What do I need to do to get started planning my wedding?

My boyfriend and I would like to get married October 18, 2008. Neither of our parents have a lot of money to help us. I know the photographer and food is going to cost. We don't want to elope.

Theres lots of stuff you can do!!!! What kind of yard do you or your family have? Its usually fairly inexpensive to rent one of those huge white tents- if you do then grab all your white christmas tree lights and string them around the outline of the tent inside- it will provide a nice twinkling and romantic effect! You could do a buffet style for the food (which everyone loves these days) and just start making it ahead of time unless you want it catered. For centerpieces you could hollow out pumpkins and fill them with some brightly colored gerber daisies which are beautiful and inexpensive! Take all the stress out of the equation and get creative!! If you go onto martha stewart weddngs- she is the queen of DIY! For my engagement party I went to Michaels (a craft store here in my town) and bought some really cheap and funky looking vases and I am going to fill them with sea glass, sand, and seashells with a pillar candle in the center. For my bridesmaids I bought some terracotta pots and went to the hardware store and bought some pretty paint samples (super cheap) and I was going to plant a flower in the pots and write on them "Thank you for helping our love to grow." For more centerpieces you could go around the house and get some old coffee cans, soup cans, etc.. all different sizes and paint those as well with the paint samples, then put a bunch of different sizes on the tables with wild flowers in them and maybe put some votive candles on the tables too! Well I hope this helped and good luck!

first things first, figure out your budget

after that, find a place, because many book up to a year in advance. then, find your officiant, be that religious or not, you HAVE to have some who is legally allowed to do the service. after that, everything else is just fluff, so figure out what you feel are musts.

photographer - can be a local photography major. they are usually pretty good, and really cheap.

flowers - real or silk, or none at all.. you can have your friends/family help you make arrangements and save you the money

cake - know any good cooks? you can ask them. or you can hire a professional.

i went to a wedding that was a picnic. all the foodwas home made and just wonderful. and cheaper than a caterer (they got married in a local park). the flowers they picked themselves and put in cups on the picnic tables, and just tied some up for the bouquets.

you just have to figure out what are MUSTS and what are LIKES and find out what you can afford to do.

The first think you need to do is figure out a rough guest list and a budget. It sounds like you don't want to burden your parents with the wedding, so figure out what you can spend and stick to it.

A budget wedding can be done, and it can be great. I have too many ideas to list here, so email me if you would like more help.

well i worked in a home decore store once and and a dollarama when i was a teen and i saw alot of gift registries do that first then figure out what your income is .... try to figure out how much you want to spend on each place .... example the reception tables the decore if not much money keep it simple ... one thing dont go crazy write your budget and try to stick to it as much sd possible buy small first so you have alot left for the big when i worked atthe dollarama i saw many people rich to come and buy silver plate settings each would be under the dinner plate the plate in a fancy store is 39 each those where at the dollar store candals and vases for center piece dollarstore but decorated with beutiful flowers in the vases ...and fancing up the place the candlesare set check out vara wang tables those are extream she has crazy weddings but you get ideas from the complex on how siple might still work out .......

for flowers a fun Idea might be to ask everyone to bring a flower and as you walk down the isle have the guests give you the flowers as your bouquet

The first is to find a place for your reception, church or not. your dress, that could take awhile, flowers, music . You have alot ot think about.

The first thing to do is decide where you want to get married.

The Knot is the best web site in my opinion for advice.

http://www.theknot.com/?MsdVisit=1

I found this website to be quite helpful.

http://www.perfectweddingguide.com/


Good Luck!!