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"Yes!" The day you've been waiting for is finally here! Now that you've agreed to the marriage proposal, it's time to start planning. A wedding without a plan is often a disaster.
With so much to coordinate, it's amazing that weddings happen at all! There are so many details that need to be worked out. The bride and groom are usually holding full-time jobs, so time is always at a premium. The big secret to a successful wedding is -- planning. A well-thought out plan starts with the selection of the perfect wedding date and ends with the couple's arrival at a romantic honeymoon destination. This is the only way to keep nerves from fraying and budgets from being blown.
Wedding Budget
There are plenty of tools available to help plan your wedding, so you must decide which tool will work best for you. Then make sure you use the tool you've selected. Wedding planning tools range in price, therefore, you will need to take a step backward and think for a moment before you go spending any money. The b-word (budget) is crucial because it's what will keep you and your partner (and anyone else funding the festivities) from going into debt. Sure, everyone wants the big day to be magical! However, since wedding costs can rapidly spiral out of control, a wedding needs to begin with a budget.
To determine the wedding budget, start by determining who is going to contribute towards the finances and how much. After the total dollar amount has been determined, then, and only then, can you begin to allocate the budget to the different parts of the wedding.
Wedding Date
You need to begin with a wedding date. A wedding during the busy summer months will cost far more than one that's held off-season. Not only will the wedding date impact the price you'll pay for everything, from the function hall to the photographer, it also impacts availability.
So, with budget and date in hand, what's next? When planning your wedding, work backwards from the "big day".
Here's a timeline leading up to the wedding day.
6 to 12 months before your wedding date is the time when you need to make most of your reservations and put down any deposits. You will need a close estimate of the number of guests you'll have because each wedding location can accommodate only a certain number of people. Here's what needs to be accomplished during this timeframe:
* Select and reserve locations for the wedding ceremony and the reception
* Select and confirm wedding party attendants for both bride and groom
* Arrange transportation for bridal party on the big day
* Interview and reserve the: musician/DJ, photographer/videographer, floral arranger, caterer, wedding cake baker, wedding official, wedding planner or consultant
* Place engagement information in local newspaper
* Select wedding party attire and coordinate fittings
4 months prior to the wedding date is the time to make sure everything is in place:
* Finalize your guest list including complete mailing address for invitations
* Order wedding invitations
* Begin planning the wedding shower
* Register at bridal registries for shower and wedding gifts -- if not registering at national chains, remember to register at stores that are local to the families of both bride and groom
* Reconfirm that bridal party dresses are on order and mens rental attire is coordinated
* Reserve suite for bride and groom's wedding night
* Order wedding rings
* Select a destination for the honeymoon, make hotel and airfare reservations, get passports
* Reserve block of hotel rooms for out-of-town wedding guests
* Agree where you will live once you're married
2 months before your wedding date:
* Address and mail wedding invitations
* Coordinate details for marriage license in state where marriage ceremony will take place
* Select the music you want for the ceremony and the reception
* Make preparations for rehearsal dinner
* Coordinate, order, or make decorations and favors for wedding
1 month before your wedding date:
* Have the wedding shower
* Coordinate and schedule all hair and make-up appointments
* Complete final fittings for bridal dress and all bridal attendants
* Purchase gifts for bridal party and groomsmen
2 weeks before your wedding date:
* Get marriage license
* Prepare seating arrangements and prepare place cards
* Reconfirm all details with those who have been hired
* Give final count to caterer
* Begin process of changing name on credit cards, social security card, driver's license, bank accounts
* Make sure accommodations for out-of-town guests are in order
* Prepare change of address paperwork, pack and get ready to move (if applicable)
* Practice hair and make-up styles; grooms should get hair cut now
Day before your wedding:
* Hold rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
* Get some rest
The Big Day:
* Eat before the ceremony, so you don't get sick
* Make it to the ceremony on time
* Bring wedding rings
* Have a means of paying the final tab for all services rendered and have cash for tips
* Smile pretty for your pictures
* Be proud because you've just pulled off a major feat! | 