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One of the biggest wedding-planning challenges can be cohesiveness — presenting a consistent vision for your event from start to finish. As a wedding planner, I see brides (especially those who are newly engaged) struggle with this all the time. They've picked their venue, theme and dress...but none of the three really match.

Throughout the process of falling in love with gowns, flowers, linens, and all things wedding pretty, you might find it difficult to maintain focus and your wedding can take on a life of its own. So, how do you prevent this from happening? The good news is that by outlining key factors early on, it's totally doable to execute your big day without getting completely lost in the process.

I've put together some easy tips to help couples stay on track throughout the months leading up to their wedding. By no means do you have to follow these to a T. My hope is that you will find a way to personalize these steps and bring your vision to life in the most magical way possible!

1. Book your venue before anything else.
This is the one key piece of advice that I've shared with all of my clients throughout the years that hasn't changed. In your venue selection, you'll narrow down the search by finding out what you're stylistically drawn to and what reflects you as a couple. Your entire wedding vision will become more defined throughout this process.

Dolores and Trent Winstead were inseparable for over six decades, right up until the end — they passed away within hours of one another. The Nashville couple spent their final moments together holding hands as they lay in hospital beds.

A beautiful wedding gown doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. Cue Rebecca Ingram by Maggie Sottero Designs: a line of timeless styles at unbeatable price points. Rebecca Ingram’s inaugural collection is the perfect union of fashion and affordability.

When it comes to holiday weddings, we’re partial to New Year’s Eve nuptials. The energy of NYE is already upbeat and optimistic; add love to the mix, and what could be better? These three films from Love Stories TV showcase lovebirds who truly nailed their New Year’s Eve weddings!

Katie & Adam at Country Club of Detroit in Detroit, MI

Photo Credit: A Magic Moment Photography and Video

Q: "My friends are asking if my fiancé and I will be having an engagement party. Who is responsible for planning this event and sending out the invitations?" 

Hoping to find something extra sparkly beneath the Christmas tree? The jewelry experts at Blue Nile gave us the scoop on which engagement ring styles are trending and will continue to gain momentum in the coming year. 

1. Iconic Minimalist

A solitaire setting or one with graduated side stones adorning the center diamond is beautiful without being too fussy. These types of rings often play off the 1960s-era Mod fashion, which has always had an alluring appeal.

There’s a lot to consider when carefully crafting your big day budget, and some of the costs are more obvious than others. So, before you lock in those line-items, make sure to consider these eleven super-sneaky expenses that just might slip in…

While combing through old issues of Bridal Guide from the 1980s and 1990s, it's evident that most wedding trends don't stand the test of time. (Case in point: poofy sleeves and using fax machines to share wedding inspiration with vendors.) However, there are some things about planning a wedding that just won't ever change. Check out some of our favorite gems of advice from the past 30+ years of magazine issues!