by Brittany Fletcher

Created on: October 03, 2008

While planning a wedding, every bride finds that there are more than enough things to shop for. The dream wedding requires many essentials, including:

Wedding gown

Men's attire

Bridal party attire

Shoes and accessories

Invitations

Flowers

Cake

Rings

Wedding day accessories like guest book, aisle runner, etc.

A budget is made, and the goal is to find the items you are happiest with at the best price. As the planning gets underway, however, the littlest things start to seem so necessary. Crystal hair pins, designer cuff links, letterpress invitations, and monogrammed chair sashes are suddenly must-haves. With so many great options, what's a bride to do?

Start with your location. The venue determines the size and style of wedding you'll have. Maybe flowers are abundant at your venue, or maybe it's a blank slate where every bit of decor needs to be brought in. When you choose a wedding venue, things will start to look clearer. If you are trying to stay within a budget, keep in mind that your reception food and beverage budget should total roughly 45% of your total wedding spending goal. If your venue provides their own food and beverage, check those rates ahead of time to avoid surprises when you receive the bill.

Next, purchase your wedding gown. What you wear determines what your bridesmaids and groom wear, so go as formal or informal as you like, but keep everyone's look uniform. My best advice is to research the bridal shops in your area, then call ahead to make appointments so that you'll have a knowledgeable consultant to work with when you arrive. Look for trunk shows if you like a certain designer-you will have your choice of the newest gowns, usually at a discounted rate when special ordered. When you know the tone that your wedding gown sets, you should start looking at bridal party attire and accessories. Also, you'll be better able to work on invitations, which are the guests first glimpse at the type of wedding you are hosting.

After you secure a date, venue, gown, and possibly invitation style, meet with a florist to establish the look of the ceremony and reception. Bring as many photos as you have to give the florist an idea of your preferences and taste. A photo of your wedding gown will help them understand the look you are going for, as well as flower photos you may have pulled from magazines or on-line. When you are comfortable with your florist's ideas and price, pay your deposit right away so that your date is secured with them. Typically, florists can

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