You're engaged! Now what?

Congratulations to all of the lovely couples who got engaged over the holidays!  Now that all of the excitement has died down on your Facebook and Instagram, what’s next?  Here are just a few tips you can use to help not start your wedding planning process in the dark.
1.  Ask each other, do we even want a wedding? 
            Many of you may be pressured to take the traditional route and have a wedding but what if it’s not what the two of you want?  Consider having a city hall wedding and an intimate reception with close friends and family.  Or maybe eloping is your thing.  Check for flights now!  Airlines like JetBlue are having sales on select destinations.  Whatever you choose, make sure you and your other half are happy with that decision.
2.  Start a Pinterest board!
            No matter how you choose to celebrate your upcoming nuptials, get your ideas in one place.  Pinterest is the perfect platform to do this.  Color themes, dresses, suits, cocktails, you name it!  Almost anything you could think of will pop up in the spiffy search engine and you can save it on your ‘We’re Getting Married’ board.
3.  Are you a DIY bride or prefer guidance from the pros?
            Always remember this ladies and gents, as long as you’re happy and you have the support of your loved ones, your wedding day is already spectacular.  Weigh the pros and cons of planning the wedding yourself and hiring a professional.  If you can’t afford a full wedding planner, many of them provide consultations at smaller rates.  That way you can at least discuss your thoughts and ideas with a professional.  No matter what, you’ll at least want a day of coordinator for the actual wedding day.  Trust me, family and friends want to have fun with you.  The professional can solely focus on the tasks for the day while everyone else can enjoy the moment.
4.  Party of 100?
            Your guest list is the number one way to cut down on cost.  Later on when you’re shopping for caterers, linens, cake and even alcohol, the vendor will ask ‘how many people’?  This may take many drafts between you and your fiancé but do your best to come up with a solid guest list.  Make sure to include yourself, fiancé, bridal party and parents in this total number.