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Enjoy These Creative Secrets From The Initial Article On The Bridal Bible!

Synka | Sep 10, 2009 | 0 comments

Congratulations! You are now engaged. Immediately your mind is off and running trying to plan the wedding; when, where, who will be my attendants and on and on. Very quickly though, that initial wedding day excitement will wear off and you will be living in reality. So, what’s next? Well, considering that planning a wedding is definitely one of the most stressful times of your life, I’m devoting this article and the next to a wedding planning checklist. Believe me, it will turn into your Bridal Bible!

Depending on when you want to get married, you will probably have anywhere from 6-18 months, on average, to get everything together. You will get oh so many opinions on what to do first and second, etc., but over the years I’ve compiled a ‘tried and true’ wedding list, which if done in the order given, will really help to alleviate much of your stress.

Here is the basic checklist you should begin with:

1. Announce the engagement – An announcement card can be sent through the mail, you can plan a wedding website or announce it through a release in your town newspaper or you can even email it. All are acceptable. And for your wedding favor you can have adorable picture frame favors that your guests can use to frame your announcement card!

2. Select the wedding date – Remember, Friday and Saturday wedding receptions are the most expensive. Holiday weekend days are the least expensive, and holidays are much, much less – i.e. Labor Day or Columbus Day. Even July 4th can be fun, especially if you’re opting for a beach wedding and want something more informal.

3. Make an A and B list. A-list are the people that have to be invited with B-list being those that are ‘maybes’ and can be invited if A list doesn’t come. I know. This doesn’t sound like the best thing to do, but again, reality has to play into this. Be sensible. The girl you met doing your nails who is a distant cousin of your sister’s friend really does not have to be invited and should be put on the bottom of the B list. Also, do you want children at your wedding? Will it offend people if you say no? This is a very important consideration to consider.

4. After making your list, decide when the invitations will be sent out. The date should be early so that if you get cancellations, you can invite others. You can send out the invitations from 6-10 weeks before the wedding or less if it’s a rush. But then you probably will want to send an email reminder or make a call.

5. How will this be paid for? Who is paying for what? Deciding on this immediately has spared many family squabbles. Stress creeps into wedding planning with this one. Be careful!

6. Develop a record keeping system for payments made. Buy a wedding notebook and title every few pages with ‘flowers’, ‘music’, etc. Make notes and keep careful records in this notebook remembering even the smallest things like if you wanted cheap personalized wedding favors or not. Any receipts should be saved in another accounting notebook. Every word, decision, change, etc. should be logged and dated immediately. Do not leave this to memory because you will definitely forget with all that is going on. After awhile, it will all merge together in your mind and you will get so jammed that your mind will go blank, leaving you no where. If you do anything at all, do this. It is the most important!

7. Select ceremony site and officiant. Narrow your selection of the ceremony site to 3 different places unless you have a house of worship, then it’s easy. Also, don’t forget to ask the people at your wedding reception venue. Many times they have areas to perform ceremonies and they are usually already decorated which can save you more money.

8. Select bridal gown and headpiece. Honestly, most times, the first place you go is where you will go back and end up buying the dress. And many times, it’s the first dress you tried on. Do this early. It will wear on you if you don’t. But be careful. They know that people gravitate to buying the headpiece at the same place, so they tend to overcharge.

9. Decide the color scheme for the wedding. What is really nice is matching it to the season of the year. Then also, you can match your flowers and wedding favor to your theme also. Or you can have a theme of colors and continue that through the entire wedding.

10. Make sure you get your passport (if needed) marriage license, or there will be no marriage! And don’t forget to get it to the proper person! (And lastly, of course, do not forget to check out all of the amazing affordable wedding favors!)

These first 10 of the Bridal Bible are fairly straight forward. But remember, you’re not finished yet. We have more very valuable information coming in our next installment of the Bridal Bible. We will always help you navigate the crazy waters of wedding planning.