After calling mom, dad and everyone else you know, a mass e-mail to friends is fine, it's time to think about what your wedding will look like. Pick up a bunch of magazines at the newsstand — don't be surprised if your friends get you some — and read them cover-to-cover for inspiration.

Rip out every page you like, whether it's an ad or editorial, and remember that you can like anything on the page — a shoe, a flower, the wallpaper — anything can inspire you.

Since you'll be sticking to a budget, or at least trying to, subscribe to your two or three favorite magazines and pick up random issues over the course of your engagement. Get at least one local magazine - D Weddings, Vermont Vows, Charleston Weddings -and one or two national magazines - Brides, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride, Inside Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle Weddings. Save the pages you like in your planner and refer to them when working with vendors.

You can subscribe to wedding magazines at Amazon.com or at each magazine's website. The links above go to each magazine's homepage.



If you did just got engaged, congratulations! You have a very exciting year ahead of you, and if I can be of any help please feel free to post comments or questions on this blog or on my message board, Ask the Bridal Expert.