Congratulations, you’re engaged! But what does that mean now? Depending on how long you plan to wait until the wedding, you might have a while to think about planning your wedding or barely any time at all. No matter what, you have to start somewhere. Before you start with your big checklist of booking all of your major vendors like your venue or photographer, there are some very important preliminary details to consider first. Keep reading to see what you need on your checklist before the checklist!

• Do your research and get inspired
  • Before you start stressing about all of the details and everything you have to do, it is nice to spend some time just perusing the internet and wedding magazines for inspiration.
  • Pinterest is an obvious place to start, but that’s definitely for a reason – you can find some great resources and you can save everything you like

• Decide on your budget
  • This number has to be tentative because it will fluctuate, but make sure you have a certain range in mind. This way, when you make all of your decisions from now on, you can have your budget in mind to figure out the best options based on your preferences and what you can afford
  • Decide what’s important to you: not only is having a budget important, but making sure to split that budget according to your wedding needs is equally important.

• Plan the wedding place
  • And no, we don’t mean the venue… yet. This city you choose is the first thing to consider. Maybe you have always wanted a destination wedding, but weren’t sure where. Maybe you or your partner are from a different city and decide that their hometown would be the perfect place for your wedding.
  • For most people, your wedding city might be a given, however if that is not the case for you, make sure you make that important decision as soon as possible so you can get started on the real checklist.

• Choose your wedding date
  • Choosing your exact date would be ideal to get done right away, however if it is too early, that’s okay. Just decide what time of the year you would like to get married during and some possible date options.
  • Obviously something to consider is what weather you prefer – depending on what city the wedding will be in, each month will vary differently when it comes to weather.
    • If you want a summer wedding and your wedding is somewhere with extreme heat, it might make more sense to have it in early or late summer when the sun is not at its strongest, like the middle of summer.
    • If you live in a colder climate, mid-summer could be perfect.
    • If you want a winter vibe without the risk of a snowstorm, maybe choose early winter, when the snow has started to fall but it is not the dead of winter.
  • Also consider when the sun sets and the itinerary for your event. Think about what you want the lighting to be outside from outdoor pictures beforehand and for the evening’s events throughout the night.
  • If you are on a tight budget, choosing a month that is not as popular can also be a way of cutting costs, so that is something to consider.

• Pick the theme or look of your wedding
  • Your decision making process when it comes to the actual checklist later on should be in line with the theme or vibe that you want to portray for your event, so deciding on this right away is very important.
    • Your food, flowers, centerpieces, etc. will all tie in to create your perfect atmosphere for you and your guests.
  • It is best to do this right away, as choosing your theme could also relate to your location. For example, if you want a more rustic country theme, then you will definitely have to choose the location accordingly.

• Put together a tentative guest list
  • Knowing an approximate number of people is crucial in order to make further decisions in your wedding planning process, especially when it comes to the venue decision.
  • Also included in this point is picking your bridesmaids and groomsmen! Make sure to do this early, especially the bridesmaids since they can hopefully help you when it comes to the actual checklist later on.

Once you’ve done all of that, you’ll be ready for the actual wedding checklist and all of the big stuff! No matter whether in between early planning stages or late ones, you can use Wedding Wire’s checklist planning tool to stay organized and on track. Good luck!

Every bride dreams of looking great on her wedding day. Since the wedding dress is the focal point of the bridal look, you should choose it well to look your best on this special day.

Different wedding dress silhouettes look good on different body shapes. Choose the right silhouette for your body shape and it will flatter your figure and enhance your best assets. To achieve this, you should first determine your body type and then identify the best silhouettes for it. Different body types and the recommended dress silhouettes for each.

In general, body types can be broadly classified into six categories: Apple, Pear, Hourglass, Straight, Petite and Plus-size.

In order to determine which of these best defines your body type, the first step is to measure yourself around the shoulders, bust, waist and hips. Note down each set of measurements and compare them according to the following guide to find out which body type defines you best.

Apple-Type

The apple-shape is characterized by an upper body that is wider than the lower body. Here, the shoulder measures at least five per cent more than the hip area. To create a balanced look for this body type, you should choose dresses that camouflage the slighter proportions of the hips. Here are the recommended dress styles if you are an apple.

Recommended silhouettes: Dresses with a gathered bodice and skirt that flares out from the waist are ideal. Layered skirts add extra inches to the hip area and are a good choice. A-line dresses with thick skirts that do not cling and ball gowns look good on the apple-shaped bride.

Avoid dresses that are form-fitting, such as the trumpet and mermaid. These draw attention to the waist and hips, and will emphasize the unbalanced proportions of the upper and lower body.

Pear-type

The pear-shaped bride has a wide mid-section and lower body, while the upper half is narrow. Here, the hip measurements are at least five percent greater than the shoulder and bust measurements.

Recommended silhouettes: Dresses that add more bulk to the upper body and do not cling to the hips will balance out the difference in measurements in the upper and lower sections. Ball gowns and dresses with A-line skirts that begin above or at the natural waistline are suitable choices.

It is best to avoid fit and flare gowns and sheath dresses that draw attention to the hip area.

Straight or rectangle

As the name suggests, this body shape lacks curves and has similar measurements across the shoulders and hips. The waistline is barely noticeable. All three measurements fall within five per cent of each other.

Recommended silhouettes: The best wedding dress styles for this body type are those that create the illusion of curves. The slender waistline is an asset that should be highlighted. Ball gowns achieve this effect. Alternately, the sheath or column wedding dress is a good choice as it adds more bulk to the lower half. Layered A-line dresses with a well-defined waistline will look good on straight body types.

Avoid dresses which snugly fit the natural silhouette, like fit and flare gowns. These make the lack of curves more noticeable. Modified A-line dresses are also best avoided.

Hourglass

The shoulder measurements are similar to the measurements of the hips in this body type. They also have a well-defined waistline that is at least twenty five per cent smaller than the shoulders and hips.

Recommended silhouettes: Being a well-balanced shape, this body type can carry off almost any dress style. It is recommended to draw attention to the curvy figure and highlight the waistline with flattering silhouettes like the trumpet and mermaid. Sheath dresses and A-line dresses with cinched waists also flatter the hourglass shape.

Almost every dress silhouette is suitable for the hourglass. So, there is no particular dress style to avoid. However, if you are an hourglass, it is suggested to flaunt your figure in snug silhouettes, instead of hiding your attractive curves under layers of fabric.

Plus-size

With body measurements that are larger than average throughout, plus-size brides have a very curvaceous figure.

Recommended silhouettes: Well-fitted slim dress styles look best on plus-size brides. A-line dresses and silhouettes that distinguish the upper and lower halves of the body are ideal.

Avoid dresses that drape loosely, like the sheath that creates the illusion of more curves. Dresses made with stiff and structured fabric are better, as they hold the shape and do not look bulky.

Petite

Petite women have a small, but well-balanced stature. These women usually have heights that are lesser than 5’3”.The defined waistline is the best asset of this body type.

Recommended silhouettes: Petite brides should highlight their slender waists in gowns with well-fitted bodices. Dresses with raised waistlines will also add the illusion of added height. A-line dresses, fit and flare gowns and column dresses look good on this body type.

The overall size and stature of petite women are smaller than average. Hence dresses with too many design details will be overwhelming on this body type. Also, petite brides should avoid bulky dresses like ball gowns that will look too heavy on their frame. Since they are shorter than average, it isn’t a good idea to wear dresses with dropped waistlines, as it can make them look even shorter than they actually are.

Author Bio: Best For Bride is a leading bridal chain and wedding services provider in Canada. With four shops in the country and a reliable online shopping experience, Best for Bride strives to meet every need of the modern bride. Their impressive collection of wedding dresses, bridesmaids dresses, dresses for the rest of the wedding party and wedding accessories are constantly updated, so there is something for everyone.