Start planning

Congratulations on your engagement!! The first planning step I would recommend is sitting down with your future spouse and discussing budget, wedding vision, and estimated guest count. Once you have those figured out, then start looking for venues within your budget that can hold at least the number of people you plan to invite, and schedule some venue tours. Once you decide on and book a venue, then start looking for any vendors you may want (photographer, DJ, florist, etc). There is a checklist here on WeddingWire that you can use to help keep your planning on track. The forums are also an excellent resource for planning questions. Happy wedding planning!!

Sit down with fiancé and decide what you are willing and able to spend without assistance, what your vision and top 3-5 priorities to focus on (guest experience of good food/free drinks/great dj and memories of photos and video), and the guest list of your absolute must have supportive friends and family. Don’t include anyone out of obligation to please other people. Once you get that finalized, then you can look for venues via Yelp, Eventective.com and Instagram. If you want to pick all your vendors and have creative freedom, you do save money with a blank slate venue that allows you to bring in outside catering of your choice as well as budget vendors, and will not have the tight time restrictions that all inclusive venues do where you get 4-5 hours only for all your activities that starts at 6pm and ends at 11pm.

You should set a budget and vision how you want your wedding. This will help you see what the cost of your wedding will be and you will be able to pick out what type of venue you want, food, guest to invite etc.