As the lucky bride, you will likely find yourself with a team of family members, bridesmaids, and friends willing to lend you a hand in planning your wedding. But even if you hire a wedding consultant, there still should be one person ultimately in charge: you. The following is a brief sketch of what you'll need to think about.

Getting Organized
Begin by making lists: Write down each task to be done, the date by which it needs to be completed, and who will do it. Devise a system for recording your plans and for remembering who is helping you with what. Buy a wedding planner, or create one in a three-ring binder or accordion folder, or just set aside a section in your daily planner. Make sure you include a section for filing away inspirations from magazines or old family photographs and one for recording the names and phone numbers of vendors and their references.

Choosing Bridesmaids
Assembling a wedding party is an exciting milestone that should be completed early in the planning process. Start with your maid or matron of honor, whose primary function is to organize the bridesmaids and make sure the bride has a constant flow of emotional and practical support. You might ask a sister, close friend, cousin, or even your mother or grandmother to play this role.

Then turn your attention to the bridesmaids. What's most important in your choice of attendants is that each one is a person you can count on for help and support. A week or two before the wedding, it is customary for you to be the host of a bridesmaids' lunch showing your appreciation for all they've done; if some of your attendants live out of town, you may prefer to wait until the day before the wedding, so all can attend.