Your First Wedding Planning To-Do's

Once the initial shock of being engaged wears off (and you take a second to peel your eyes away from that sparkly ring on your finger!), you'll need to make a lot of decisions. Don't get overwhelmed -- here are the first nine things you need to do after you get engaged.

Set a Timetable

The first thing to consider is how long your engagement will be. This will depend on a couple of factors, such as your ideal wedding date and how much time you'll need to prepare. A typical engagement lasts anywhere from six months to a year and a half or more. If you got engaged during the holidays but always wanted a summer wedding, make sure you've got enough time to plan without making yourselves wedding-crazy, and keep in mind that many of the best suppliers and reception sites book a year or more in advance.

Envision the Style

Your wedding style will be reflected first and foremost in the location, whether it's a luxe ballroom or an intimate backyard reception. Discuss with your fiance where your wedding will take place (in one of your hometowns or in the city where you currently live, for example), and then start scouting sites that can accommodate your wedding style. 

Set Your Budget

In the end, dollars, not dreams, are a main determining factor for the size and style of your wedding. So, what affects the price tag?

• Formality: In general, the more formal the reception, the more expensive, considering you'll have to match the site, food, and decor to the overall upscale tone.
• Date and time: Saturdays, summer months, and evenings tend to be the most costly times to have a reception.
• Location: In many cases, a wedding in a major metropolitan area is simply more expensive than in a smaller town.

Determine a Date

Choosing a wedding date can be tougher than you'd think. There are a few things to consider: How much time will you need to prepare for your wedding? Do any loved ones have a conflicting event, holiday, or pregnancy due date? If you have your heart set on a particular place, caterer, band, or photographer, the availability of these crucial suppliers may also play a large part in your decision. Try to avoid dates of big conventions or other events that draw large crowds, since that might make it harder for out-of-town guests to get hotel rooms. 

Once you've picked the date, start your  to-do list of what to do when.

Announce Your Engagement

Call your local newspaper, post it on Facebook, and anywhere else you want your engagement announcement to appear. Calling your nearest and dearest is a nice way to let them know your good news, but if you can't see or call everyone, consider emails and other social media networks.

Choose Your Attendants

It's time to honour your closest friends and family members by picking your wedding parties. Remember, the earlier you ask, the sooner you can enlist their help. Keep in mind that your wedding party is agreeing to spend their hard-earned money and donate their precious time -- be considerate and kind by informing everyone about all your plans, showing them a good time, and making sure they know how much you appreciate them.

Make a Guest List

As you begin to build your guest list, you'll need to consider a number of factors. If you have a particular ceremony or reception site in mind, for instance, you're going to be limited by how many people it can accommodate (you can't squeeze 300 people into a lighthouse). Would you rather have one-on-one time with each guest or to throw a once-in-a-lifetime party for all your friends and family? If Mum and Dad are adamant about inviting throngs of friends and family, you'll have to hear them out -- especially if they're footing a major part of the bill. Obviously, the more relatives you must invite, the larger your list will be. And more guests means a bigger bill, as catering costs are generally calculated on a per-head basis. So, in addition to location, your budget will have a big influence on the size of your guest list.

Consider a Planner

If you're a super-busy couple, hire a full-time wedding planner to help you prepare your entire event, from the announcement to the honeymoon. You can also hire a part-time consultant to devise a wedding blueprint -- including budget, schedule, and lists of good supplier and site choices -- before you launch solo into the preparations. Another option is a day-of coordinator (which we definitely recommend), who will make sure everything goes as planned on your wedding day.

Start Gown Shopping

It's never too early to begin thinking about your wedding dress. Start by figuring out which style will look best on you. How? Learn the lingo before stepping foot in a dress salon. Read up on silhouettes, necklines, trains, and hues that might flatter you. Season will also affect your choice. Getting married in the sweltering summer? Go with lightweight fabrics such as chiffon, linen, or organza. Having a winter wedding? Brocade, faux fur, and velvet fabrics will keep you warm. Satin, shantung, silk, and tulle are perfect year-round.


Happy Planning...........Natalie

Why hiring a Wedding Planner is Essential

For the modern couple on a budget, a wedding planner may seem like an unnecessary expense, even an extravagance.  However, many couples find that hiring a qualified, competent wedding planner is the most valuable investment they make in their wedding.  The benefits of having an experienced professional to guide couples through the planning process, or to ensure that the wedding day proceeds according to plan, far outweigh the investment, according to many brides and grooms.  Below are a few of the most significant benefits to hiring a wedding planner:

1.     She will save valuable time

The average couple will spend between two and three hundred hours planning their wedding.  Balancing wedding planning with a career, a social life and the other demands of the modern world is often a huge challenge.  Hiring a wedding planner will save time because she will do a lot of the legwork and research, presenting her clients with only the vendor options that really fit their budget and desires.  She will guide her clients through the process, ensuring that each aspect of the wedding planning happens at the appropriate time, and helping them avoid the pitfalls that come with inexperience in the wedding industry.  All that remains for the couple to do is make the final decisions!

2.     She will save money

Hiring a wedding planner can help you save big bucks!  Couples often find that the cost of hiring a planner is offset by the savings they provide.  Most planners have connections with photographers, venues, and florists, and can often negotiate discounts or the addition of extra services or products. 

3.     She will help reduce stress

In this day and age, many couples have high-powered careers and other important commitments that demand a lot of intellectual and emotional energy.  They often find that adding the intensity and potential complications of planning a wedding is enough to put their stress level over the top.  Most wedding planners also act as therapists and friends, providing moral and emotional support through the family related, logistical and financial issues with which the bride and groom deal during the planning process.  The planner will also ensure that the planning stays on schedule and that nothing is forgotten.  The reduction of stress is often the most compelling reason to hire a planner.

4.     She will help focus the couples’ vision

There are a LOT of beautiful images and wedding ideas out there – the internet, magazines and bookstores are full of photos, advice and ideas for the perfect wedding.  Additionally, celebrity weddings are highly publicized, creating a desire for couples to have a “celebrity” style wedding on an unrealistic budget.  Many couples find it difficult to narrow their vision to form a cohesive theme for their wedding and reception.  A qualified planner will get to know her couple, suggesting particular décor, floral and design elements that will incorporate the couple’s personalities and work within their budget, while producing a unified, distinct theme.

5.     She will keep the best interests of her clients in mind

Often, when the word “wedding” is uttered, the prices of hairstylists, photographers and venues skyrocket.  Most wedding vendors are looking out for their best interests – and rightly so; the business of weddings is how they make their living.  However, many couples find that their budget is quickly exceeded by a vendor who senses their inexperience with weddings and takes advantage by quoting prices that are not comparable with the rest of the industry.  Because brides and grooms typically only get married once, many fall prey to this common ploy by less-than scrupulous vendors.  Some venues provide an on-site wedding coordinator, leading some couples to believe that they don’t need a coordinator of their own.  However, it’s important to remember that this person is paid by the venue, and therefore has the venue’s interests in mind.  Often, this coordinator has no contact with the couples’ florist, officiant or decorator, and cannot possibly provide couples with the kind of one-on-one time and assistance a private coordinator can.  One of the biggest advantages of hiring a good wedding coordinator is that she has the couples’ best interests in mind.  A qualified coordinator can steer couples away from vendors who don’t meet their needs, and she knows the industry standards as far as pricing and services for wedding vendors.  She will ensure that her couple gets what they need, at the best prices possible.

6.     She will recommend quality vendors

It can be very overwhelming to sift through hundreds of photographers, DJs, florists and rental companies.  Couples with no experience in wedding planning find it difficult to compare packages and services, as each vendor presents his or her offerings in a different way, making it difficult or impossible to find the best value.  Much time can be wasted meeting with and interviewing vendors, only to find that none are a fit with the couples’ desires and personalities.  A wedding planner knows many of the vendors in the industry, and can narrow down the choices for her clients, recommending vendors she knows will be a good fit.  Often, couples find vendors who are perfect for them based on the recommendation of a good wedding planner.

7.     She will prevent and solve problems on the wedding day

The wedding day should be the most special, memorable day in a bride and groom’s life.  The beautiful bride and dashing groom should be able to focus on each other as they pledge to love, honour, and cherish, and to enjoy the result of the hard work they put into planning their wedding.  However, many couples find that they instead spend the day “working” – that is, they must call the florist when the wrong flowers are delivered, find a place for the unexpected guest to sit, and track down the DJ when he is late.  When a wedding planner is on site, these problems will be solved, often before the couple (or the guests) even know there is an issue.  The peace-of-mind of knowing that the bride and groom can just relax and enjoy their day is well worth the cost of a wedding planner in many couples’ books.

Article from Bridal Tweet : Amy Mc Nall at www.unmistakablyyou.com.