One of the very first things you must decide upon after you get engaged is the style of wedding you plan to have. The style of wedding will permeate every nook and cranny of the entire wedding planning process. Selecting your style is a creative process and should heavily involve your imagination and tastes.

Once you tell family and friends that you are getting married many will have opinions about what sort of wedding you need to have. From the wild and far out to the very traditional are likely to be the opinions of family and friends. While you need to consider what others say, this is your wedding and needs to convey your personal style. You need to determine the layout of the wedding, the colors, and the other details and they need to be what you want.

The wedding location will probably be one of the first major decisions that you need to make. And depending on your personal style you may decide to use a more traditional location like a church or you may want something more casual like a garden setting. Obviously if you choose an outdoor location then things such as time of year and weather will play a big part in determining your wedding location. Do not automatically assume that you have to keep a stuffy formal feeling with a church. With a little creativity you can turn a church setting into a very casual setting.

At some point you also need to sit down and think about what your personal style is and how best to convey it in your wedding. What sort of personality do you have? What setting are you most likely to flourish in? Maybe you lead a conservative life but really deep down you are fun and frilly. Because it is your wedding you are allowed to put on the kind of wedding you want not the kind of wedding that best meets your personality. It does need to be something though that people will remember for years to come.

Keep in mind that once you decide the style of wedding it still needs to be within the budget you set up. You still have practical things like planning and details to consider. I will give you five styles that I personally like and may help you shape the style of wedding you want. You will find the following styles of weddings run the gamut of wedding budgets.

* Garden style-is best suited for a wedding that will be held during a time of the year with mild to warm temperatures. I have seen beautiful garden weddings held in people’s backyards as well as extravagant affairs held at a botancial garden with an outdoor wedding and an indoor reception. This sort of style will be open and airy and has a very natural feel. How you decorate and how much you decorate will help you to incorporate your own personal style in this type of setting.

* Classic style- Certainly the most popular and enduring style of wedding. This allows you to put your personal tastes in all aspects of the wedding and reception. From the type of flowers to the colors used it will have your own personal sense of style written all over it.

* Beach style-a very popular style that has lasted far to long to be called a fad. With a little imagination can be done not only by the ocean but also in your own backyard. If you are big on imagination and creativity this should offer a huge challenge. Search around and you will find all sorts of “props” to give whatever location you choose that beach feel.

* For those who really really want something memorable getting married in an unusual place may be just what you want. I am sure you have seen some of the better ones on tv. From getting married at Walmart to jumping from a plane these sort of weddings are very memorable.

* Exotic style-sort of an extension from the unusual wedding these weddings take place at fun and imaginative locations. What would it be like to get married at the Taj Mahal? You can certainly find out. Keep in mind that these wedding cost money not just for you but your guests.

Irregardless of your wedding plans be sure that the wedding you have is a reflection of your own personal sense of style. Years from now you can think back and remember with fondness what an awesome event your wedding day was.