Category: Wedding

The Importance of Wedding Planning

Regardless of the style and size of your wedding and wedding budget, it is imperative that you take the time to include wedding planning. This does not necessarily mean that you need to hire a professional wedding planner or coordinator, but you will be able to pull off the biggest event of your life much more smoothly, and with much less stress, if you consider hiring someone to take care of the wedding planning.

Individuals who are on a limited budget may consider asking someone close to them, perhaps a relative or friend, to perform this role and handle the wedding planning for them. Traditionally, this role has been unofficially filled by the mother of the bride; who handles all kinds of wedding planning details. As weddings became more sophisticated over the course of time, families began to outsource this position in order that both the bride and her mother could share this very special time without a lot of hassle and stress.

Nevertheless, when budget constraints are a concern, asking someone close to you to handle the wedding planning can take a tremendous strain off the bride.

The individual who handles the wedding planning can handle as much or as little as the bride wishes. Even if the bride and groom are only planning to have a small, intimate ceremony it is well worth the effort to begin wedding planning early; at least six months prior to the big day. This is especially important if the happy couple wishes to reserve a popular site to hold their nuptials. Many of the most popular sites for weddings become booked as much as one year in advance. This is also true for caterers, photographers and many other important wedding service providers.

In many cases, it can prove to be financially beneficial to begin wedding planning early as well. It’s possible to take advantage of numerous discounts and deals by shopping early and at strategies times during the year; especially after the prime wedding season. Usually this is only possible when brides begin to plan their weddings several months in advance.

If the wedding is going to formal in natural, it’s an absolute must to begin wedding planning early; preferably a year ahead of time. Not only must sites and vendors be reserved in advance, but a formal wedding usually also includes an extensive guest list. Most brides who plan formal weddings find it necessary to not only send out wedding invitations six to eight weeks in advance but to send out save the date notices as well. This is particularly important if the wedding is going to be held out of town and travel accommodations will need to be made or when a wedding is planned to be held during a popular social season.

Initially, by handling wedding planning in advance brides can handle all the numerous details that go along with a wedding at a steady, even pace rather than at breakneck speed just a few weeks before she walks down the aisle. This strategy allows the bride to enjoy her big day, assured that all the details have been handled.

Starting Your Wedding Plans

Everyone dreams of having a flawless wedding, one which runs smoothly from start to end. But as the day begins to draw closer and closer the faultless wedding seems to develop into an unattainable accomplishment. A wedding is a massive event to direct and organize, it furthermore is a very meaningful event to, and so there is a tone of pressure to get it exact. But a faultless wedding can be done, it isn’t an unfeasible goal and the answer is very simple.

In the end it all comes down to planning and preparation, get this correct and you’re equipped for every eventuality which might occur. If you allow for a life-size budget for this event you can hire a wedding planner to help take on a large portion of the planning and preparation or if you don’t have the money for a wedding planner you can take on the responsibilities yourself. Though I suggest if you don’t have a lot of understanding in event management you should find as much information on wedding planning you can, it can be the difference from saving yourself $100 to well up to and more than $1000.

Now I know many people out there have really taken a leap of faith and winged it, with hardly any planning or budgeting and ended up with a tremendous day. But that doesn’t occur often; you have to have a whole lot of luck to pull it off, and honestly if this is what you’re thinking of doing the odds are against you. The period you take to plan and prepare your wedding is really going to pay off to help the event run smoothly. The longer you take to organize a wedding the easier its going to be to insure everything is in place and prepared for the big event. Even if you prepare 3 months in advance you might struggle booking transportation or even a hall for your gests, which can very quickly become a main focus of stress for any bride before there big day.

You see a wedding isn’t just another event it’s THE event which for a lot of individuals only get once in their entire life! And will be remembered by you and your partner forever. How ever you decide to hold your wedding day, at all times remember it’s never too soon or too late to start planning a wedding.

Reduce the Stress of Wedding Planning

Planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful events in your life. You are worried about everything just wanting everything to go as planned and you may feel a bit overwhelmed. As you get caught up in all the details, it can be very easy to lose sight of why you are getting married in the first place. Tensions rise with vendors, tempers flare with family members and soon, you may even lose sight of the fact that your wedding is supposed to be a celebration and forget why you are getting married in the first place. Here are some tips to help you get through your wedding plans with as little stress as possible.

1. Give yourself enough time. When you are setting the date for your wedding, you may want to schedule as quickly as possible. However, this can really increase your stress level, particularly if you try to set the date too fast. Keep in mind that many popular reception venues require a six month notice and there be more of a delay in securing the church. Research the wait times in your local area first and plan your wedding around these times instead of trying to force them to work on your schedule. It may take a little longer to get married, but you’ll have the added benefit of actually enjoying the process.

2. Stick with your dreams. If you are feeling forced to conform to traditional norms in order to have the “perfect wedding,” it is easy to start feeling miserable quickly. To avoid this, plan your wedding according to your own dreams, not someone else’s. No matter how hard your family or friends pressure you to have the wedding they would like you to have, stick to your guns. If you want it to be simple, make it simple. If you want it ornate, make it as ornate as possible. When you’re working towards a goal that you really want, it is a lot less stressful.

3. Know your limitations and work with them. If you are trying to do everything on your own, it is very easy to get overwhelmed, particularly if you do not have a flair for organization. If you feel that you have the ability to plan your own wedding, and can do it on your own, more power to you. However, everyone can use a little help. Ask a trusted friend for assistance or a family member. Just remember to set down the rules of what you want so that you don’t fall into the trap of having too many cooks in the kitchen. If you honestly do not have the time to properly plan your own wedding, you may want to consider hiring a professional wedding planner to assist you.

Getting married is a wonderful event that you will remember for the rest of your life. When you are planning your special day remember that you are in control. Don’t let other people dictate to you what your wedding should be. If your wedding is an expression of the love you and your fiance share, you will both enjoy it and planning it will be much less stressful.

Getting Started With Wedding Plans

The thought of making wedding plans can be very overwhelming at first, but don’t fret. Simply ease any worries you have by looking around at wedding ideas. You can go online or check with party planners in your local area to see what they have for ideas. Inspiration can spark a world of ideas, but you have to start here. Your wedding is a big day and making everything right is important, but if you do not have it all together, it can turn into a disaster. Here are some tips to getting started with wedding plans.

Establishing Your Wedding Date
This is not always easy. Planning a year or so into the future is really hard to do, but it does not have to be hard. You can go by dates available at any venue that you are considering to the wedding. Simply tell the venue staff what season or month you are thinking of getting married and they will let you know what their availability is. If you do not wish to be stuck on someone else’s schedule, consider planning a date that is special to the both of you, like the day you met. You could could go to wedding shows to get inspiration for wedding dates too.

Develop Your Wedding Budget
Let’s face it, weddings are expensive and having a budget is important. There are so many options and little things you could easily go wild over, but if you refer back to your spending plan with shopping, you will keep everyone a little happier. A wedding budget is simply your best tool to guide your through all your wedding planning. No matter if you are going cheap or luxurious, keep the pennies tight and do not go overboard with things that do not really matter. A good idea to get started budgeting early is to go cheap on your wedding invitations so you have room left to spend on your location plans. Hire some talented with design looking to break into business by offering free or low costs services.

Don’t Forget the Honeymoon Plans
Although the wedding plans alone can be very stressful and time consuming, do not forget the honeymoon plans. This should be very important to both the bride and groom. Going on your honeymoon will give you time alone with your newlywed. Spending time together without interruptions can help establish your new relationship and help to find out more about each other. Your honeymoon should be considered into your budget as well. A good amount of money should go into this event because it will last longer than the wedding day. You will spend more money on food and the hotel stay. You may want to spend on events in the area you will be visiting as well. So save up.

Your wedding plans are important and can help you find yourself. You may also find your man will be proud of you for taking care of everything, but you can always ask him to help with the plans. Your maid of honor can also come in handy, so be heard speak out when you need help to plan your wedding.

Your Initial Wedding Planning To Do List

And so you just got engaged! As soon as the first shock of getting engaged wears off your hones and you realize to take your eyes off from that sparkly stone in your finger, then it is high time that you start to plan for your wedding day. Do not feel overwhelmed by the tasks of being a bride to be. Here are some of the first few things that you need to do to jumpstart your wedding plans.

Set a wedding timetable. The first thing that you should consider is the duration of your engagement. This usually depends on various factors such as your desired wedding date and how many months you intend to prepare. The traditional engagement can last from six months to a year or more. If you got engaged in the busy holiday season but have always dreamt of a summer beach wedding, then you have enough time to plan for the big day. Always remember that the best vendors and wedding reception venues usually book a year in advance.

Begin to envision your wedding style. Your wedding style will reflect your location and reception sites, be it a backyard or lavish ballroom reception. Talk with your fiancé about your wedding location and start looking for ceremonial and reception sites to fit your wedding style.

Come up with a realistic and achievable wedding budget. Dollars, and not dreams, will ultimately become the major determining factor for the style and size of your wedding. Some of the factors that will affect your wedding price tag include the following:

· Wedding date/ time. Weekends, summer months and twilight weddings tend to be more costly for receptions.

· Formalities. The more formal you want your reception to be, the more costly it becomes. You need to match your reception area with the food, décor and the entire upscale tone of your wedding.

· Location. Weddings in metro areas are more expensive compared to those done in the suburbs.

Formulate your guest list. As you start to fill your wedding guest list, there are certain factors that you need to consider. You can be limited by the size of your wedding site. If your parents are adamant about inviting all your friends and family, then you also need to hear them out, especially when they are footing a big portion of the cost. The more people you are expecting on your big day, the more expensive it becomes. Your budget can significantly affect the length of your guest list.

Consider the services of a wedding consultant. If you think you are too busy with work, then you might as well hire a wedding consultant to help you prepare for this memorable event. Let your wedding planner handle everything from the engagement party to the honeymoon. You can also hire a wedding consultant to make a wedding blueprint for you that will include schedule, budge and a list of reputable wedding vendors and other site choices. It would also be helpful to hire a coordinator on your wedding day to make sure everything goes as planned.

Begin your gown and wedding bands shopping. It is never too early to think about the design of your wedding dress. Read magazines about necklines, trains, hues and silhouettes that can help flatter your figure. Ask your fiancé to go with you in jewelry stores and shop for wedding rings. You can buy your rings months before hand and have it on a ‘lay away’ plan to make it easier on the pocket.

How to Start Your Wedding Planning

Wedding planning can be a complicated and drawn out processes if the right approach is not taken. However, when done logically and far enough in advance, it can be much less stressful. Following proper guidelines can also ensure that the future event is successful and enjoyable.

Within nine months to a year of a wedding several things must take place. The couple should announce the engagement to family and friends and select a wedding date. By giving people plenty of notice they will make sure they can attend. The longer a couple takes to do this the less likely it is that guests can rearrange their schedules.

Hire a coordinator to help with the planning process and to make sure everything runs smoothly. Decide where the ceremony will take place, if it will have a theme, and how many will receive invites. Figure out if the event is casual or formal. Decide what time of day it will take place-during the morning, afternoon or evening.

It is important to decide how much money can be spent on the event, and how bills will be shared. Purchase a planner to write down and remember any appointments and find a way to organize and track payments.

Decide whether or not children are welcome. Reserve the ceremony location and any officials, priests, rabbis or ministers. Also book the location for the reception.

The bridal gown should be selected and ordered. Pick out color themes. Make sure that the necessary passports, visas or other documentation is on hand for traveling or marriage licensing.

When the big day is six to nine months away, further preparations are necessary. Caterers, photographers, musicians, bands, videographers, and florists should all be booked. Select the wedding party and let them know their roles.

Bridesmaids and flower girls need to be identified and their attire chosen. The bride and grooms mothers also need their outfits selected. If not already done, gift registries must be made at this time.

Four to six weeks prior to the ceremony, fit the bridesmaid dresses. Reserve rentals, book decorators, finalize the guest list and order invitations. Finalize details for the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon night.

Make sure guests traveling from out of town have proper accommodations. Begin shopping for gifts for the wedding party, fiance and parents. Buy appropriate accessories for bride and bridesmaids. Order the bands.

When the ceremony is two to four months in the future, take engagement pictures and pick out a wedding cake. Book wedding day transportation, address and send invitations, book hair and makeup appointments, and get a marriage license.

Wedding Planning Help to Get Prepared Well in Time

If you are like most couples in love and planning to get engaged, it’s likely that you will get married about a year after promises are exchanged. With a year to go, the responsibility of throwing the biggest bash you will ever handle may seem completely manageable. It’s surprises most people how quickly time tends to fly by. Let your own wedding not take you by surprise when it swings by. In this wedding planning help guide, let’s go over a few things you need to start preparing for right away when your wedding is still a good 10 to 12 months away.

It might seem like a no-brainer, but picking the wedding rings is something that does need a little time thinking about. You need to do this ahead of time because these are reminders of your devotion to each other that you’ll be wearing on your fingers for the rest of your lives. You don’t want to make a choice of getting that you will regret. You’ll need it take a friend of yours and a friend of the bride’s too to find a ring that will best suit you both. When in doubt, it’s best to always pick a wedding ring that’s a classic design – a solitaire for instance. Picking something special and expressive may seem fun when you’re young and adventurous. It simply won’t seem that way 20 years down the line.

Sit together for your wedding planning; help each other decide what budget should be something you really can work on. Where does the money exactly come from? If it comes from the bride’s parents, you’ll need to make sure that they are prepared. You’ll need to bring them into your plans early on so that they can help you decide on everything. If they aren’t prepared, you need to think of where else to head – perhaps raid your own savings. Usually, the bride’s parents pay for the wedding, and the groom’s parents pay for a rehearsal dinner. It makes them feel included in everything, and that’s something you can’t really take away from them.

Depending on the kind of budget you have to work with, you’ll become aware at this point what kinds of options are open to you. A formal wedding where everyone’s dressed up in black ties is always more expensive to host than a casual one. The food becomes more expensive for instance in a formal arrangement. You could actually decide on a formal event if you don’t have that many people to invite. It could cost less this way.

It’s that it takes time to decide on the kind of venue that might suit your wedding plans best. Depending on the casual or formal character of your wedding, you’ll have an option in various churches, museums or anything else. If you have special locations in mind, you probably want to make reservations well ahead of time. These places are known to get booked up in season. You’ll probably need to seek wedding planning help from a close older family member who knows all your relatives and friends. You don’t want to make the mistake of leaving someone out. It takes time to really think of all the right people. If you can really get all the difficult decisions out of the way several months ahead of the wedding, you’ll have all the time you need to think about the intricate stuff as the day draws closer.

Some Wedding Planning Tips

Looking forward to your wedding? Have you started the research and gathering of the information you’ll need to plan it properly? It is better to start now instead of ending up in a stressful situation. Here are some wedding planning tips.

Who is doing what?

Sit down with your future spouse and discuss openly and honestly the “planning” responsibilities. Who will plan the entertainment? Who will plan the menu? Who will decide on the baker and see it through? The many, many details are important.

Visit a couple of wedding shows

There are lots of wedding shows going on all the time and you can attend a wedding show or two in your area. The best strategy is to attend two shows, actually. The first time, your purpose can be “information gathering”. See what vendors offer, look at jewelry, gowns, hairstyles, cakes (and taste them too), tuxedos, flowers, balloons, etc. The second visit should be around four-to-six months before your wedding with the purpose of making appointments with vendors you like, asking detailed questions about their services and gathering information about pricing.

The wedding sites of your dream

Write a list of sites that you have always dreamed of having your wedding. On the beach, in the largest cathedral in the city, in the country, at the Country Club, at your dad’s beautiful backyard. There must be hundreds of sites available in your city or in another city (destination weddings is the rage). Narrow the sites to three of your favorites, then check to see if your wedding date is available at the site before making the visit.

How many wedding guests?

The size of the guest list is one of the most important issues to discuss. You know the rule of 50% of the guests should come from the bride’s family and 50% from the groom’s family.

When planning the guest list, consider two components: number of guests invited or the wedding budget. Usually, a small wedding consist of 100 guests or less. These are normally a smaller budget because the reception (food and refreshments) consist of 40% of the cost of the event. However, a small wedding could have a large budget of say $20,000 consisting of the finest food and wine and other accommodations. The small wedding budget is in the range of $1,000 to $10,000.

In average, a wedding consist of 200-300 guests which means the average budget may come as a surprise to you. Providing a seated affair or buffet, champagne and entertainment at the reception consist of 40% of the budget. An average wedding in the USA for the last couple of years is $22,000. Of course, there are many ways to slim the budget with a little creativity.

So, what is a large wedding? A large wedding can consist of 300-500 guests. This is mostly an extravagant affair, and the budget isn’t as important as the celebration itself. Providing a wonderful reception for a large number of guests can really add up! With an unlimited budget, why not serve a savory menu and serve the best refreshments for your once-in-a-lifetime event? Usually, a large wedding cost anywhere from $40,000 to $200,000.

It is always a good thing to plan a wedding well in advance. Be careful however, not to let your wedding planning get in the way of your normal responsibilities. If you feel overwhelmed, talk to someone you trust, such as a minister, priest, rabbi, or counsellor, who work with engaged couples daily and understand the stress you may experience.