You’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. You’re getting married. It’s a joyous time. Yet the days, weeks, and months ahead will be full of planning and preparing for your wedding day.

There are so many things to think about, so many people to contact, and so much to get done. But where should you start? There are bridesmaids and groomsmen to consider, venues, flowers, music, all sorts of things. But don’t be overwhelmed. Here are some of the things to start with as you’re planning your special day.

Here are some initial steps to help you get started with your planning.

Attend some bridal shows to get ideas. When you attend bridal shows, you’ll find them a great place to gather ideas. You can meet many different types of vendors and ask tons of questions. You’ll probably even learn a few things you hadn’t even thought of.

Decide on a venue for both the ceremony and reception. You can’t book a date until you’ve coordinated with the reception hall, and the individual who will conduct your ceremony.  Do some research online first, or maybe you already have a place in mind and can call to get more information on pricing and availability. The venues you choose will also be based on the desired size of your guest list and your budget. You should determine both before you make a decision.

Choose your wedding party. This is important to do as far in advance as possible. It will give everyone time to prepare and time to make sure they are available on the date you’ve chosen.

Pick a date.

When picking a date, make sure you have considered the following.

1. Venue for Reception: The most desirable wedding dates and venues get booked far in advance so if you’re hoping to get married in the next year or two, it’s a wise idea to start thinking about dates now.

2. Ceremony: Contact your church, or person responsible for conducting your ceremony.

3. Talk to Family and other individuals important to your day: Find out what works for everyone and if there are any potential conflicts.

Coordinate the rest of your vendors. Start with your most important vendors. Coordinate your “must have” vendors first. For example, if you want a particular photographer, start with them. Make sure they are available on your chosen date. After you’ve secured your most important vendors, you can coordinate the others around them. Don’t delay on this part. You want to make sure you get the right photographer, limo company, band, etc. And you don’t want to be running around at the last minute trying to get good vendors.

This certainly isn’t all you need to do to prepare for your wedding. But if you use this as a basic guideline, the preparation for your big day will go very smoothly.