Congratulations—you’re engaged! Now what? The first few steps are the hardest. What you need is a good push, or better yet some incredible inspiration. Websites like the Knot are great places to get organized and start your vendor search, but what else is out there? I spend a lot of time browsing websites, Pinterest boards, and social media. A quick Google search will prove that the options are endless, but a recently engaged girl doesn’t have time to narrow them down. And a lot of blogs are stuffed with spammy ads and outdated ideas. You need sites that provide trendy, unique, and gorgeous posts which are updated on the regular—and I’ve got the list.

27 Blogs & More to Jump Start Your Wedding Plans:

Tandem Tree Photography

I’m a blogger, so it’s no surprise that I’m a huge advocate (and lover) of blogs. I have a long list of favorites, but I tried to find a variety to please every style. My top ten listed in no particular order are…

The Perfect Palette

Okay, this one is first for a reason. The Perfect Palette is the #1 color resource for couples, and this is obviously one of the first decisions you’ll have to make. This site allows you to select one color and discover complementary palettes. They also create inspiration boards featuring flowers, attire, and décor to match.  You may discover a combo you never considered!

Wedding Chicks

I simply love WC. They’re a site dedicated to inspiring modern brides and making the planning process as simple as possible. While they post a lot of real weddings, they also allow their trusted vendors to suggest products and photos to feature. This is the go-to blog to find quality vendors you can trust. If you visit the Inspiration page of the site, you can find a Pinterest-like section where vendors post their new products, photos, and more!

Utterly Engaged

Print isn’t dead—yet—but online magazines are oh-so convenient. Utterly engaged is the first online wedding magazine. Their editorials are on-trend, considering I saw a lot of boho-chic and rustic details. They’re not free ($5.00 for a download), but they’re easier to carry around than those heavy print copies!

The Budget Savvy Bride

If you’re budget-conscious, as most of us are, then this is a great resource for you. Everything can be sorted by budget, from $1K-20K! This way your entire planning process is realistic and under budget. I also love that all the real wedding posts not only share their budget, but how the money was allocated. The Budget Savvy Bride also has a great collection of affordable DIY projects and free printables like invitations, place cards, and signage.

LaurenConrad.com

Lauren Conrad has come a long way since her Laguna Beach days. She’s a CEO, fashion designer, blogger, and more. She’s also a recent newlywed, and her site is full of useful planning tips and style inspiration. LaurenConrad.com isn’t dedicated to big days, but its posts on fashion, beauty, recipes, workouts, and crafts can all be applied to your planning process. Just give her creative ideas a bridal twist!

Jeannine Marie Photography

Green Wedding Shoes

Ask anyone I work with, and they will tell you that I am obsessed with GWS. How can I not be? Their whimsical approach to the industry is enticing, and their editorials are unmatched. I will warn you that the gowns and venues require larger budgets, but they’ll give you plenty of planning ideas.

Glamour & Grace

This resource is for the modern vintage bride, which means it has been on trend for the past few years! Their well-organized site allows you to search for ideas by color, theme, season, venue, and more. They’ve also selected a variety of “Handpicked and Handmade” vendors for you to shop.

Artfully Wed

This style-focused blog features a wide range of unique, colorful, and creative big days. You’ll see plenty of bold style and décor choices that may convince you to try something different. If you love color and want to make an impression on your guests, you need to check out Artfully Wed.

APW (A Practical Wedding)

I discovered APW only recently, and I don’t know what took me so long! They’ve taken a fresh approach to planning: laid-back, feminist, and non-traditional. They don’t hide behind gorgeous flower arrangements and pretty dresses. Instead they’ve chosen to reveal the stressful, disorganized, and often expensive planning process. They have tools, a vendor guide, and even essays that answer the hard questions (Life after the “I do’s,” kids, money problems, etc.) The editors and contributors are real, down-to-earth women (read their bios for proof) who want to give you solid advice—even if it’s not what you want to hear. That being said, they still share beautiful big days, DIY ideas, and amazing photos.

My Wedding Chat

I couldn’t list all of these wonderful resources without mentioning our own! We’ve come a long way over the years as our contributors worked to provide couples with exactly what they need. The end result is a blog dedicated to all aspects of your big day—before and after. We use it to share our favorite products, DIY ideas, trends, and fantastic advice. Here are a few of our top posts: 21 Reasons Your Maid of Honor is Your Soulmate Bridesmaid Proposal Ideas: Who to Ask & How 35 Hidden Wedding Costs 2015 Wedding Trends: The Top 40 25 Lies Brides Tell Themselves While Wedding Planning

Get Pinning: The best boards for wedding planning.

Pinterest is an incredible resource for modern brides, but it can get so overwhelming. Rather than typing “wedding” into the search bar, why not follow some pinners who know their stuff? Here are the influencers you need to follow.

Martha Stewart

She’s the queen of all things design…need I say more?

Southern Weddings

If you’re dreaming of a more traditional day, you’ll quickly fall in love with their many boards.

Junebug Weddings

Junebug pins a lot of stunning photography. You won’t find many product pins or DIY projects on their boards, but you will discover beautiful visuals of flower arrangements, décor, and dresses that don’t play by the rules.

100 Layer Cake

This account doesn’t dedicate every pin to our industry, but rather life’s collection of soirées. I’m envious of their eye for style, and you’ll find plenty of creative fashion and décor pins on their boards.

Style Me Pretty

Their blog is incredible, but their Pinterest boards are a must-follow. As the experts of chic, upscale events, they’re always on top of the newest trends.

One Fab Day

A few Irish women were inspired by blogs like SMP, Ruffled, and Oncewed, and decided to share their own ideas with Irish brides. Well, their creativity has flowed to the US of A and beyond, because I love their stuff! Romantic, trendy, practical—the list goes on.

The Wedding Shoppe

I promise we’re worth a follow! It’s the first place we share new products, trends, and more!    

Insta-inspiration you need to see.

Instagram continues to boom, and the industry’s top retailers and experts have taken it in stride. You’ll find almost every designer on this app, along with a plethora of fashion icons. Much like Pinterest, Instagram is a visually-focused social media platform—perfect for you brides-to-be! Here are 10 profiles everyone should follow now:

Green Wedding Shoes (@greenweddingshoes)

Loverly (@loverly)

Vera Wang (@verawanggang)

Martha Stewart (@martha_weddings)

The Wedding Chicks (@weddingchicks)

How He Asked (@howheasked)

Bridal Musings (@bridalmusings)

The Style Co. (@thestyleco)

Wedding Party (@weddingpartyapp)

The Wedding Shoppe (@weddingshoppeinc)

Alex Anne Photography

Looking for more?

You can never get enough help when planning your big day. I highly recommend keeping your eye on the amazing influencers above, but there’s more! Subscribe to their newsletters, start building wishlists, and don’t forget about magazines and fashion reports. Watch runway shows on YouTube, see what the stars are wearing on the red carpet, and follow your favorite brands on Facebook and Twitter. Whatever you do, just remember to stay organized and remember that this is your big day. Make sure it shows off your personal style and the love story you’re lucky to be a part of! Where do you find your inspiration? Share your favorite blogs, websites, and more in a comment below!