I am steadily approaching my one year starting line for my wedding and already I've made some pretty major decisions. Unfortunately with every pearl of wisdom I've received, I 
realize another detail I've overlooked, resulting in an ever growing "To-Do" list. So where should I start?
The most time sensitive decision, arguably, is the church and/or venue. This should be your first major decision if you can help it, considering that most banquet halls and popular locations will book a year-plus in advance.
Regrettably I'm still in the early stages of this step, visiting parks around my area to scope out the perfect spot to set up a big party tent and dance until the wee hours of the morning. I have to take into account that I cannot send out invitations or make arrangements with a florist until I've booked the venue. The consensus of my "trusted advisors" suggests that I should have the location selected and booked at the very least 6 months before the wedding.
The next building block to the wedding should be the wedding party. Selecting these people early on can provide a backup team for the challenging tasks that lay ahead. My mother keeps reminding me, "Don't be afraid to delegate!" The bridal party should be there to make those phone calls I won't have time to make, or to help keep track of approaching deadlines. Most bridesmaids love the idea of helping out with a wedding; all they need is a little direction.
On average, bridal parties consist of 8-10 people. We've decided on a party of 8 people: 4 of Mike's closest buddies to chastise him all the way to the alter and 4 of my most dependable ladies. One thing I'll be keeping in mind, however, is the financial burden placed on a bridal party. By enthusiastically showing our appreciation, our wedding party will hopefully feel like an honored part of our celebration.
Once these two basic building blocks are in place (so I'm told) the wedding plans will flow with much more ease. That doesn't mean that a wedding will build itself, one could only wish for that to be the case. No, organizational and time management skills are a must. You know... those two little things our parents and teachers tried to beat the importance of into us?
Thanks to the modern age, keeping track of dates, phone numbers, contacts, and deadlines have become easier than ever! PDA's and smartphones have made it possible to access emails on the go, maintaining an organized list of contacts, as well as allow you to set daily reminders for imminent deadlines and tasks.
If you're a little less than tech savvy like myself, old fashioned notebooks, datebooks, and address books can get the job done. Lists have become my new best friend and I can only see becoming more dependent on them. Create a Wedding Binder for yourself, or slyly hint to your Maid of Honor that a personalized binder would not only make planning your occasion that much easier, but would be a perfect keepsake to look at years down the road.
The biggest lesson I've picked up thus far has been to ask for help. Once I get a venue picked out, our bridal party will create a lasting bond throughout the process, as well as a party our guests will never forget!
Lena M. Sack is a 25 year old student of life currently working her way through Massage Therapy School. By day an Executive Assistant for a magnet company, by night,
writer and artist, Lena's latest mission is planning a dream wedding with her wonderful fiancé, Michael.