The best advice is to make a plan and make it as early as possible.
It's a good idea to follow wedding etiquette but not to a point where it will make you crazy or cause you to go broke. There are plenty of books and articles on wedding etiquette but their suggestions are not written in stone.
If it is the number of things that have to be done that wears on you, find friends and family who will be willing to help and assign them projects to complete. Don't feel that you have to pay them in any way for this service. If you can afford it though, a small gift may be appropriate but it is definitely not required.
Your plan should include all of the major things that have to be taken care of like where to hold the ceremony, where to hold the reception, how many guests and things of this sort.
Taking care of just these three items will put you into a position to think about what else has to be done.
Oh, in your wedding planning, don't forget about the wedding officiant early on. This is especially important if the wedding ceremony isn't being held at a church that has a minister to officiate the ceremony.
Many officiants fill their schedules way in advance and it is sometimes hard to find someone who meets your expectations is you wait until the last minute.
If it is the costs that you have you frazzled, set a budget and stick to it. Keep in mind that anything that is preceded by the word wedding (wedding planning, wedding flowers, wedding favors) is marked up 100% to 300%.
This is not to say that there are not vendors in the wedding industry that will give you a good product for a good price, there are plenty of them. It does take some work to make sure you are getting what you expect. You need to check them out and get references.
There are some items that can be bought for your wedding without having the wedding label.
Find ways to save by doing some out of the ordinary things.
Here are a few ideas:
1. Buy a cake from a local food store, add wedding decorations yourself 2. Shop online for flowers, dresses, accessories etc. 3. Do you know a seamstress? Buy a dress that needs some work at a reduced price 4. Limit the number of band members or get a DJ instead 5. Cut your own music cds and have a friend man the act as DJ 6. Have a friend who is a good photographer? videographer? 7. Use your own caterer not the facilities' (many hire outside caterers anyway) 8. Small wedding, have family and friends provide the food and beverages 9. Buy your own alcoholic beverages with an agreement to get a refund for unopened bottles
One word of caution, always check out those you are going to buy from or hire to perform a service. Do or have someone do a little research for you to make sure you are getting what you are paying for.
Don't let the wedding planning get you down. Remember it is your wedding and you are the one making the decisions. You are in charge. Get what you want. You can do it. You can have the dream wedding that you've always wanted without being overwhelmed.
Don't stress, have fun with the whole experience.
There are basically four decisions you have to make before anything else can be planned. The first decision you must make is what style you want for your wedding, a formal or informal wedding. This decision will help you decide on everything from the wedding invitations to what the attendants will wear. Remember to keep the same level of formality throughout the whole wedding process. You don't want to send out formal invitations and then have your attendants dressed informally.
Once you decide on the style of your wedding, the next step is what you want in a reception. Deciding where it will be held is the first step , either indoors or outdoors. Once you have decided where it will be held you must decide what type of reception you want. There are buffet style receptions or more elegant cocktail receptions on the terrace. Are your guests going to enjoy dancing and a five course dinner or croquet on the lawn and a barbecue.
Next is setting your budget. In order to set your budget you need a general idea of how many guests will be at the wedding. Have a target amount that you want to spend. If you find yourself going over you can always adjust down the road. Make sure you set aside a reasonable amount for the number of guests you're inviting. Wedding planning is stressful enough.
The last decision to be made before you can really start your wedding planning is the time of year. If you're dreaming of a beautiful garden filled with flowers or a candlelight ceremony with the bridesmaids in red velvet then you have to choose the right time of year. You can't have your bridesmaids in red velvet in the middle of the summer.
Just Remember you don't have to make all the decisions yourself. Allow family and friends to help as much as possible with the decisions. If you're unsure where to start have some friends over for a wedding planning party. There won't be a lack of ideas, the hard part will be choosing the ones you like best. Now that you have made the four basic decisions about your wedding planning you can take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the back because this in only the beginning.
Both Jim Ecklund & Bonnie Ray 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.
Jim Ecklund has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wedding Bells, Wedding Invitation Ideas and Blogging. Jim Ecklund is an ordained Deacon in the White Robe Monks of St. Benedict. If you are interested in finding out more about a Catholic Wedding Ceremony, please go to. Jim Ecklund's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.
Bonnie Ray has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wedding Bells, Wedding Flowers and Marriage. Bonnie Goodwin Ray has more than sixteen years experience in the wedding industry. She is the author of Wedding Planning Made Easier and has become a leading expert in. Bonnie Ray's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.