First 2 weeks: Take a breath...get some tools to help you build your special day

 (Photo Credit: Janelle Elise Photography YOU MUST CHECK HER OUT!)

So, you're engaged! Congratulations! Get excited!!!

 Week 1:

• Don't immediately plunge into it all. Toe first...Then foot...etc. What I'd recommend doing this week is simple and could be done while enjoying an afternoon coffee or relaxing for an evening wind down. While you've still got the initial hype of excitement and enthusiasm, just sit down and write a list of anything and everything you'd love for your wedding to look, feel, and be like. Come back to it the next day. Organize it by ceremony and reception and in order of what is most important-things that would be ok to go without.
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• Create yourself an email address to use only for wedding stuff. There are contests, you'll want to contact vendors (who may share your email or continue to send you marketing emails). I.E.*David's Bridal will give your email and sometimes your phone number to other companies they partner with etc*. Some companies give you promos for signing up for their emailings or newsletters. This gives you freedom to join wedding websites, blogs, and whatever else that you will only really need for your wedding but also insures they won't get lost in the scramble. You can use this email to contact general website contact emails about quotes, general information, and non-committal inquiries, once again, without receiving solicitation for years to come.

Week 2:
To be honest, I'm a bit of a stickler for systems and getting things done the most efficient and less stressful way possible. If you're anything like me, or completely struggle to keep things organized, I promise, this will be helpful for you. Make a shopping list for the following supplies:
A three ring binder/notebook (if it comes with the pockets etc that's an added bonus)
-A hole punch if you don't yet have one
-Divider tabs
-Post-it flags (multi-color pack)
-A zipper pouch with holes that can be bound into your notebook
-Scissors
-Highlighters
-Colorful pens (optional, to keep the bore-factor down ;)
-Sheet protectors (ones that can be bound)
-stick glue
-scotch tape

Why these random and seemingly adolescent items? Many of the books, magazines, and computer articles you read may only have a few things that you will personally need. I made myself a notebook full of any and everything that would inspire or help me on my wedding, I cut out pictures, magazine articles, printed things I'd found online and cut and pasted them as needed to sift through all the irrelevant information. I had anything from info on all the different birth control methods to articles on how to make your own cupcake tree and the calender for what flowers are in season at any given time throughout the year, neatly organized by divider tabs. I kept all my expense receipts in the zipper pouch. Any coupons I acquired etc. could also be saved there.

Doing this notebook beforehand is a fun crafty project but it also makes it SO easy for your ideas, inspiration, and information to all be portable so you can carry it along on your many wedding expeditions and won't have to try to keep it all in the forefront of your mind. It makes a great keepsake and heirloom for your family or resource to lend to friends, trust me...you'll be a pro when it's all said and done ;)