12 to 10 Months in Advance of Your Wedding:

    Introduce both families and officially announce your engagement.

    Find out who is willing to pay for what and set a budget.

    Decide the size you want your wedding to be and create a guest list. Do you want this to be a small, intimate wedding with family and close friends only, or, do you want the big shebang that the whole town is treated to?

    Compare calendars and select a date.

    Choose your wedding party.

* Bridesmaids

* Groomsmen

* Maid or Matron of Honor

* Best Man

* Ushers

* Ring-bearer

             * Flower girl(s)

    Conduct interviews and hire a wedding coordinator if applicable. The decision to hire a coordinator can be decided by asking yourself a couple of questions. First, are you a planner, yourself? Do you enjoy making all the decisions and knowing every detail? Or, do you get overwhelmed easily? Would you rather have a helper than the responsibility of making all of these decisions all by yourself? If the last two questions most apply to you, a coordinator would be worth your while.

    Talk to your Officiate and decide if you want premarital counseling.

    Start shopping for wedding attire.

    Have your engagement photos taken and send one to the local paper.

    Begin thinking about what kind of honeymoon you can afford and where you would like to go. There  are lots of websites and travel agents that can assist you in this decision.

    Visit and book your reception site. Many churches have fellowship halls available for the reception, but, be sure to tour it first, to make sure that it’s up to your standards. If not, your options are numerous. Local country clubs usually rent out their dining rooms as well as some bed and breakfast homes. For brides and grooms on a tight budget, there’s always the back yard. People have been taking this rout for years. Take the money that wasn’t quite enough to rent a snazzy dining hall and buy balloons, table cloths, folding tables and chairs to turn your back yard into your perfect reception site. Or, hire a caterer with that money to do all the work for you.

    Visit and book your ceremony location, including rehearsal time. This could be any place from the local church to a bed and breakfast.