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Planning a wedding can be supremely overwhelming, especially when you're one of those normal folks planning it without the help of a wedding planner. From the cake to the invitations, the dress to the first dance, everything has its place, and it all requires organizing.

However, there's no need to freak out. The months leading up to your wedding will be confusing, crazy and exhilarating, but most of all, they might just be the best months of your life! So do not stress. This guide will help you get inspired to plan the wedding of your dreams. Here are some helpful tips to consider.

The first order of business is to decide what kind of wedding you want to have – that's a tall order, is not it? What this means is to decide upon the tone of your event. Do you want a formal wedding with lots of sparkly lights and a black tie attire? Are you hoping for something more casual on the beach? Do you want to fly to Mexico and have a theme wedding?

This is also the time to decide whether you want to have a religious ceremony or a secular ceremony. Basically, you need to decide how you want your wedding to feel in general. What will make you and your partner happy? It's a good idea to sit down and discuss this, maybe even do some brainstorming about what would make both of you feel great about your big day.

Next, consider your budget. For the lucky few, budget is no worry, but for most of us, thinking about money is a natural part of any wedding. Start off by searching for a printable wedding budget sheet – these are pretty easy to find on the Internet. Look at the current state of your finances and consider how much you can save in each month leading up to your wedding.

Talk to your parents and your partner's parents to see if they'd like to contribute anything to your wedding. If so, ask them how much they'd be willing to give, or if they'd like to pay or something specifically, like the cake, the invitations or the DJ.

Lastly, decide if you're comfortable borrowing money and going into debt for your wedding. This is a risky thing to do in such a tenuous economy, but each couple is different. Married couples often fight over money even when they're not in debt, so it's advisable to plan a wedding that you can afford, not a wedding that you'll be paying off for years to come.

You may, however, want to open up a credit card that you'll use to pay for things for your wedding and your wedding only. This will help you keep track of your wedding expenses and might help you rack up some frequent flyer miles for your honeymoon!

Next, it's time to decide who makes the cut when it comes to your guest list. Your attendees, especially those in the bridal party, end up doing a lot more in your wedding than just standing next to you at the altar, so you want to make sure that the people you pick for your best man and maid of honor can handle the responsibilities you give to them.

These roles are a great honor to the people you love, so choose wisely. It's wise to choose people who live close to you, but this is not always possible. You might also want to discuss how many bridesmaids and groomsmen you will want at your wedding – your partner might have a different opinion than you on this topic, so you'll want to meet in the middle.

Now it's time to start looking for a venue! If you're going to the outdoor wedding route, look for a scenic beachside location or a beautiful garden in your town. Many venues are booked a year in advance; The Plaza in New York City famously books years out. The further out you book, the more likely you are to get the date and time that you want, and to pay a reasonable amount for it. If you plan too close to the date, you might miss out on your favorite location, or be forced to pay through the nose to book it.

Lastly, enlist your support systems. Planning a wedding is great, but it's also stressful. Having good people around you who will help you choose a photographer, a venue and more are great assets to planning a great wedding. If you are an extremely busy individual and have the cash to spare, consider hiring a wedding planner who will get things organized for you. You can also visit online forums to seek advice from other recently married couples.

No matter how stressed you get, try to remember that when the big day comes, all of your effort will be worth it. And remember, it's never too early to start planning!

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Source by Jeff H. Benson