The most affordable weddings are one that are well organized, well planned and well thought out. If you start planning your wedding without writing down everything that you need, you may overlook an important element that you will need to squeeze into your budget later on, so it’s important to keep a detailed task list of everything that you need to get organized.
If you have Microsoft Excel, you will find that it is exceptionally easy to create task lists as well as keep accurate records of everything from contacts, vendors to your guest list (including their phone numbers, addresses, who has responded to your invitations, etc). You can also use Excel to keep an up to date list of gifts received at your wedding so that you can send out thank you notes later on.
If you are not computer savvy, you can purchase a wedding planner, which is a simple notepad that contains envelopes and pockets for important notes and memos. You can find these at your local stationary shop, or you can simply create one with a binder, paper, tabs and separators.
Whenever you talk to a vendor that you are interested in working with, ask for a business card so that you can add it to your planner for follow up. Make sure that you have phone numbers, and contact
details for everyone involved in the planning of your wedding including florists, reception locations, caterers, DJ’s and photographers.
This organizer will also be a great memory book later on, long after your wedding is over! You could also add your wedding CD and photographs to it, creating a scrapbook keepsake.
When I created my wedding planner I added in a “Diary” which allowed me to reflect back later on, and share my thoughts and feelings with my friends and family. Later on when I had my daughter, I intended on handing it over to her so that she could understand how every bride goes through the nerves, the frustration and the secret fears when planning our wedding.
Refer to your planner frequently and stay up to date on the progress you have made. If you are planning your wedding entirely on your own without the help of a wedding planner, you will find your journal and wedding planning notebook an incredible asset in ensuring that you’ve covered all bases and that you have a handy list of contacts available whenever you need it.
As your wedding day approaches, you will want to create what is referred to as a “timeline of events”. This will contain all of the things that you need to have done, in order, prior to your big day.
Make sure to confirm with vendors and hired help the time frame of each element of your wedding (including reception shifting over into a dance if you choose to have one), and go over the service requirements with each vendor so that you both understand what is expected.
Things To Remember:
Discuss with your videographer and photographer what time of day is best for your photos as well as how long your video will be including what elements you want recorded. Be VERY specific in outlining every aspect that you wish to be captured to avoid disappointment or miscommunication later on. Print a copy of your requirements off and hand to each person prior to your wedding day.
Discuss with your DJ or band how long you wish for them to be present, including any specific songs or music you want played and in what order.
Print off a music sheet including all of your requirements and provide to your DJ or band at least two weeks prior to your wedding to ensure that they are able to play this music as well as give them time to ask any questions they may have well before your wedding day. you are including this) as well as what time your reception dinner will begin and come to a close.
Talk to those transporting you to your wedding and reception to ensure that they are aware of when to expect departure and arrival times, as well as if there are multiple wedding parties being transported in the same vehicle at different times.
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time in the event of an unforeseen delay and remember that weddings and receptions often take longer than expected.
When creating your Wedding Timeline always add in extra time just to be careful. There are many things that can happen unexpectedly and by allocating a bit of extra time to each function, you will always be able to maintain your schedule.
If you have Microsoft Excel, you will find that it is exceptionally easy to create task lists as well as keep accurate records of everything from contacts, vendors to your guest list (including their phone numbers, addresses, who has responded to your invitations, etc). You can also use Excel to keep an up to date list of gifts received at your wedding so that you can send out thank you notes later on.
If you are not computer savvy, you can purchase a wedding planner, which is a simple notepad that contains envelopes and pockets for important notes and memos. You can find these at your local stationary shop, or you can simply create one with a binder, paper, tabs and separators.
Whenever you talk to a vendor that you are interested in working with, ask for a business card so that you can add it to your planner for follow up. Make sure that you have phone numbers, and contact
details for everyone involved in the planning of your wedding including florists, reception locations, caterers, DJ’s and photographers.
This organizer will also be a great memory book later on, long after your wedding is over! You could also add your wedding CD and photographs to it, creating a scrapbook keepsake.
When I created my wedding planner I added in a “Diary” which allowed me to reflect back later on, and share my thoughts and feelings with my friends and family. Later on when I had my daughter, I intended on handing it over to her so that she could understand how every bride goes through the nerves, the frustration and the secret fears when planning our wedding.
Refer to your planner frequently and stay up to date on the progress you have made. If you are planning your wedding entirely on your own without the help of a wedding planner, you will find your journal and wedding planning notebook an incredible asset in ensuring that you’ve covered all bases and that you have a handy list of contacts available whenever you need it.
As your wedding day approaches, you will want to create what is referred to as a “timeline of events”. This will contain all of the things that you need to have done, in order, prior to your big day.
Make sure to confirm with vendors and hired help the time frame of each element of your wedding (including reception shifting over into a dance if you choose to have one), and go over the service requirements with each vendor so that you both understand what is expected.
Things To Remember:
Discuss with your videographer and photographer what time of day is best for your photos as well as how long your video will be including what elements you want recorded. Be VERY specific in outlining every aspect that you wish to be captured to avoid disappointment or miscommunication later on. Print a copy of your requirements off and hand to each person prior to your wedding day.
Discuss with your DJ or band how long you wish for them to be present, including any specific songs or music you want played and in what order.
Print off a music sheet including all of your requirements and provide to your DJ or band at least two weeks prior to your wedding to ensure that they are able to play this music as well as give them time to ask any questions they may have well before your wedding day. you are including this) as well as what time your reception dinner will begin and come to a close.
Talk to those transporting you to your wedding and reception to ensure that they are aware of when to expect departure and arrival times, as well as if there are multiple wedding parties being transported in the same vehicle at different times.
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time in the event of an unforeseen delay and remember that weddings and receptions often take longer than expected.
When creating your Wedding Timeline always add in extra time just to be careful. There are many things that can happen unexpectedly and by allocating a bit of extra time to each function, you will always be able to maintain your schedule.
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