5 Tips For Planning Your Wedding

On Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 at 7:21 pm, 10 Comments »

Perhaps the most exciting time of your life will be your wedding, the one perfect day that every young girl dreams of. The best chance of having that storybook wedding become a grown-up reality is with plenty of proper planning.

If you are that grown-up little girl, are getting married to one or just happen to know one, this simple guide will outline helpful tips for planning what can be one of life’s most stressful, although joyous occasions.

Date, Time and Location
First decide on the date, or at least narrow it down to the season, then the month, and where you want the nuptials and the reception to take place. Choose the time for the ceremony to begin, which should coincide with the available time of the reception site.

Decide on a Budget
This is the biggie, perhaps the most important decision you’ll make when planning your wedding, after saying yes, of course. A budget, one that’s strictly adhered to, will keep your wedding plans in check, and with a little creativity, allow you to have exactly what you want without breaking the bank. If parents are contributing or even footing the bill, everyone should be a part of the budgeting process, if possible.

Be realistic when planning the budget and with your expectations. Is it really wise to go into debt for the first five years of your married lives for that one day, albeit an important one? You must both decide what you can comfortably afford long before the final colors, flowers and cookies are chosen.

Who to Invite and How Many
This depends on a few factors, such as your budget and the location of your ceremony and reception. Planning your guest list after deciding on a budget amount and sticking to it will help everything else fall into place. Nothing is worse than being seated like sardines and not being able to move for an entire wedding. People like to mingle and socialize at weddings, make sure you give them ample room to do so.

Another important factor when deciding on your guest list is whether to invite children or not. If you choose to invite them, are there going to be any age restrictions? If space and cost are an issue, don’t feel guilty about opting for an adult only reception, and this is how it should be worded on the invitation, by the way.

Food & Drinks
If your reception site offers on-site catering, you’ll have to decide what you want served and if you’d prefer a sit-down dinner or a buffet. Does the facility have wedding cakes as well? If you’re getting an outside caterer or enlisting the help of friends and family to prepare the foods and desserts, you’ll also have to decide on the menu and what you can or can’t afford.

Is there room in your budget for alcohol and if so what kind? Does the reception site provide it and at what cost? Is there a full bar or an open bar? How many drinks will you realistically need per person?

Flowers & Entertainment
For flowers and decorations that won’t take up a huge part of your budget, always use flowers that are in season because they cost less. Use plenty of greenery, which is considerably cheaper and looks flattering as well. Opt for fewer attendants, reducing the number of bouquets and boutonnieres and use the flowers from your ceremony at your reception.

Hiring an experienced DJ as opposed to a band will keep your entertainment costs down, but if you must have one, opt for a smaller ensemble as opposed to a full band.

Gabriel Adams

http://www.articlesbase.com/marriage-articles/5-tips-for-planning-your-wedding-107264.html

10 Responses to “5 Tips For Planning Your Wedding”

Grandenise says:

January 25, 2011 at 7:21 pm

What are some guidelines for planning your own wedding? Any tips please.?
Thank You so much for all your advice!!!
angelcdm228 says:

January 26, 2011 at 1:23 am

set a budget, envision your wedding, look through some books, keep notes on what you want. join theknot.com it will help alot! congrats!
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Ania says:

January 26, 2011 at 1:25 am

Start early and do a lot of research! Get ideas from friends, family, magazines, internet, books. Carry a small notebook with you, and whenever you like something, write it down. I did everything myself, including decorations and invitations. It was a lot of work, but so worth it! Everything was the way I wanted.
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Claire says:

January 26, 2011 at 1:27 am

When I plan my on my own I started by knowing how much we wanted to spend in general. Do you want a big wedding? Small Wedding? How many people will be going? Call around for halls, banquets, catering. Do you want to get married by church or what? go to JC penny registry they will give you a wedding planner book it really helped me!
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JCpenny wedding planner book
miss'n my mom says:

January 26, 2011 at 1:29 am

Follow a close budget and give yourself plenty of time for planning.. also don’t let others try to run your planning because they will try!
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JennieR says:

January 26, 2011 at 1:31 am

The first thing to do is figure out your priorities. Sit down with your fiance and close your eyes and picture your wedding. Lots of guests or just a few? Fancy dinner or cocktails and finger foods? Lots of dancing or a sophisticated soiree? Formal and traditional or comfy and casual?

After you’ve both made lists of what you want, number them – 1 being the most important. For me it went 1- guest count (high!!) and 2- photos.

After that, put your lists together to figure out where your budget will be spent. There are guidelines as to how much of your budget should go where, but for me, instead of 20% of my budget for photos, I put 30% and had my dad print the invitations for free. So you have to move stuff around to fit your needs and wants.

It’s going to be really hard to not get overwhelmed. People are going to start asking you questions that at first you’re really excited about … do you want pearl white or eggshell white? But it will get to a point where you feel like, "I don’t freakin’ care!!" because it’s all very overwhelming. Try to have someone there with you at all the appointments, just so that they can help you keep it together. Someone who will not argue with you, but just support you and say, "Oh yeah for sure pearl. It’s gorgeous". It will really help.

Get a planner and write down everything! Don’t forget about all the small details by putting them in the calendar.

Have a Day Of planner to help at the wedding. You will be far to busy, plus you want to enjoy your day. Not be telling people where to put the flower arrangements.

And mostly, just be in love. Don’t let people tell you otherwise. Be happy. You’re getting married!!!
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His Honeybear <3 says:

January 26, 2011 at 1:33 am

Keep a binder with things you like in them. Remember you budget. Join theknot.com, it’s really helpful and fabulous at helping you keep track of stuff. They also have a lot of suggestions and ideas. Congratulations!
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shihtzulover123 says:

January 26, 2011 at 1:35 am

First thing register with theknot.com, it has a complete planning guide. Then decide on a date, a budget, and make a list of must haves that are the most important to you and the groom. Then go from there. Then pick your venues— Theme colors/style/, number of attendants/groomsmen/ attire for bridal party.where, church, hotel, or other places.. and how elaborate a decor, lots of flowers and candles or simply understated or in between. Reception—Where, how elaborate a decor, seated, buffet, or dessert only/ Bar/ no bar /and menu. Flowers– what kind /live or silks/ style of your bouquet nosegay or cascade I think this gives you a start. and theknot.com will help with the rest.
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Allie says:

January 26, 2011 at 1:37 am

I started early, very very early but I am a very organized person. We are getting married in Vegas and three weeks later having a reception at home so different people have different time lines. I already sent our invitations out last month and the RSVP date is 2/1/09 because our wedding is 4/4/09 and reception 4/26/09. I want to make sure all vendors are given adequate time to prepare cakes, food, etc, in order to accommodate our wedding. I also looked at sales and made sure that I saved money where I could, like on our centerpieces and my dress. Each centerpiece was 5 dollars and my dress was 99 dollars on sale from 800! This left me money to get the invitations which were more expensive. Know what is really important to you and make sure you spend your finances on that part of the wedding in order to make sure you have everything you want on your big day!
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Tad says:

January 26, 2011 at 1:39 am

set a budget. set a number of guests. split it in half. you invited your half your other invites their half. then if there is room you can give the other person any extra spaces.

ppl. ppl. ppl. know the ppl. who are helping or going to be in your wedding party. if your fiance tells you maybe you shouldn’t ask someone you meent threw him to help. listen to him. wish i had listened to my hubby then my bm wouldn’t have backed out 5 days before the wedding

http://www.weddingannouncer.com/
this website allows you to make a website for your wedding, which was nice to get info out to guests. and the forums are GREAT get answers for every question you will ever have
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