You're engaged and now you and your fiance need to start planning your wedding day! Begin by setting a budget that will aid you in making those difficult choices for goods and services in the upcoming months. To start, have your fiance, as well as yourself, write down your dream wedding. Be sure that you both are as descriptive and honest as possible. At this point, try not to let price or family preferances influence your idea for the perfect wedding. When you have both finished, compare notes. What are the common dreams that you both share? Do you notice anything that repeatedly stands out? For instance, did you envision a grand ballroom filled with live music and a formal sit down dinner or did you prefer a small, intimate setting on the beach? With the information you have collected, you may now begin setting a preliminary budget.

Prioritize goods and services in order of importance based upon the frequency these items have appeared on both lists. Now, you are ready to begin hunting for the best vendor as well as price. At this point, you may wish to consider enlisting the help of a wedding coordinator. If, however, you decide to start out on your own, start by asking for a friend's recommendation and attend a few bridal shows in your area. Bridal shows almost always have local vendors who are present to answer any questions as well as display their wares and prices. This is an excellent way to price compare and to obtain a variety of information without having to run all over town! Once you and your fiance have an idea of what the services are going to cost, you can then go back to your original lists and begin finalizing details and cutting in some areas if necessary.

Kristi is the President of White Lace & Promises in Chesapeake, VA.