As the year begins and we start at the beginning, so do many brides start their wedding planning. But the big question is - Where do I begin? What do I have to do first? And while there are tons of standardized schedules and checklists available, none of them include the most important step, The Very First Step toward having your perfect wedding hour, day, weekend, week, or whatever time frame you choose!

Take the time to Surf for your Style! Google, Bing, Weddingwire, Pinterest, Twitter, Houzz, You Tube - Search it All! Bridal Magazines are good as well, but take on the challenge of a variety. You may be pleasantly suprised to find a great idea or tip in a Bridal Magazine that you think isn't your aesthetic. Think of Colors that you love, think of a time period that you aspire for, think big with no boundaries, because that is the best way to really find out what you want and how to get it. Once you have collected your bits of inspiration in amounts that almost make your eyes cross and head spin.. stop! Don't overwhelm yourself, this is the perfect point to take a look at everything you have compiled and start to really focus your vision for your perfect day. Narrow down to your favorites, which you like better, which you could really do with or without. And put your final selections into a binder, collage, some sort of easily transported method of display. Bring this with you to all of your consultations!! This is a very visual event, and Wedding Pros tend to be very visual people. There is no better way to convey what you want, then to show the Pros you meet with exactly what you see. It will help you quickly determine who can and will work with you toward your vision of your perfect day. So get on the computer, get in your local magazine store, grab some wedding books and Get Inspired!! Need invitation inspiration? Check us out www.nikapaperworks.com And stay tuned for more tips and need to knows.