Once the engagement shock wears off, and you have popped open some champagne to celebrate, you should get down to business and establish a budget. You can keep your sanity in the months to come, if you establish a budget sooner rather than later.

However, creating a budget can be difficult when you have no idea what wedding vendors cost. Most of you are probably thinking, hello this is my first time getting married, how am I supposed to know what a wedding photographer costs? No worries my dear, I am here to help!

1. Talk to your families

It is so important to establish who is paying for the wedding. First, have a conversation with your family and determine if they are able to contribute and how much they can contribute. It has become more acceptable for both families to contribute to the wedding costs and a lot of the time the bride and groom even help pay. Once you establish where the funds are coming from, you will have a better idea of the budget you are working with.

2. Research Vendors

Use the internet or call your local vendors to research prices in your area, every region/state will be different. What a wedding venue in Texas costs is going to be different for brides in the East Coast New York. Visit the websites of 2-5 different vendors in each category (venue, caterer, photographer) this will give you a range of what the price will be and from there you can get a good idea of what to budget.

Also, you should clarify what these prices do or do not include so that you aren’t surprised with hidden fees or cost of services. For example, a venue in some areas of Texas may cost $8000 for the ceremony and reception venue, tables and linens. While an all inclusive venue covering ceremony and reception venue, tables and linens, and catering could cost $15,000-20,000. Just be sure to ask a few extra questions or ask if they can send you an email with package details.

Here is a list of websites I recommend where you can search specifically for wedding vendors:

The Knot

Wedding Wire

Carats and Cake

3. Ask your recently married friends

Throughout your wedding planning process don’t be shy to ask for help and advice from your friends and family. If you have a friend you are close with, start by asking her how much she paid for her vendors. Let her know you are creating a wedding budget and want to estimate what each vendor will cost. Also, your friend may be able to give you vendor recommendations. Keep in mind that wedding costs tend to increase year after years so you will want to add 5-20% on top of what your friend paid.

4. Consult with a Wedding Planner

Wedding planners are industry experts! If you decide to hire a planner for the entire wedding planning process, their services usually include creating a budget and assuring that you stick to it.

5. Create a rough draft guest list

If you create a guest list as soon as possible, you will have a better idea of how many people you need to feed and buy invitations for. The cost for 100 guests is a lot less than 250 guests.

6. Download a budget app

You can have comfort in knowing you aren’t the first bride worried about creating a budget. As I bride I used The Knot Budget Calculator and loved how easy it was. The budget calculator can be used both on a computer and a smart phone, making it super user friendly and accessible.

Bianca Nichole is an Austin based wedding planner, serving San Antonio, Fredericksburg and the surrounding Texas hill country areas.