“You Just Got Engaged! Now What?” How to Plan a Wedding Step By Step

First off: congratulations! You just said yes, and whether you're still staring at the ring in disbelief or already posted the engagement selfie (or five), welcome to your bridal era. It’s sparkly, exciting, and — let’s be real — slightly overwhelming.

But the truth is, wedding planning can stay light and fun if you don’t stress yourself out trying to please everyone, stick to an impossible budget, or obsess over every little detail right away.

So many brides have no idea where to start in the wedding planning process. That’s totally normal. Unless you moonlight as a wedding planner or binge bridal TikTok for sport, chances are you’ve never done this before — and hopefully won’t have to again. So take a deep breath, pour a glass of bubbly, and let’s walk through how to plan a wedding step by step — without losing your mind.

Soak it In

Before you do anything, take a minute to soak it in. This is a major life milestone that deserves to be celebrated. Share the news with your people, enjoy the hugs, the squeals, and try to brush off the unsolicited advice that inevitably starts creeping in.

Despite what the internet says, there’s no one-size-fits-all plan, no universal timeline, and definitely no rulebook. But here’s the good news: not everything has to be figured out at once. There are a lot of unknowns and a lot of carts before horses, plus a lot of opinions about weddings in general — so do what works for you.

When you’re ready to dive into the logistics, it’s time to get organized. The easiest way to plan a wedding without getting overwhelmed is to break it down into steps. Here’s your wedding planning 101:

Step 1. Make a Guest List with Your Fiancée

Before you fall down a Pinterest rabbit hole, start with the guest list. Yes, really. Why? Because everything — from your budget to your venue to how many centerpieces you’ll need — hinges on how many people you’re inviting. And there’s a huge difference between 20 guests and 200 when you’re talking catering, seating, and favors.

Pro tip: Make an A-list and a B-list. Your A-list is non-negotiables (family, ride-or-die friends), and the B-list includes people you’d love to invite if space and budget allow. It’s a lot easier to scale back than scramble later.

Step 2. Set Your Budget

Ah, the other B word. Money talks aren’t exactly romantic, but they’re essential. Sit down with your partner and/or parents and figure out:

• Who’s contributing?
• What are you comfortable spending vs. stretching?
• How much do you really want to spend?

Set a ballpark number, then give yourself some breathing room for unexpected costs (because there will be unexpected costs). Tips, transportation, taxes, last-minute alterations — they sneak up fast. Be realistic with what you can afford and where the money is coming from. This will establish feasibility and shape every other decision.

Pro tip: Use a shared spreadsheet or wedding planning app to track and compare everything from the quote stage onward. You’ll thank yourself later.

Step 3. Start Looking for Venues

Once you have some semblance of how many people you need to accommodate and what you’re willing to pay, you can start looking for venues that fit that criteria. This will also help narrow down dates and rates for all other vendors. Try to visit a few places and ask lots of questions. Don’t be afraid to negotiate or ask about off-season or off-weekend rates if you’re flexible on timing.

Booking your venue is the first big official step — it locks in your wedding date and becomes the anchor for everything else (vibe, timeline, etc.). Once you lock this in, everything feels real. And honestly? It gets a lot easier from here.

Step 4: Prioritize Your Wants/Needs for the Rest of the Celebration and Bring Your Vision to Life

Pinterest is amazing for inspo — until you start adding up what things actually cost. And unless you have Kardashian or Swift as a last name, you’ll likely need to make concessions somewhere. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have an incredibly amazing day.

A wedding budget is less about cutting costs and more about curating — prioritizing what matters to you. Break it into categories: venue, food & drink, photo/video, attire, décor, music, travel, etc., and rank what you care about most. Whether that’s a killer photographer, a live band, or a show-stopping dress, spend where it counts for you and reflects you as a couple.

Common Wedding Expenses to Consider:

• Officiant
• Planner and/or coordinator
• Catering/bar
• Photographer/ videographer/ Content creator
• Florals and décor
• Music (DJ/band)
• Invitations
• Wedding attire (bride and groom)
• Hair and makeup
• Transportation and lodging
• Rings
• Wedding favors
• Tips, taxes and emergencies
  

Group your wants into three categories:

• Must-haves
• Nice-to-haves
• Not worth the spend (for you)
  

Everything Else Will Fall into Place