You’re engaged! You’ve dangled your left hand under every nose that you know and are an expert at which types of lighting give that diamond the best sparkle. After all the hugs and congratulations from your friends and family, the next question you’ll hear out of almost every mouth is “When?!”

That’s when it hits – there’s a wedding to plan! Lists to make, questions to answer, details, details, details to figure out. And one of the first tasks you will need to tackle is when and where. These two decisions go hand in hand with one another and to start, you will need to decide what is more important to you as a couple. Depending on which of these two is higher on your list, you may have to have some flexibility when trying to nail down the other. If you have a specific date or time of year that is particularly dear to you, then you may want to focus on the ‘when’ first. Keep in mind, that this could affect the availability of the ‘where.’ For instance, if you have your heart set on tying the knot on New Year’s Eve, your options for wedding venues may be limited. Likewise, if you have your heart set on a particular venue, chances are that you are not the only bride with her eye on the perfect spot. If this is the case, be willing to play around with your dates to make it work.

Below are a couple of things we like to consider when tackling these first wedding planning challenges.

When:

• How long of an engagement do you want/need? Many couples need to save up to cover wedding expenses.
• What time of year do you want to get married? Seasons can affect pricing and availability. May – September are the busiest months for weddings.
• Fall weddings have rapidly been gaining popularity over the past several years, so you may need to book earlier for fall.
• If there are certain flowers that you absolutely have to have, keep in mind their seasonality and availability.
• Keep your guests’ schedules in mind when it comes to choosing ceremony time and day and be aware of holidays.
• Venues typically begin booking up about a year in advance so if you got engaged in December and are dying to marry the following spring, it could be tough to find availability.
• Keep your own schedule in mind as well. Choose a date that is far enough out that you and your fiancé can secure time off – especially if you will be taking a honeymoon immediately after.
• Consider your guests’ comfort levels – even if you think a snowy, outdoor wedding in December sounds romantic, your guests might not agree.
• Be aware of other event dates. You will probably want to avoid dates like Super Bowl Sunday or religious holidays.

Where:

• What type of venue fits your personality and style? Do you want something super sleek and modern, a rustic barn, a lush garden or maybe an elegant ballroom?
•  Determine your budget up front. That way you will know what venues will work for you.
• If your dream venue is booked for the date range you wanted, consider a Friday or Sunday wedding instead of Saturday. Oftentimes venues offer a price break on these days as well.
• Try to have at least a general idea of the approximate number of guests you will have. This will affect the size of your venue.
•  Know what to ask. Prepare a list of questions for each venue before-hand.
• Make sure you choose a venue that can offer or help you to find everything you want and need – do they tables and chairs or will you need to rent? Can  they provide staff? Do they have in-house catering?
• If you have specific vendors you would like to use, make sure that your venue can work with them and find out any mandatory vendors they may have.
• If you have dreams of draping the walls, hanging photos or using hundreds of candles as your only light source, make sure you know all of the venue’s rules in terms of décor.

It’s best to be as open minded as possible when determining your where and when. Allowing yourself to be flexible will make the process a much more enjoyable one and you may just end up finding your perfect when and where in a place you never expected.