The First “To Do’s” before you say “I Do”
Weddings can be big or small; be planned quickly or wait a while. Once you know what you want to do – start planning!!!! Here is my Pinterest Board with all things Wedding!
- Think before you POST – Be sure to tell/call close family and friends before posting on Social Media. Check with parents to make sure they told important people too!
- Talk about a Budget – this is super important unless you know you don’t have one!! Everything depends on the amount of money you have/want to spend.
- Hammer out the Guest Count – get lists from parents and your own friends list. Put it all in an excel spread sheet – this way you can mail merge them onto labels or envelopes for invites. Guest count matter for venue size and cost of food! So you need a guest list to start looking at venues.
- Wedding Party – how many and who? You’ll want to ask them before you have a date in set in stone. Ask them if they would happen to have a big trip planned or other weddings and such to help to pick a date that will work for the people you want part of your day.
- THE VENUE – My Favorite Subject!! Venues book up quick so the sooner the better if you are picky about dates! A deposit will be required at time of booking and then full payment due usually a week before the event.
- You might have to be flexible and always be mindful of guests – so planning a holiday weekend wedding might save you money but some people may not attend.
- Get complete details about the catering, decor rules, cork fees, keg costs, cake cutting fees… they all add up!
- Venues that allow you to cater in food and bring in your own liquor will usually save you money but entails a little more leg work on your end lining up a caterer, buying liquor, and paying bar tenders.
- Plan a tour at about the same time you’ll arrive there on your wedding day so you can get a feel for what that day will look like. Or around sunset so you can see it in day light and at night.
- Even if you have your heart set on a venue look at a couple different ones – you may fall in love with something completely different!
- Renting a tent is a great way to create your own venue but it can be costly. You are basically building and furnishing a venue, tent, side walls, heaters, fans, tables, chairs, lighting, garbage cans, portable toilets, stage, dance floor, sound system, decor – it’s usually al la carte going this route!
- Ceremony Site– Where will it be in a church? Outside? At your venue?Who will officiate?What time of day? Is it available?
- Photographer – depending on your date you’ll need to act fast to align your date with a photographer of your choice! Also, you might get save the date pics as part of your package so you’ll want to book in time to send them out! How many hours? And do they have an assistant? Do you get the rights or do you have to order prints through them?
- Band/DJ – again dates fill up quick so to align dates with your venue it might be tricky if you wait too long!
- Save the Dates/Invites/Programs – Now that you know when, where, and how many you can pick out invites!! Good rule is send save the dates 6 months before the day and invites 10-12 weeks before. You’ll need to give a caterer final numbers 7-14 days before your day so RSVPs will be due before that!
- The Dresses
- Wedding gowns if they need to be order can take up to 6 months especially if you order during Chinese New Year – it’s a thing believe me!
- Most shops need half of the payment at time of order and half when you pick up. So be prepared with who is paying for the dress!
- Bridesmaids – if you have more than 4 maids then bring only a few to try on and pick out the style and help decide on color. Less opinions are easier to make a decision – then tell the rest where to order by when. Give them an inflated due date by about 2 weeks so if anyone is late you still have some wiggle room! Make sure to order a color swatch of the girls dresses!
- Don’t be offended if someone backs out due to the cost. It’s a financial commitment that some people know they can’t afford. Be open and willing to give them another roll in your day with a less investment on their part!
- The Decor – my second favorite subject! The colors don’t need to nailed down right away- you’ll want to carry the bridesmaid dress swatch with you as you decide on your decor. These days it seems to be more of a theme then a specific color so find a pallet of colors you like and stick with that theme- usually 4-5 colors that correlate well together.
- Centerpieces – these are the hardest decide on! You want them unique and memorable but not too bulky they get in the way of guests talking across the table! Also you need so many of them that the cost can add up quick. Again you can be free to choose 2 or 3 different designs for tables- or even have them all slightly different!
- Ceremony – usually simple but details that’s might get forgot about. You can use vases along the aisle that will also be used at the reception but be sure to line up who will be in charge the day of for making these types of things happen flawlessly!
- Venue – ask when you are able to arrive for decorating. And you will be busy the day of so make sure you have a trusting crew informed and trained to make your vision come to life!
- Flowers – are you going to order from a flourish or farmers market? Figure out who will be a contact person for delivery of flowers (not you) and who needs them (bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, hosts, grandparents, attendants, ushers)
- Card/gift table – card boxes are super cute way to get creative but make sure someone monitors it (empty it periodically) or it’s locked down.
- Are you doing Seating assignments? Or simple seat reserved cards so guests can claim a seat
- Cake/Dessert Table – simple but cute for pictures!
- Other attire– tuxes, Moms, flower girls, ring bear. Normally these don’t need a lot of lead time so you can order a few months before your day!
- Bridal Shower
- Rehersal dinner
- Day of Itinerary