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Wedding Planning Guide
Wedding Planning Guide
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Getting Organized
This is where you can learn about setting a wedding theme that you can carry through the entire ceremony and reception party. Most well planned weddings begin 6-12 months before your chosen your wedding day. This wedding guide assumes a 12 month planning period. If you're planning a simple wedding or have less time for planning simply adjust the dates as needed.
1. Buy a wedding planner or organizer.
2. Talk with your fiancé and your family about your plans. Discuss your budget, wedding style and theme, possible dates, locations, participants and number of guests. At this point you can determine the style of your wedding by writing your wedding vows, choosing wedding songs and selecting an wedding officiate. This will give you some great ideas for wedding themes.
3. Reserve a site for your wedding ceremony, reception and honeymoon destination. We recommend you do this a year in advance. Selecting the best time and location will have a lot to do with the availablity of venues in various cities. Also allow enough time for wedding guests and participants who need to plan time off work and make travel arrangements.
4. Visit dress shops and wedding boutiques and shop for your wedding dress. And don't forget to choose dresses or gowns for your bridesmaids, maid of honor and flower girl. Find appropriate formal or informal apparel for the groomsmen, best man and ring bearer. Maybe you'll change clothes for the reception. Hmmm, what to wear? Think about what you'll be wearing when you leave the reception for your honeymoon. How will you be traveling? What will be the most appropriate attire when you arrive at your destination.
5. Send special invitation cards to the people participating in the wedding ceremony. Give them plenty of time since many participants and wedding guests will have to make travel plans. Announce your engagement to your local newspaper.
6. Shop around town or shop online for caterers, bakers, florists, musicians and photographers about 10 months before your wedding day. This should give you about 2 months to decide. Visit with the person who will perform the wedding ceremony with your fiancé. If you're having a religious ceremony, some faiths require you to attend premarital courses. Review your wedding vows and see if they are appropriate with your chosen officiate. Check local authorities for wedding license requirements and procedures. In some states blood tests are required. If so, make an appointment with your doctor.
7. At this point you have about 8 months before your wedding. Now it's time to hire the caterer, baker, florist, musicians, photographer or any other special services you may require. You should know what kind of wedding dress and order it. Also, decide what gift ideas you can give to your guests. You may want to use a gift registry for wedding presents. This will help your guests know what you like and need to start out your married life. You don't want to get 15 toasters, do you? If you choose to use a gift registry, check your registry occasionally. If necessary, you can add to it as gifts are purchased.
8. Begin your guest list. The guest list is usually divided evenly between the bride and the groom . It's always a good idea to consult with family members about your list.
9. We recommend checking out honeymoon destinations about 4 to 6 months before the wedding, depending upon whether you chose domestic or international travel. Order your airline tickets early for the best prices and make hotel reservations for your honeymoon.
10. Plan the details with all the wedding services you have chosen 4 to 6 months in advance. Decide on the menu with your caterer. Select your bridal bouquet, ceremony and other flowers, at your online florist. Review the music selections with singers and musicians and check out thier needs for audio equipment. Maybe you just need to order CD's or cassettes for the music.
Book a calligrapher or printing service, limos for the wedding party, a profesional wedding photographer and a portrait photographer. Order wedding stationery, invitations, RSVP cards, maps, programs and thank-you notes. Read your wedding vows and listen to your music to get ideas that may be used in the printed items.
11. Now there are only 4 months before the big day! You should make your honeymoon travel plans by now. Apply for passports if you'll be going out of country. If you're taking your fiancé's name be sure to provide proper documentation for you passport. Also, get professional passport photos. You can take you own passport photos, but it is not recommended unless you know all the technical details, Finalize the guest list by checking for complete names, addresses and zip codes in order to print the envelopes. Mail your invitations early enough for your guest to make travel plans. To ensure you're using the right postage, take one complete invitation to the post office to be weighed.
If you order your wedding dress online or purchase at a local store you may want to choose a local tailer and schedule a fitting. Order the wedding rings if you havn't already done so. Make sure they fit now. Don't be embarrassed at the ceremony. Schedule the rehearsal and make reservations for the rehearsal dinner. Visit a mens formalwear shop if the groom, groomsmen and ushers will be renting their wedding attire. Reserve their rented formal apparel or tuxedos. Be sure to check with all participants about their size requirements. You may have to find a shop that also offers plus-sizes for women or big and tall sizes for men.
12. Visit with your wedding officiant to go over vows, poetry readings and music selections 2 months before the wedding date. Shop for lingerie, travel accessories and honeymoon clothes. If you are getting your hairstyle or makeup done for the wedding, this is a good time to find the right beautician so you can try it and see if you like it. Don't be surprised at the last minute. This is a good time to get together with your fiance and have your portrait taken. Choose gifts for your attendants and wedding favors for your guests.
13. Check your planner and review all your details 6 weeks before your wedding day. Have the final dress fitting if necessary. Make sure you have the rings. Make an appointment with your hairstylist to do a practice run with your headpiece; book her for the wedding day. Get your programs printed and send your wedding announcement to the newspapers.
14. You now have 2 weeks to go. Luckily you've followed all the planning steps so you should be nervous at this point. If you are, talk to your fiance, family and friends for support. Get the marriage license. You can't get married without it. Discuss the types of shots you want with the photographer or videographer. Give written copies of ceremony readings to those doing them. Make sure musicians have the play list in the proper order for your wedding songs. Arrange the seating plan and print table and place cards for the reception. Confirm honeymoon reservations. Break in your new shoes and scuff the soles on a concrete sidewalk or floor to avoid slipping. Try on your wedding dress again, just to be sure. Write toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception.
15. Now there's only 1 week left. Don't wait until the last minute. Pack for the honeymoon now. Get your travel clothes ready. Pack your camera, camcorder and make sure you have digital media, film or batteries. Check about using your ATM card at your honeymoon site. If traveling abroad, purchase a small amount of the local currency. Give the final guest count to your caterer. Check on the wedding cake with the baker and remind him of the date.
Remind all wedding attendants of the time and location of the rehersal dinner and rehearsal. Help them with making arrangements to get there on time. Throw the bridesmaids' party and bachelor's party in the last week, but not the day before the wedding. Too many weddings have been spoiled with the results of partying the night before. Pick up your dress a few days before the wedding.
17. Tomorrow is the big day! Treat yourself and your mom to a manicure. Hold the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. Go to bed early and try to get a good night's sleep.
18. It finally here! The day of the wedding! Eat a good breakfast—nerves don't mix with an empty stomach. Relax in a hot tub or get a massage. Maybe both. Make sure you get there early and have plent of time to get ready. Have fun. You shouldn't have any worries since you've just spent a year planning every detail. Don't sweat the little things that may crop up. Some of the little imperfections make great memories. Let go and enjoy!
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