If you’re planning your first wedding, you may have no idea where to begin. You’re likely feeling happy and maybe a bit overwhelmed, but that’s okay. As long as you take the planning process one step at a time, you should have no trouble taking care of everything before the big day. Whether you plan on being engaged for more than a year or just a few months, planning your wedding in the following order can eliminate a lot of stress and problems.

The first step you should take is to determine your budget. Knowing how much money you have to work with will affect a lot of the decisions you will be making. From the venue to the entertainment, putting together a budget that covers every aspect of the event can be a lifesaver early on in the planning process. Similarly, you should figure out how many people will be attending the wedding. Of course, you don’t have to send out invitations the day after you get engaged. Rather, come up with a rough list that approximates the number of guests who will be invited.

The next two steps go hand in hand, which are choosing a venue and a date. You may have one or the other in mind, but sometimes a venue is not available on the day you want and vice versa. Try to visit a few venues so you have backup options, and come up with a list of a few dates that both you and your significant other are happy with. Once you have a venue locked down, you can begin securing whatever venues you need for the big day.

The next major steps include deciding what you and the wedding party will be wearing, booking an officiant, and sending out save-the-dates. Within a few months before the wedding, you can send out formal invitations, work on finalizing the menu for the receptions, and take care of any last minute tasks. This order may not work for everyone, but it can be a helpful guide if you have no idea where to begin.