Need a Wedding Planner?
January 20th 2007 08:50
Ideally, it would be great to have a wedding planner. Less stress. More time. Sounds good.
But in reality, wedding planners can be very expensive. And at the end of the day, they need your approval for everything anyway, so you end up being quite involved in all the decision making. So why not be your own wedding planner and save a few thousand bucks on the way?
It's easy. Just write up a time line that suits your time frame and everything else will fall into place. Here's my master plan:
12 Months Til The Big "I DO"
- think about the type of wedding you want to have - outdoor? indoor? beach? garden?
- complile a rough draft wedding guest list.
- once you have numbers, you can search for a ceremony and reception venue.
- decide on the wedding date and lock it in if you can.
- try and work out a rough budget about how much you are willing to pay.
- decide on a wedding style/theme - princess? diamonds? funky? modern?
- buy lots of bridal magazines and get some wedding dress ideas!
- attend a bridal show for ideas.
- choose bridesmaids, groomsmen and anyone else you want involved in your wedding.
10 Months Til The Big "I DO"
- look into catering of required.
- look into reserving a celebrant.
- look into pricing for florists, photographers, entertainers, musicians, dj's etc.
8 Months Til The Big "I-DO"
- get cracking with the wedding dress.
- get cracking with the bridesmaids' dresses.
- tell your mum and our mother-in-law to start looking for a dress for themselves.
- think about where you would like to go for your honeymoon.
- think about cake ideas.
6 Months Til The Big "I DO"
- do another guest list.
- order/print invitation.
- start preparing or order other printed materials such as menus, name cards etc...
- start looking for bonboniere
- finalise venues, especially the payment of a deposit if you haven't already done so.
- start thinking about your gift registry.
3 Months Til The Big "I DO"
- reserve tuxedos
- finalise photographers, florists and entertainers details.
- book a very expensive and romantic bridal suite overlooking the water for your first night together as husband and wife.
- book the honeymoon.
- arrange transportation for the bridal party and parents - limos? Bentleys? convertibles? speed boats? helicopters? elephants?
- make sure celebrant has filled in paper work such as Notice of Intention of Marriage which needs to be filled in at least 1 month before the big day.
- hopefully have the wedding dress ready for a first firring.
- order wedding bands.
- finalise gift registry.
- send out invitations.
- order your wedding cake.
2 Months Til The Big "I DO"
- think about which hairdresser and make up artists you want and try and book in trial appointments.
- organise passport for honeymoon and buy a hot bikini.
- purchase a garter, pillow for the ring and any other bits and pieces.
- re-confirm all caterers/ photographers/ florists/ entertainers etc.
- make payments for venue hire.
- remind the bridesmaids and grromsmen to organise a hen's night/ bucks night.
- attend a second dress fitting.
- buy some wedding shoes.
1 Month Til The Big "I DO"
- double-check all contracted services.
- arrange a provisional seating plan.
- attend a final dress fitting.
- if required, have another trial run with a different hairdresser/ make up artist.
- tell all those who are doing speeches to get cracking.
1 Week Til The Big "I DO"
- phone up and harass anyone who has not RSVPed and let them know how annoyed you are!
- provide the venue and caterers with a final guest list.
- pick up the wedding dress and veil.
- wear your wedding shoes everyday around the house so that you break into them and won't have blisters on the day!
- pack for the honeymoon.
- double-check final details with all contracted services.
Three Days Til The Big "I DO"
- have a wedding rehearsal.
- make sure the boys have picked up their tuxedos.
- pack a wedding day emergency kit (bandaids, bottles of water, choccies so you don't pass out, hairspray, extre make up etc)
THE BIG DAY
- say I DO and live happily ever after.
But in reality, wedding planners can be very expensive. And at the end of the day, they need your approval for everything anyway, so you end up being quite involved in all the decision making. So why not be your own wedding planner and save a few thousand bucks on the way?
It's easy. Just write up a time line that suits your time frame and everything else will fall into place. Here's my master plan:
12 Months Til The Big "I DO"
- think about the type of wedding you want to have - outdoor? indoor? beach? garden?
- complile a rough draft wedding guest list.
- once you have numbers, you can search for a ceremony and reception venue.
- decide on the wedding date and lock it in if you can.
- try and work out a rough budget about how much you are willing to pay.
- decide on a wedding style/theme - princess? diamonds? funky? modern?
- buy lots of bridal magazines and get some wedding dress ideas!
- attend a bridal show for ideas.
- choose bridesmaids, groomsmen and anyone else you want involved in your wedding.
10 Months Til The Big "I DO"
- look into catering of required.
- look into reserving a celebrant.
- look into pricing for florists, photographers, entertainers, musicians, dj's etc.
8 Months Til The Big "I-DO"
- get cracking with the wedding dress.
- get cracking with the bridesmaids' dresses.
- tell your mum and our mother-in-law to start looking for a dress for themselves.
- think about where you would like to go for your honeymoon.
- think about cake ideas.
6 Months Til The Big "I DO"
- do another guest list.
- order/print invitation.
- start preparing or order other printed materials such as menus, name cards etc...
- start looking for bonboniere
- finalise venues, especially the payment of a deposit if you haven't already done so.
- start thinking about your gift registry.
3 Months Til The Big "I DO"
- reserve tuxedos
- finalise photographers, florists and entertainers details.
- book a very expensive and romantic bridal suite overlooking the water for your first night together as husband and wife.
- book the honeymoon.
- arrange transportation for the bridal party and parents - limos? Bentleys? convertibles? speed boats? helicopters? elephants?
- make sure celebrant has filled in paper work such as Notice of Intention of Marriage which needs to be filled in at least 1 month before the big day.
- hopefully have the wedding dress ready for a first firring.
- order wedding bands.
- finalise gift registry.
- send out invitations.
- order your wedding cake.
2 Months Til The Big "I DO"
- think about which hairdresser and make up artists you want and try and book in trial appointments.
- organise passport for honeymoon and buy a hot bikini.
- purchase a garter, pillow for the ring and any other bits and pieces.
- re-confirm all caterers/ photographers/ florists/ entertainers etc.
- make payments for venue hire.
- remind the bridesmaids and grromsmen to organise a hen's night/ bucks night.
- attend a second dress fitting.
- buy some wedding shoes.
1 Month Til The Big "I DO"
- double-check all contracted services.
- arrange a provisional seating plan.
- attend a final dress fitting.
- if required, have another trial run with a different hairdresser/ make up artist.
- tell all those who are doing speeches to get cracking.
1 Week Til The Big "I DO"
- phone up and harass anyone who has not RSVPed and let them know how annoyed you are!
- provide the venue and caterers with a final guest list.
- pick up the wedding dress and veil.
- wear your wedding shoes everyday around the house so that you break into them and won't have blisters on the day!
- pack for the honeymoon.
- double-check final details with all contracted services.
Three Days Til The Big "I DO"
- have a wedding rehearsal.
- make sure the boys have picked up their tuxedos.
- pack a wedding day emergency kit (bandaids, bottles of water, choccies so you don't pass out, hairspray, extre make up etc)
THE BIG DAY
- say I DO and live happily ever after.
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