Wedding Times

There’s no doubt that planning a wedding is a tough and stressful job. There’s so much to do and so little time to do it, it seems. It’s no wonder brides to be get so frazzled. Keep your sanity, avoid turning into a Bridezilla and organize your wedding with these planning tips.

The Basics

Prepare your budget first. Sit down with your partner and anybody that is going to help you pay. Decide what is available to spend on the wedding and jot down a few ideas about where you want to spend the most. There are no rights and wrongs for your priorities, as long as you can identify them now and have an idea on how much you’re willing to spend. As you plan your wedding, there will be slight changes to the budget. That is okay, but stick to it as much as possible otherwise your expenses can spiral out of control.

Next book a location for your ceremony and reception. This is where it’s all going to happen so every other decision is related to this.

After these preliminary tasks are taken care of you can get down to the details. Stay organized so that the details don’t become overwhelming. The first place to start with is a Wedding Binder.

The Wedding Binder

This is a bride-to-be’s best friend when wedding planning. Here’s where you should keep everything wedding related in one place as a quick access reference. Got to any office supply store and buy a large binder, divider tabs that you can write directly on, large envelopes that will fit into the binder, and a punch. Begin by labeling each section. Obvious labels include Dress, Bridesmaids, Guest List, Food, Flowers, Music, Ceremony, and Invitations. Less-obvious ones may include: Out-of-Town Guests, Rental Vendors, and Honeymoon. Always buy more dividers than you think you need so you can add to the binder later.

Keep your time frame, your wedding checklist, and a telephone and address directory in your Wedding Binder. On this list you can include vendors, the wedding party, anyone who you don’t always want to be running around looking for their telephone number. Add a list of wedding gifts. You can add to this list as you receive them include what the gift was and who sent them. This will make life much easier when it’s time to send out thank-you notes.

Make a calendar with large spaces for each date, starting from the date you put your binder together and ending one month after your honeymoon. There are many different meetings and events that you will need to attend in over the next several months and this calendar will help you coordinate them.

The Timeframe

Having a reasonable timeframe written down will make you feel as though you are more in control and help you achieve your wedding planning goals. Here is a basic timeframe:

12 Months Before:

• Decide on possible dates and times for your wedding.

• Decide the size and style of wedding you will have.

• Create your budget.

• Book the venues for the ceremony and reception.

• Decide on who will be officiating your ceremony and book them.

• Decide who you want in your wedding party and ask them if they would do you the honors.

• Pick out your wedding rings.

• Draft a guest list.

• Plan your engagement party.

9 Months Before:

• Order wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses as well as groom’s and groomsmen tuxedos.

• Book the photographer and videographer.

• Book a caterer.

• Book rentals or order decorations, linen, and seat covers.

• Book live entertainment or DJ.

• Book florist.

• Order wedding cake.

• Prepare wedding registry.

• Look at accommodation options for out-of-town guests.

• Plan honeymoon.

6 Months Before:

• Plan the menu.

• Book musicians for the ceremony.

• Book wedding transportation.

• Order wedding stationery, including invitations.

• Research what information is needed for the marriage license.

3 Months Before:

• Decide on final guest list.

• Confirm final order with the florist.

• Reserve men’s wedding attire, if needed.

• Book your hairdresser for the wedding day.

2 Months Before:

• Mail the invitations.

• Choose your wedding vows.

• Confirm final reception menus.

• Finalize ceremony details with musicians, readers, and officiate.

• Print the programs.

• Buy gifts for the parents and the attendants

• Book nail and makeup appointments for the big day (you may have done this when you booked your hair appointment.)

• Schedule the final fitting for your dress.

1 Month Before:

• Apply for a marriage license.

• Organize the rehearsal dinner.

• Meet with the photographer and videographer.

2 Weeks Before:

• Host a party for the wedding party.

• Write speeches.

• Confirm reception details.

• Call to guests that have not sent RSVP.

• Consult with hairstylist and makeup and nail artists.

• Take song lists to DJ or live band.

• Confirm honeymoon details.

1 Week Before:

• Finalize seating chart.

• Hold rehearsal.

• Decide order of attendants.

• Confirm wedding night reservations.

• Deliver final numbers to the caterer.

• Confirm wedding transportation.

• Ask someone to deliver rental items for the day after the wedding.

• Write out checks that need to be handed out on the day of the wedding.

• Pack for the honeymoon.

The Big Day

• Give wedding bands to the best man and maid of honor.

• Give checks to the best man that need to be handed out that day.

• Give parents and attendants their gifts.

After the Wedding:

• Send out thank-you notes to guests.

• Send vendors thank-you letters.

• Arrange for dress to be cleaned and preserved.