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When should you start planning a wedding?
Here is a portion of an e-mail that Gig Masters (an
on-line booking agent) sent out to all of its vendors:
"Historically, January is THE month for newly-engaged couples to get
serious about wedding planning. We expect January 2010 to be no different,
anticipating a big surge in requests and bookings for spring and summer
weddings. According to a recent study by The Wedding Report: “June 2010 will
be busier than normal. Couples that put off their 2009 June wedding because
of the recession have booked for June 2010.” "
Follow the time line at the bottom of the page to make
planning your wedding simpler. Print out this page to keep as a checklist
for your wedding planning needs. Also consider these other important pages
to make planning your wedding less stressful:
How far out are you on planning your wedding:
9 months - 2 years
6 - 9 months
3 - 6
months
1 - 3 months
3 - 4 weeks
1 week before the wedding
Planning a wedding 9 months to 2
years
- Announce your engagement - Get a photo and
send it with your announcement to local newspapers.
- Set the date - If possible, have this
ready when you send out your engagement announcement.
- Engagement party/dinner - This could be
simple with the parents of the couple, or you may want to invite all
your friends.
- Set Budget - Weddings can be very simple
or very elaborate. This is unlike any other time in your life. Plan
carefully together. The decisions you make now will effect you for the
rest of your life. Discuss who is paying for what and how expenses will
be shared.
- Hire a wedding consultant
(optional) - They know many vendors, venue's, etc. The price you pay
them can save you incredible amounts of time. This time you save can
help you in making other arrangements.
- Start a file folder - You are going to be
making many contacts and decisions. Keep these in a single file so you
can easily find what you need.
- Start compiling invitation list - You may
wish to do this together. While it would be nice to have everybody, it
may not be possible due to space or finances.
- Select your bridal party - This will give
them plenty of notice and time to make sure they won't have other plans.
- Book your ceremony and
reception site - OK. This may seem a little early, but what if
you wait till the last and you can't get where you wanted? We have about
175 wedding leads we keep on file. We get about 3-5 more leads per
day. Weddings are happening all around us. Go HERE
for wedding reception sites. You can look locally in the Asheville area
or search nation wide.
- Discuss Apparel - Consider the bride, groom, and
bridal party. Order dresses and tuxedo's. This will allow plenty of time
for alterations, if needed.
- Hire a photographer
- A good photographer will help you to keep those memories of a
lifetime.
- Hire a videographer - Maybe for just those
special moments.
- Hire the band - This can't be emphasized
enough. The Great Imponderables are booking in excess of 1 year in
advance on several occasions. Please contact us immediately to
check availability of your event. Of course, we are the band
you'll hire, if you want people to get up, dance, and have a great time.
- Choose Ceremony music - This can be done
on a cd, a small musical group, or perhaps by a friend. We supply this
music on a cd and then move to the reception.
TOP
Planning a wedding 6 - 9 months
- Schedule special events - Such as Rehearsal
dinner and Rehearsal.
- Make reservations for Honeymoon Suite or cottage.
- Turn in work notice to receive time off.
- Start taking dancing lessons. This will help to
eliminate any awkward feeling (or moves) at the reception. If you
already know how to dance, great!
- Reserve tents, tables, chairs, dishes, etc.
- Get floral arrangements made.
- Check status of Tuxedo's, gowns, dresses, etc.
TOP
Planning a wedding 3 - 6 months
- Select your first songs (first dance,
father/bride, mother/son, bridal party) and notify the band. They may
need time to learn them. Make sure they have plenty of time.
- Purchase any necessary items for the wedding and
the reception (toast glasses, guest book, candles, etc).
- Order invitations, finalize your list, and start
addressing these.
- Buy your wedding rings.
- Buy shoes, garters, and other accessories.
- Finalize honeymoon plans. Check on passports,
ID's, etc.
- Set up bridal registries.
TOP
Planning a wedding 1 to 3 months
- Check on wedding license and requirements (blood
tests, birth certificates, etc).
- Schedule events for the bridal party (final
fitting, Rehearsal Dinner, exact date, time and place of wedding).
- Order any favors needed
for the wedding.
- Send out invitations.
- Order your wedding cake.
- Arrange for final fitting of clothes and
accessories.
- Announce the wedding in local newspapers.
- Start photography. By
taking some pictures now, you can alleviate a lot of time after the
wedding.
- Prepare list of items to pack for honeymoon.
Start packing.
TOP
Planning a wedding 3 - 4 weeks
- Arrange for name and address changes. You can
pick up a kit at the Post Office. Also check on bank accounts, credit
cards, drivers license, passports, social security, etc.
- Check accommodations for out of town guests. Many
hotels/motels will offer some discount if you tell them what this if
for.
- Contact anyone who has not responded to your
invitations.
- Make any seating plans for the wedding and/or
reception.
- Finalize all your plans. Don't forget to contact
the band, minister, photographer, videographer, baker, tuxedo's and
dresses, florist, caterer, and anyone else you may have worked with.
TOP
Planning a wedding in the final week
- First of all, relax. By now, you should have
pretty much everything in place. This should be just a simple phone call
to all the folks with which you have done business.
- Prepare checks for payments. You can put all
these in an envelope, marked for each vendor. Perhaps your best man, or
someone you appoint, can hand these out to the proper vendors. You don't
need to handle this. You will have many guests to attend too.
- Get everything ready for the Rehearsal Dinner and
Wedding Day (rings, flower girl basket, gown's, tuxedo's, any gifts,
toasting glasses, cake knife, guest book, candles, favors, etc).
- Prepare an emergency kit. These are always good
to have on hand. It should include: aspirin, safety pin, mini sewing
kit, extra pair of panty hose, brush and comb, lipstick and makeup,
breath mints, hair spray and gel, stain removing spray.
- Pick up any tickets and finalize travel
arrangements.
- Give guest count to cater and reception hall.
- Discuss any last minute details with the bridal
party.
- Finish packing for the honeymoon.
TOP
Although this list is not all inclusive, it does
help to get one organized. There's nothing worse than coming up to your
wedding day, wondering if you've forgotten something or left something
out.
Print this list out, refer to it often, and your
wedding will be a success.
The Great Imponderables is a band that works with
wedding receptions and other special events. We're here to help you.
Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help. If you
have suggestions for this page or site, please let us
know! And once again,
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WEDDING!!! |
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