| You're walking in the clouds. Your true love has finally | | | | something a little simpler, so that you can redirect more |
| proposed, and the date for your wedding has been | | | | money to that dress. Or you may have to choose a |
| set. Now what? There are about a trillion things that | | | | smaller cake in order to purchase more flowers for |
| need to be done: a marriage license must be acquired, | | | | that elegant look. Prioritizing and budgeting will make it |
| a photographer must be found, menus must be | | | | much easier to keep your wedding plans in |
| chosen, a band must be hired, invitations must be sent. | | | | perspective and will save you the stress of having to |
| And, of course, the perfect wedding gown must be | | | | pay off too much debt later. |
| found. The task at hand may seem overwhelming. | | | | Once your budget is set, it is extremely important to |
| Relax. This is your big day. The days leading up to it | | | | organize. Wedding plans can become complicated, and |
| do not have to become your big headache. There is | | | | it can be easy to lose track of things. To avoid this |
| no reason why your wedding plans should dampen the | | | | stress, it is wise to invest in a wedding planning book |
| joy you felt when he first slipped that ring over your | | | | (easy to find online or in a local bookstore) or to create |
| finger. | | | | a binder in which you will keep track of the decisions |
| Now that you've chosen a date, one of your next | | | | you have made. Be sure to keep a list of phone |
| steps should be to establish a budget. Keep your | | | | numbers as well. You will need to keep in touch with |
| income in mind as you are doing this. Decide how | | | | your florist, your photographer, the band's manager, |
| much you are able and willing to spend, or how much | | | | and any number of other people. Having everything |
| debt you will be able to pay off in a reasonable | | | | organized neatly into a book or binder will save you |
| amount of time. An overly extravagant wedding that | | | | some confusion and the stress of having to remember |
| leaves you bankrupt may leave you with little more | | | | everything on your own. As extravagant as the |
| than extra stress. Think of the type of wedding you | | | | wedding itself may be, you want to keep your |
| want to have while planning your budget. Larger or | | | | wedding plans as simple as possible. |
| more formal weddings tend to cost a little more. Small | | | | Of course there is more to wedding planning than |
| or informal weddings require less money. Your | | | | budgeting and organization. There are countless details |
| wedding plans should be a reflection of your desires, | | | | that need to be taken care of. But these two basic |
| but remember to keep cost in mind. If your dream | | | | suggestions will help take the stress out of working out |
| dress costs more than you think you can afford, you | | | | the details, and will help you enjoy the time leading up |
| may have to sacrifice the expensive invitations for | | | | to your big day. |