When people begin to plan their wedding they tend to have many questions. Even if the initial questions are answered more seem to pop up throughout the planning process. This is normal. Here are some answers to some of the more common questions.

When do we need the guest list by? The simple answer is as soon as possible. You really need to decide who to invite right away because the guest list can impact other wedding planning items. For instance if you have a budget the number of guests will come into play when it comes to paying for the ceremony location or the reception locations. Another reason to come up with the list of guests immediately is because it is not good etiquette to invite people to an engagement party who will not be at the wedding or to not invite people who will. The same goes for sending out engagement announcements.

When should we reserve the reception and ceremony locations? Again, this is something that should be done right away. The ceremony and reception site can help determine the type or wedding or the feel of the wedding. Because of this it is important to do this rather early in the planning process so you can build your dream wedding around the locations that it is being held.

Should I have a theme wedding? The choice is entirely up to you. However, with the availability of creative decorations, stationery and favors on the market today, it is quite easy to choose just about any wedding theme that you are interested in.

When should we order the wedding cake? The wedding cake should be ordered two to four months before the wedding date, however there is no reason you cannot start shopping sooner. If you have a particular bakery that you want to order from you may want to contact them as soon as possible to find out how long in advance they are booked. If you do not have a certain bakery which you want to order from you should shop around and participate in both taste testing as well as comparing the styles of the cakes available. You want a cake which tastes good and looks great in photos!

When should the stationery be ordered? Typically brides order wedding invitations and other stationery four to six months before the wedding date. However if you are planning on ordering specialized stationery or invitations which are handmade you may need more time than that.

When does the florist need to be booked? The florist is another vendor which should be chosen and hired as soon as possible. I recommend at least 6 months prior to the wedding. This is especially true if you are getting married in wedding season as there will be many wedding parties that need the services of the florists, as well as any other services they may provide.

When should I purchase wedding favors? At least four months prior to the wedding. Make sure you do not order them before you are sure of your wedding theme (if you are having one) or the wedding colors. The favors are one of the areas in which you will have a wonderful opportunity to showcase your theme or colors.