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Sprite Redux and Tutorial (in Desc) — Description
So I decided to redesign my Grooms bird because it looked weird next to the bride bird I made considering it was so small in comparison, so I went ahead and just did a completely new sprite

So I'll describe the 8 steps I take in spriting below, and you can look at the above sprites are reference for each step I sprite on MS Paint, so any editing program should work!

1. Sketch: Grab colors, I don't care which ones, and draw the rough outline. I usually draw every body part that is important to the sprite.
--> In this case, the head, body, and tail were all going to be very important. Also, this sprite is based on a groom so I knew that the collar and tie would also be significant features.

2. Base Outline: Next, grab a black pencil (if you are using an advanced editing program, feel free to do this on a new layer), and go through creating a clean outline, I do this one pixel at a time, some people just go back over and do another outline and then clean it up.
--> Don't worry about making it too perfect, in the next step you'll see why. I generally just try and remember that pokemon sprites don't have too many sharp edges unless it's a point or something, well, sharp. In this sprite, everything is smooth except for the tip of the tail, the crest on the head, the tie's tip, and the talons.

3. Edit the Outline: Now, erase the colors you first used (or hide the layer) and go through fixing up your outline. This becomes pretty tedious, but I find it to be the best way then just editing while coloring.
--> I fixed the tail some here, also the collar, and I believe I edited the wings also. Again, you don't have to be perfect, you will likely end up fixing things when we get to the next few stages, I always end up changing bits and pieces of the outline.

4. Colors: Find your colors and enter the base colors as needed. I like to get my colors from official sprites or other sprites I've already made, this create consistency in the color spectrum, then just use a paint bucket and add color where you want it.
--> Here I used the crest of a Meowth for the gold, and the White and Black I got from my Bride sprite (on the top version), and I believe the bottom is from Zekrom's colour palette.

5. Shading: Begin adding your shadows.
--> There really is no science to this except that your light source comes from either: The top Left, or wherever the pokemon is looking. You don't want to add too much shadow, because it can then wash out the base color. Also, the shadow should be added where you want there to be some depth and details specifically. I did the rounded shadow on the gems on this guy's tail, also did a small flatter part on the head crest, their is some detailing in the beak to add dimension, and the most notable is the wing where the shadow is along the edge to make it look less flat.

6. Outline: Now let's fix up the outline. Using the color that is next darkest to your shadow, you'll go through the outline and add it in where the light hits it, or where you need for their to be distinction.
--> Again, no exact science. This is a little harder and takes some practice, but once you've got it down it looks good. What I know most people do is they'll create a pallet of backgrounds and put their sprite on it to make sure the outline looks good on all palettes. In this sprite, the white has 3 outline colors before the black, so this step is repeated several times.

7. Black/Outline: Now you have to add in your 'black.' This is the darkest color in your sprite, usually people will use true black for this, I like to use an off black to soften the sprite a little bit.
--> I used two different Black's here, their is one on the white and one on the black and gold

8. Editing and Adding: Now you just need to go through and add in the little details, fix the little mistakes, and overall make the sprite look pretty.
--> Here is where I usually add the eyes, fix any little outline errors, and add the details. I went ahead and detailed the eye, fixed the head, and added highlights to some of the gold that gets more light. I also added wedding bands to the legs, which I think are a nice touch personally.

I HOPE THIS HELPS SOME!