Break your wedding plans down into easy steps. First of all, take some time to celebrate your engagement and just be happy together. This time is special for you and should be savoured, you won't get it back, take lots of pictures and write lots of notes if you can to preserve the memories.
When you start planning your wedding it is important that you sit down with your partner to discuss what you want for your special day, make sure you do this before sitting down with parents who may want to try and take over the planning. It's your day, do it your way.
Make a list, if you are going to use a computer or diary make sure you have them to hand during your discussions with your partner so you can make notes. The first thing you have to do is set a date as this will dictate your busget which will in turn dictate the number of guests and also your venue.
Your Wedding List
Here are some ideas of what to include in your list and the order you should discuss them in:
The Basics
- Date of Wedding - do you want a winter or summer wedding? Will you save for a year first?
- Type of Wedding - will you have a traditional church wedding, registry office, or liscensed venue?
- Venue - once you have decided on what type of wedding you are having you can start looking at venues. If you need to book a registrar as well as your venue do it now.
- Number of guests - this will be dictated by the venue you have chosen and also the busget, are you having a small intimate wedding of family only or will you be inviting lots of friends as well? Draw up a guest list on the computer in a table with the following headings: Name, Date of invite sent, RSVP received, Numbers coming, day time/evening/both, gift received, Thank you note sent. Don't forget the last two columns as they will remind you to send thank you notes when needed.
Wedding Themes
- Decide on a colour theme for the wedding - this will help you when it comes to decorations, stationary, wedding outfits and many other things.
- Start shopping for a dress! Don't forget that you need to co-ordinate your outfit with the men and the bridesmaids as well as standing out from them all at the same time. Make sure you try on lots of different dresses as they all look different sat on the rail. Remember some wedding dresses can take up to six months to arrive from the date of order and you still need time for fittings as well.
- Decide on your wedding party, will you have lots of bridesmaids and flower girls or just a maid of honour and the best man? Once you have done this start looking for their outfits. Bridesmaids dresses can take up to three months to arrive.
Organising Your Event
- Chose your stationary and get the invites ordered and sent out. Make sure to include RSVP cards in a stamped address envelope, with any menu cards needed, directions or hotel details including cost of rooms and dress requirements.
- Chose your rings and start looking into your honeymoon destinations, don't forget to change the name on that passport!
- Have you thought of a gift list? As soon as invites are received people will start to ask what you want as a gift. By having a gift list with one store you can keep track of what items are bought and who by so you can send thank you notes to the purchaser.
- There isn't much left to do now, chose your flowers, cake and start purchasing your decorations for the venues, will you have balloons, flowers or both on the tables?
- Remember to update your guest lists as you receive your RSVP's in the post and book your hair and make up for the day.
The Last Thing To Do
- Relax, the last few things to do are buying presents for your family and the wedding party.
By following the above list you will cover all the major items in your wedding planning guide and keep you up to date with your organisation skills while you find that life gets put on the backburner for a while.
 |
