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18 real weddings planning guide 2015 realadvice Fi r st Things Fi r st When all the excitement of your engagement quiets down, it's time for reality to set in: you've got just months to pull together the biggest party you've likely ever thrown. It may seem overwhelming, but beginning the planning process is easier than you might think — you just need to know where to start. Define Your StYle An intimate, backyard wedding will have different needs than a lavish, 300-person affair, so the first thing to do is figure out what you and your partner really want for your big day. "Ask yourselves what you love," recommends Genève McNally, principal planner of Vancouver's DreamGroup Productions. "What do you love to eat? When you picture yourself walking down the aisle, where are you?" Draft a GueSt liSt e type of wedding you envision will affect your guest list, and in turn, your guest list will affect your venue, so start thinking about who to invite. "It's going to dictate how much things are going to cost and what kind of venue is doable," explains Alicia Keats, principal planner for Alicia Keats Weddings & Events. BuDGet, BuDGet, BuDGet ere's more to a wedding than the dress and the drinks — expect to have about 30 line items to consider, and be realistic as you allocate your costs. If the number at the bottom of the spreadsheet is scary, think about what services or purchases can be scaled back or omitted altogether. "Setting a budget is kind of a painful, rip-the-bandaid-off discussion," laughs McNally, "but once you get that out of the way, you're just making fun decisions and talking to people who can work with your plan." Everyone's priorities will be different — some splurge on flowers, others splash out on a live band — but whatever's on your list of must-haves, it's important to be clear about them right off the bat. "Knowing what your priorities are will always make it a less stressful experience. If it's most important to you that all of your loved ones be there for the big day, that might mean a full, sit-down dinner isn't doable… but a strawberry-and-champagne reception gets you what you want, while keeping you on budget," says Keats. Book the Venue e next step is to start contacting venues, but make sure you're getting accurate cost quotes: what's included with the "minimum spend" might Every dream wedding has to start somewhere! Get the planning process rolling with these tips from the pros By Stacey McLachlan Illustration by Mandy Lau