BRIDE's Magazine Gives Away Free Wedding!

While for many, January means repenting from the holidays with New Year's resolutions and time at the gym, for others it's all about planning for the future. The recent Brides American Wedding Study reveals that over 1/3 of all engagements (35%) happen between Thanksgiving and New Years and that means January welcomes a whole new crop of the newly engaged. Of course all of these brides and grooms-to-be are wondering where to start so Michelle Myers, VP and Publisher of Brides Magazine broke it down. #1 - Create a budget. We know that 62% of couples are paying for their own weddings entirely or contributing significantly so it's imperative that they know how much they can afford and then have a frank conversation to set their priorities and agree upon the parts of the wedding that are most important to them. It might be great food, or an amazing band, or the dcor but it's crucial to outline the priorities and know how much you are willing to spend on each line item before you commit to anything. #2 - Once the date is selected, you need to determine a number of guests and lock in a venue right away. This means thinking about whether you want to have the ceremony and reception at the same location and then really determine your own style. In terms of receptions, ballrooms are not the only way to go. You can think about restaurants, local parks, botanical gardens, loft spaces, or even a farm or at home - the options are limitless and you definitely want to give yourselves plenty of time to find the right space and lock in a date. #3 - We know for most women, choosing her dress is a priority and it should be at the top of the list. It can take time to find the perfect gown and you need to allow time for fittings, tailoring, and finding the perfect accessories. When you start this process, it's important to look in your own closet and see what styles and shapes are the most flattering on you. And it's also important to consider the style or theme of your wedding and also your venue so that your dress fits into that picture. The style of your dress should really fit with the style of your wedding. Right now Michelle is loving David's Bridal. They have their new Spring 2013 collection of WHITE by Vera Wang. The collection features six new gowns priced between $600-$1,700 and they offer a range of styles, silhouettes and color options so you can find the dress that will work for your own body and style.And Incidentally David's Bridal has something called 'My Event' which is a free online wedding planning tool that includes a newsfeed, shopping lists, task lists, a budget planner and much more. This kind of web tool is a great way to stay organized and keep everything on track. But there is one way to avoid the planning process altogether...you could enter to win the BRIDES LIVE WEDDING! You have until January 10th to submit a video for a chance to win an amazing wedding at the St. Regis in Dana Point, all paid for and produced by Brides. And this is the kind of wedding that doesn't require any planning at all! Once a couple is chosen, every element - from the cake to the color scheme - will be selected by Facebook voting. And it's all for a good cause. For every vote, we are donating a dollar to charity. So enter for a chance to be the lucky couple or follow along the whole process and pick up great ideas and planning tips along the way! Just go to facebook.com/brideslivewedding for more info. Sponsored by David's Bridal