After your daughter gets the engagement ring, serious discussions must take place about when the wedding will take place. The bride and the groom should decide how soon they'd like to get married. In many cities, wedding dates must be set one year in advance to reserve locations and vendors. The bride and groom should also consult with their respective parents to make certain that there are no other family events planned for the date.
There are other considerations about setting the date. If there are events in your city at the same time as the wedding, guests might not be able to find hotel accommodations. Check with a community calendar, sports schedules, etc.
Try to have a certain month in mind, and a few dates. Before you begin calling hotels, reception halls, caterers, or other venues, you must decide how many people you'll invite and how much you can spend. To get an idea on prices, you can check around to see the various dinner packages or what caterers charge by looking on the internet. A reception might cost you as little as a couple hundred dollars (for wedding cake and punch) to $50,000. Every vendor will require a significant down payment, and total payment before the actual date.
