You're Engaged, Now What?

NEW YORK, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Valentines Day is hands down the most romantic day of the year to get engaged: In fact, 40% of all engagements happen between the winter holidays and the day cupid arrives, according to the Web's leading wedding planning resource, The Knot (http://www.theknot.com/) (NASDAQ: KNOT) . That translates to nearly one million couples that begin their wedding planning journey between the months of January and February each year.

With all the details and expenses that go into planning a wedding, today's brides and grooms face big challenges and even bigger pressures to plan the perfect day -- from the rehearsal dinner to the reception and the postwedding brunch (nevermind, the honeymoon!). To help these busy couples achieve the wedding of their dreams while maintaining their sanity, The Knot reveals the 5P's system. Like the 4Cs of ring shopping, these five easy-to-remember to-dos are the key to planning the perfect wedding -- sans stress.

1) PICK YOUR PEOPLE: Whether its 50 or 250, forgo the stresses and arguments that six rounds of guest list cuts will create by settling on an actual number at the very start of the planning process. Each group (the bride's parents, the groom's parents, and the couple) then gets a subtotal that they can fill with the friends and family they choose. Not only will you save yourself from all of the family bickering, but it will help make many other key decisions such as the reception site, the food, and the centerpieces.

2) PICK YOUR PRIORITIES: What do you care most about? Is it serving your guests a fabulous meal? Is it keeping the dance floor packed? Is it making all your guests drop their jaws in awe of your gorgeous gown? Determine the three elements that matter most to you as a couple (and as a family) before you plan. In doing so, you can allocate more of your time and budget to the elements that matter most to you -- and find ways to save on the items you care less about. The Knot suggests that couples start with the reception site and the entertainment (because they can make or break a party) and advises couples to put photography up top as well (because the photos last forever).

3) PICK YOUR PROS: It can take weeks -- even months -- to coordinate in- person meetings with vendors. But you can seriously cut down the time and the stress by doing the bulk of your research through the Internet. Utilize online resource directories to help narrow down your choices on everything from the venue to the band. (This is especially helpful if you are planning your wedding from out of town, like 4 out of every 10 couples today). Visit TheKnot.com/vendors to search resources in your area. Pick no more than four vendors in each category to review, and visit no more than two. Once you've received the proposals, hit TheKnot.com message boards to find recommendations on other couples' experiences before you sign on the dotted line.

4) PICK A PERSONALITY: What's in a theme? Essentially every single detail of your wedding! Consider how easy deciding on florals and favors will be if they're centered on one idea: a season? A color? A motif? A monogram? Whether it's French Royalty or Rustic Tuscan, Shabby Chic Beach or a Black and White Ball, Preppy Yacht Club or Moroccan Night Club -- they all bring to mind framework for choosing every element-from the invites to the cake. Cut out photos from home design, travel, and fashion magazines that inspire you, and bring them with you to meetings as a source of inspiration for your vendors.

5) PICK A PALETTE: Save time, money, and eye-rolls with this quick and simple way to outfit your bridesmaid team. Set the color based on your overall wedding palette, and then send them off to find something suitable for the big day. Don't worry -- you can maintain some kind of control by suggesting the fabric that would be best for your affair, or request that they steer clear of plunging necklines. But, by making the decision ultimately theirs, you'll have happier maids, and more time to focus on more important things -- like your dress!

To schedule an interview with editor in chief Carley Roney about wedding trends, tips, and etiquette, or to speak with real couples, get statistics, or obtain print-ready photos, email Melissa Bauer in The Knot Press Office at mbauer@theknot.com or call 212.219.8555 x1020.

About The Knot Inc.

The Knot Inc. (Nasdaq: KNOT; http://www.theknot.com/) is a leading life stage media and services company. The Company's flagship brand, The Knot, is the nation's leading wedding resource that reaches over one million engaged couples each year through the Web, newsstands, bookstores, national television, and more. Its award-winning website, TheKnot.com, is the most- trafficked online wedding destination. The Company also offers a diverse collection of print publications including national and regional wedding magazines, seven books, a popular TV series on The Oxygen Network, a Video On Demand (VOD) service for Comcast Cable, and content distribution partnerships with MSN and Scripps Howard. The Knot Inc. has recently launched several brands targeted before and beyond the wedding day, including newlywed resource The Nest (http://www.thenest.com/), party-planning portal PartySpot.com, teen site PromSpot.com, and online personals site GreatBoyfriends.com. The Knot Inc. is based in New York and has several other offices across the country.