There is a lot to think about once you’re engaged. When will the wedding be? How many guests will you have? Where will the reception be held? What if there aren’t as many groomsmen as bridesmaids? What are you forgetting? And, most importantly, how will you have time to plan all of this and maintain your sanity???

The key, I believe, is to take it all in stride. One step at a time, even if you are balancing nineteen to-do’s while you’re taking that step! The first thing to do is to get organized. Decide whether or not your budget allows for a professional wedding or event planner. If you are going to hire a wedding planner, begin shopping around. Schedule time immediately for interviewing professionals to ensure that they have the maximum amount of time to plan your big day. If you are going to plan your own wedding with little or no professional help, I strongly recommend purchasing a good wedding planner/organizer and software to help you maintain control. Our site offers reviews of these products to help you choose the one that is right for you. And remember, just because you are not enlisting the help of a professional you should not try to go it completely alone—never turn down an offer of assistance from a friend or family member!

Now that you have decided on your method of planning, decide how soon your wedding will be and jump in! Compile a checklist of items that need to be taken care of and how soon they should be accomplished. Most wedding organizers offer “stock” checklists. Be sure to add specific dates (rather than just saying “6 months before wedding”) to give you a definite deadline for each item. Cross off any items that are irrelevant to your wedding. For example, if you are having an informal reception and your family members and friends are all pitching in to supply the goodies, you can remove references to taste-testing and caterers. Be sure, though, to add the coordination of who-brings-what to your checklist in exchange.

Going through these stock checklists is a good exercise in that it will most likely bring to light many items that you have not considered. This is a good time to work on your budget, as well, and decide what is important to you and what may not matter. Using your budget and checklist in conjunction, you can get a more firm idea of things that need to be tackled immediately and what items can wait or can be taken off completely. Use your now-tailored checklist to plan away! And remember to check the site for loads of information and tips to take you through your planning and on to your big day!