Looking forward to your wedding? Have you started the research and gathering of the information youll need to plan it properly? It is better to start now instead of ending up in a stressful situation. Here are some wedding planning tips.

Who is doing what?

Sit down with your future spouse and discuss openly and honestly the "planning" responsibilities. Who will plan the entertainment? Who will plan the menu? Who will decide on the baker and see it through? The many, many details are important.

Visit a couple of wedding shows

There are lots of wedding shows going on all the time and you can attend a wedding show or two in your area. The best strategy is to attend two shows, actually. The first time, your purpose can be "information gathering". See what vendors offer, look at jewelry, gowns, hairstyles, cakes (and taste them too), tuxedos, flowers, balloons, etc. The second visit should be around four-to-six months before your wedding with the purpose of making appointments with vendors you like, asking detailed questions about their services and gathering information about pricing.

The wedding sites of your dream

Write a list of sites that you have always dreamed of having your wedding. On the beach, in the largest cathedral in the city, in the country, at the Country Club, at your dad's beautiful backyard. There must be hundreds of sites available in your city or in another city (destination weddings is the rage). Narrow the sites to three of your favorites, then check to see if your wedding date is available at the site before making the visit.

How many wedding guests?

The size of the guest list is one of the most important issues to discuss. You know the rule of 50% of the guests should come from the bride's family and 50% from the groom's family.

When planning the guest list, consider two components: number of guests invited or the wedding budget. Usually, a small wedding consist of 100 guests or less. These are normally a smaller budget because the reception (food and refreshments) consist of 40% of the cost of the event. However, a small wedding could have a large budget of say $20,000 consisting of the finest food and wine and other accommodations. The small wedding budget is in the range of $1,000 to $10,000.

In average, a wedding consist of 200-300 guests which means the average budget may come as a surprise to you. Providing a seated affair or buffet, champagne and entertainment at the reception consist of 40% of the budget. An average wedding in the USA for the last couple of years is $22,000. Of course, there are many ways to slim the budget with a little creativity.

So, what is a large wedding? A large wedding can consist of 300-500 guests. This is mostly an extravagant affair, and the budget isn't as important as the celebration itself. Providing a wonderful reception for a large number of guests can really add up! With an unlimited budget, why not serve a savory menu and serve the best refreshments for your once-in-a-lifetime event? Usually, a large wedding cost anywhere from $40,000 to $200,000.

It is always a good thing to plan a wedding well in advance. Be careful however, not to let your wedding planning get in the way of your normal responsibilities. If you feel overwhelmed, talk to someone you trust, such as a minister, priest, rabbi, or counsellor, who work with engaged couples daily and understand the stress you may experience.