for a florist, caterer, or | | | | florists you chose, the kind of flowers you ordered, |
| even your favorite church when it comes to booking | | | | who you chose as a caterer, the musicians or DJ that |
| them for their services. Try to choose a wedding date | | | | you hired for your wedding reception, etc. Sometimes |
| other than these times to allow friends and family to | | | | wedding planning guides are offered at the same time |
| attend more easily. | | | | of year free from your local newspaper. If you need |
| Next, take into account the amount of money that you | | | | further help you can use one of these or find books to |
| are comfortably able to spend on your wedding | | | | help you plan from your local bookstore. Thankfully, the |
| reception and ceremony. Unfortunately, the hard truth | | | | internet contains innumerable sites which offer advice, |
| is that that the expense of a wedding is probably one | | | | tips, and information on how to plan your own wedding |
| of the biggest outlays of cash you will make in your | | | | ceremony. |
| life, right up there with the cost of a college education | | | | |