Helpful Wedding Articles
Even though we mainly sell
unique and
elegant Wedding Favors, we also know that planning a wedding can be very stressful. We thought that by giving you helpful wedding articles to guide you will help relieve some of the stress. Just remember that this is you and your fiancés special day and you all deserve the best. Enjoy!
I am Getting Married! How Should I Plan the Wedding?
By: Jorja Gardner
The man of your dreams has just asked you to marry him. You replied by telling him yes! He slips the ring on your finger and you tell everyone you know about the engagement!
Now the planning begins! A wedding requires an incredible amount of groundwork, planning and a lot of money. If you and your partner want to get married with a wedding that will wow your family and friends, then you need to begin by:
- Choose a wedding date. Consider all factors, including location availability, work schedules, family commitments, travel plans of friends and family, holidays and preparation time. Some locations and vendors give discounts for weddings on nontraditional days such as Friday and Sunday. Also, keep in mind about when you want to hold the wedding. Do you want to have the wedding in the morning or afternoon? A reception may be cheaper than the typical Saturday night. Off-peak times of the year, such as after the holidays, may also be discounted.
- Decide on the size and type of wedding you would like. Your dream wedding may be entirely different from that of your betrothed. Discuss the desire for a formal or casual event, the ideal location, how many people you would like to invite (and who they are), as well as family expectations. If you have an elegant evening wedding in mind and your partner thinks a luau on the beach would be perfect, keep talking until you close the gap.
- Set a budget. When looking at options and making choices, bear in mind: Who is paying? What can they afford? How formal will it be?
- Select a location. Find out if there will be another event at the same time as yours. Ask if you can hire an outside caterer.
- Choose a person. Find someone whose beliefs resonate with yours. Select from a wide range of religious people, a judge or justice of the peace--or have a friend do the honors.
- Decide if you want attendants. Choose them early so they can help you. Let bridesmaids and groomsmen know how much you appreciate their accepting this important and costly role in your wedding.
- Create the guest list based on the location capacity limit and your budget. Get additional names from both sets of parents and divide the list into must-have people and those you hope to fit in. Get a firm quote from the caterer before the final cut so you can trim names if the budget requires it.
- Order a cake. Browse bridal magazines, get references from friends and call around. Schedule a complimentary tasting session with your top two choices. Expect to pay $2 to $15 (or more) per slice.
- Work with a florist to select your flowers, including centerpieces. Keep in mind that flowers are more expensive and are in limited availability during the winter.
- Hire someone to capture the big day on film. Whether you want movies or black and white, color or digital pictures, find a professional videographer or photographer.
- Buy your wedding gown, either off the rack (with alterations) or from a dressmaker. Expect custom-made gowns to require up to several months for fittings. Coordinate shoes, stockings, veil and headpiece.
- Send out a "save the date" notice at least six months in advance for people needing to make travel and hotel arrangements, or if it is a holiday weekend. Include a list of contacts for lodging and car rentals.
- It is a fact that whoever pays for the wedding exerts a fair amount of control over the process. If that is the bride's parents, the mother of the bride should be included in the decisions. Both the mother and daughters' wishes should be equal in the decisions. You bet.
- Be extremely considerate when you are borrowing a house or garden for your wedding--the generous offer adds considerable expense, time and anxiety to the owner's life.
- Put together a solid plan B in case of bad weather. Select a location that has an indoor alternative, like a museum, a hall or even a barn. Look into renting tents or large awnings.
Remember to create a planner and a list to do's, so you know what needs to be done. Such as:
12 to 18 Months Before
- Reserve Church, Temple, Site of Ceremony
- Reserve Photographer
- Reserve Videographer
- Reserve Videographer
- Choose Entertainment
- Contact a Wedding Consultant
- Hire Musicians for Ceremony
- Discuss and Decide on Style and Formality of Your Wedding
6 to 12 Months Before
- Arrange Accommodations for Out of Town Attendants
- Order Gown and Veil
- Select Members of Your Bridal Party
- Shop for Attendants' Gowns
- Schedule Photo for Engagement Announcement
- Arrange Wedding Transportation
- Shop for Wedding Favors and Gifts for your Guests
- Mail Engagement Information to Newspaper
- Pick a Color Scheme for Your Wedding
- Visit or Call Rental Companies to Review Rental Options
- Discuss Honeymoon Plans
- Visit Florist and Discuss Floral Arrangements
3 to 6 Months Before
- Complete Bridal Registry
- Order Wedding Cake
- Visit Travel Agent and Make Honeymoon Plans
- Send Deposits/Payments for Airline Tickets
- Order Invitations and Thank You Notes
- Plan Rehearsal Dinner
- Order Wedding Band Engravings
2 Months Before
- Order Men's Formal Wear
- Order Favors for Reception
- Meet with Your Function Director
- Buy Attendants' Gifts
- Send Band or DJ a List of Songs You would Like Played
- First Gown Fitting
- Hire a Calligrapher to Address Invitations
- Have a Formal Portrait Taken
- Mail out Invitations
1 - 2 Months Before
1 to 2 Weeks Before
- Apply for Marriage License
- Pick Up Honeymoon Tickets
- Finalize Flowers
- Give Caterer a Final Guest Count
- Plan Seating for Reception
- Write Out Place Cards for Reception
- Pick Up Formal Wear
- Confirm Church, Hall, Band, Photo, Video, Limo, Florist, Etc.
1 Day Before
Relax and Enjoy because you will need all your enjoy for the big wedding day.
