Before you install your first website, it’s important to make notes of: Your layout, navigation, media, features, user contributions (either blog posts or comments), etc.
Then GO AHEAD and INSTALL WordPress!
Here are my TOP 20 plugins from my long list at https://profiles.wordpress.org/amikeliunas#content-favorites
If you are going to build similar WordPress sites, to save TIME, install either https://wordpress.org/plugins/multi-plugin-installer/ or https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-quick-setup/ [the second one even cleans up some of the defaults]
Then all you need to do it put the names “/url/path-to-zip” of the plugin the text box and press install button and all those plugins will be installed for you!
https://wordpress.org/plugins/tesla-login-customizer/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-spamshield/
INSTEAD OF JETPACK ABOVE INSTALL ALL THESE:
http://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-7/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/dynamic-widgets/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/so-widgets-bundle/screenshots/
Source for last ideas was https://wptavern.com/15-plugins-to-get-jetpack-functionality-without-using-jetpack