“You need to envision the kind of wedding you want — outdoors, cocktail reception, beach — and then work inward from there,” says Kathi R. Evans, event coordinator for All the Best Weddings and Celebrations, based in Toms River, New Jersey. When you know it’s a beach wedding, for example, you can choose your colors, and the rest of the details — décor, flowers and food — will start to fall into place.

Related: Find Your Wedding Style