I hope that you took advantage of the free budget planner from the last blog. If not, there's still the opportunity to go and get it! It is a lifesaver and helps to guide you throughout this process of planning your wedding, whether it's soon in June or later in October. Most planners give you a checklist to plan your wedding at least one year in advance, but when he pops the question or she finally says "yes," you might want to go ahead and move fast forward ahead.
This blog post, we're going to wrap up everything neatly with a bow and cross all "t's" and dot all "i's". So here we go:
Perfect Planning
Alright, you have your maid or matron of honor in place, and it's her duty to get things kicked off and get your engagement or bridal shower on the roll. I suggest that elaborate planning is not the way to go. Nice restaurants where you can rent out rooms are a hit for quick planning. Another nice place is a convention or community center or even your place of worship. Make sure you're checking your budget, and communicating with your maid/matron of honor on how much you have to spend so that the vendor and venue research stays within the time and budget for your wedding.The Perfect Dress
Have you been biting your nails in search of the perfect wedding dress? Stop biting and take into consideration these nifty tips that can help streamline your search just in the nick of time. Wedding dresses can be found on sales sites, yard sales, trade sites, consignment stores, as well as bridal shops that have discounted dresses. Your perfect dress doesn't have to be the most expensive thing in your budget. Remember, you have to live after the wedding! You want a dress that speaks to your personality and compliment you as well as the occasion. Keep checking and have a sketch in your mind or on paper of what you want and do thorough searches for what you'd like. Keep in mind also that you have minimal time for fittings and if dieting to get in your dress is on your to-do list, make sure you purchase your dress at least one size larger, because most retail or wholesale outlets run their dresses a size smaller.Who's Coming
This has to be one of the most stressful checklist items for any wedding, whether you plan six months in advance or two years in advance. Guessing who's coming can be nerve-wrecking when you're working on a budget and with limited time. Your guest list plays a crucial role in your wedding planning because it determines how much food your caterer makes, the size of your venue, as well as how much to spend on miscellaneous items like plates, forks, drinkware as well as paper and stationery for invitations and programs. Narrow down your list by speaking with the groom and going over your budget. It's important that you keep that guide in front of you. If you both have a large family, have an intimate setting with the immediate family and friends, and plan a nice large get-together some time down the road that just serves as a reception or welcome to the newlyweds. You want to also make sure that you account for out-of-town guests and search for hotels, inns, and other accommodations for your guests. Make sure that you're being considerate of their budgets as well to come and share in your special day.The Cake
The wedding cake is the next to most important checklist item to a bride. The groom may not care what the cake looks like, just as long as it tastes good, but even in that, there is a process to finding just the right cake. Take your time and shop around. Go to social media and post recommendations on cake decorators and bakers. Make sure that you have your amount on what you intend to spend on the cake, your colors, your designs, as well as how many you plan to feed. All of this information is a time saver when consulting with a cake vendor. Schedule at least two tasting appointments to make sure that it fits into your schedule as well as the vendor's. And one mistake some brides make is that they don't take someone with them. Have a second opinion! Your taste buds and your companion's taste buds may be different. You want the cake to please you - but remember your guests are eating it too. And this also goes for the caterers. Use these same tips when planning your menu and arrangements for your food for your reception, rehearsal dinner or special meals. (Click HERE for 10 questions to ask your cake baker. Courtesy of theknot.com)Entertainment
Are you planning on having entertainment at your reception? What about the ceremony? Who is singing, dancing, speaking, etc.? Get these people in line early on, and make sure you provide them with an itinerary of your rehearsals as well as expectations of them. Some brides leave it up to their entertainment and vendors, and then have a headache on their big day because they didn't spell out the expectations clearly. If you're hiring a DJ, make sure you give them a song list or a list of what is not acceptable to play. Make it clear how the payment arrangements will be as well as time expectations on when they are to arrive, where they are to set up, what part of the service they are to play and when they can break down to leave.Planning a wedding is work. There is no easy way to plan it, but it can be done with strategic planning and budgeting. A wedding in June doesn't have to be thrown together, or condensed. You can have the day of your dreams with the right mindset and goal to get it done. And remember, it's not all about the big day, but about sharing with those you love the special day of being one with your partner forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment