You've now taken the plunge and said you to his marriage proposal. You're excited but have some trepidation about the next step. Embarking on wedding preparations can be a daunting experience. But don't worry there is help at hand. This beginner's guide to wedding planning will give you a good starting point for planning the biggest celebration of your life.
The First step is to consider the date. Do you want an autumn wedding or do you prefer the symbolism of a springtime celebration. Whichever you choose you need to allow yourself enough time to book your venues as most a booked months in advance.
The budget is the next step in planning your wedding. How much you are willing to spend will determine the type of wedding you'll have. Big or small. Extravagant or simple. A fully catered event or a cocktail party. To put a budget together you should estimate the cost of everything and then try to keep to your budget. Make sure you expectations and budget are realistic. Research suppliers and vendors you think you might use for your wedding. Below is a suggested checklist with timelines. 12 TO 24 MONTHS BEFORE WEDDING
oAnnounce your engagement to family, and then friends oDecide upon a budget and list who will pay for what oDetermine wedding style and degree of formality of your wedding oMeet with clergy. Arrange for pre-marital counselling or classes suggested by clergy oSelect ceremony site (have alternative plan if wedding is held outside) oSelect reception site (have alternative plan if wedding is held outside) oSet date and time of wedding and reception
?Note: You must coordinate your ceremony site, reception site, date and time of wedding, budget and size of the wedding before any other definite plans can be made
oBoth families begin to compile guest lists. (Set a definite date for final lists.) oDevelop a record-keeping system for all wedding details, contracts, etc. oDevelop a record-keeping system for guests, invitations, gifts, and thank-you notes
6 TO 9 MONTHS BEFORE WEDDING o Select colour scheme and wedding theme o Select photographer/ videographer o Select music for ceremony o Select reception entertainment o Select florist o Select limousine service or other transportation o Select caterer (if not provided by reception site) o Select and order wedding cake o Choose your attendants including bridesmaids and groomsmen. o Shop for your gown, veil, headpiece, jewellery and accessories
Note: You should order your gown at least 7 months before your wedding date. o Select bridesmaid's gowns
Note: These gowns should also be ordered at approximately same time as your gown. Obtain a swatch of fabric to coordinate all other wedding colours. oSelect shoes for you and bridesmaids. oSelect formalwear oFinalize honeymoon plans oApply for passport and arrange for inoculations (if necessary) oSelect beauty consultant oMake arrangements for rehearsal dinner. oReserve wedding night hotel suite
4 TO 6 MONTHS BEFORE WEDDING o Finalize guest list, eliminate duplicates o Enter guests' names, addresses, and phone numbers into appropriate record book. oDelegate duties to the bridal party i.e planning bachelor/bucks party and brides party/hens night oSelect wedding rings oSelect bonbonniere. (If they are to be made, begin preparations.) oMake appointments for hairdresser, nail salon, makeup, tanning salon o Try new hairstyle now, rather than just before wedding. oOrder invitations, wedding stationery, personal stationery with your married name, etc. oReconfirm plans with ceremony and reception sites, clergy person, caterer, florist, photographer, videographer, ceremony and reception musicians, baker, and travel agent for honeymoon plans. oCheck on status of attendants' gowns. oWrite and review wedding vows, if appropriate. oAsk special people to do reading at the ceremony. oDesign wedding program handout for ceremony and arrange to have wedding program printed. o Make sure all deposits are paid, and contracts signed.
2 TO 4 MONTHS BEFORE WEDDING oAddress wedding invitations. (Invitations should be mailed six weeks before wedding date.) oSelect gifts for attendants oCompile bridal shower guest lists. oPurchase garter, cake top, knife, toasting glasses oSet up a Bridal Registry
1 TO 2 MONTHS BEFORE WEDDING o Have fittings for gown and attendants' gowns o Obtain marriage license. (30 days before wedding date) o Purchase wedding gift for fianc?. o Prepare seating list for reception and make place cards, if appropriate. o Confirm ceremony details with officiate. o Finalize wedding music o Finalize music list for reception. Request special dances, songs, etc. o Make an itinerary for your wedding day. Give to all wedding party members, parents, and wedding consultant. o Make sure all transportation arrangements for wedding party have been finalized. oConfirm that all men have been fitted for formalwear.
2WEEKS BEFORE WEDDING
oCall guests who have not responded to invitations o Confirm time and date of wedding rehearsal with all wedding party members. oObtain travel tickets, itineraries
1 WEEK BEFORE WEDDING oTry on wedding gown to check fit and make sure it is pressed. oReconfirm all wedding plans: ceremony and reception site, florist, photographer, videographer, musicians, baker, and honeymoon plans. o Give caterer/reception site final head count. o Make final payment for any services that require prepayment. oVerify that all attendants have wedding apparel.
1DAY BEFORE WEDDING
oSet aside everything you will need at ceremony site: gown, headpiece, veil, accessories, shoes, stockings, slip, purse, brush and hairspray. o Attend rehearsal oGet a good night's sleep!
WEDDING DAY
oForget any details that run amok. o Eat a good breakfast. oTake a relaxing bath. oSee hairdresser for wedding hairstyle. oHave makeup applied. oDon't forget rings and wedding license. oThank everyone for their help.
Enjoy the day!
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Vacation! How we long for that time to come. A chance to escape the hussle and bussle of the crazy working life. It is an opportunity to sit down with our loved ones, or hang out with our friends, and leave our worries behind. There is nothing worse then going on vacation ill prepared, and not enjoying it as much as you could have. This is why it is important to plan ahead! The first thing you need to do when planning your perfect vacation is to figure out what you want to get out of it. Different people have different ways of relaxing. While one person might revel in a week of non-stop lying on the beach, another might find that idea incredibly boring. Plan a vacation based on what you enjoy doing and not what someone else thinks you should do. Look into the options that you think will help you relax. Setting a budget for your trip is very important. You simply won’t be able to enjoy any holiday if you are constantly worrying about money. Spending more money than you can afford to on a vacation will only leave you feeling worried and guilty. Come up with a viable plan that will allow you to do the things you love without sacrificing your entire piggy bank. It will definitely be a relief not to have to come home and start working hard just to pay off your trip. Sometimes we all need a little help. Don’t be afraid to ask for it. Enlist the help of a travel agent who knows about the industry. They can point out options and ideas you never even thought of. Not only that, but it helps to have someone else to make the calls and the arrangements. They’ll be able to help you if things start to go wrong. Their number one priority is your holiday happiness. For many of us, taking a vacation isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity! A vacation allows us the opportunity to relax and take a step back from the busy world around us. It’s very important for our physical, emotional and mental well-being. After all, if you don’t have something to look forward to during the year, you might just be inclined to have a breakdown! Plan your vacation properly and reality will seem just a tad sweeter when you get back to it.
Both Nariman Taweel & Sally Rutherford are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Nariman Taweel has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family Travel, Pregnancy and Wedding Planning. Nariman Taweel is an accomplished trainer and entrepreneur. For more information visit http://.www.nusuevents.com.au. Nariman Taweel's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.
Sally Rutherford has sinced written about articles on various topics from Best Beach in World, Personal Desktop and Entertainment Guide. I recently did a review of a product you may be interested in. It explains how to save 50 to 75% on hotels and flights using travel agent only special rates!