For most people, the wedding and reception are once-in-a-lifetime event. But, because it's once-in-a-lifetime, most people have little to no experience in planning them. Here are a few helpful hints you can use to get started:
1. Assign your key person. Vitally important for this special occasion, assigning a key person to attend through all the wedding details can provide a big relief on the part of both the bride and the groom. A reliable key person ensures that everything is well taken cared of from the schedule, reception, location, caterer, music, bakery, florist, limo driver, and wedding party down to the guests.
2. Pre-plan & have a checklist. Use that back-up person and make sure details are not overlooked on that special day. There are so many to remember, you'll want to make sure nothing gets left behind so write up a list. It can be as simple as a small notebook that you carry in your purse, adding details as they come up in your planning.
3. Avoid micro-managing, delegate! Beyond your main person, it is normal for different members of both families to manage different aspects of the wedding and reception. If you have 30 items to manage and 30 individuals to each manage one thing, all you have to do is check in with your people! You are now the project manager instead of the micro-manager!
4. Hire proven professionals and secure your date with a deposit. From your flowers to wedding cake to caterer to music, look for recommendations or testimonials from previous clients. You don't want to discover the horrors of hiring a "wanna be" for your special day!
5. Pamper yourself. The wedding, like any other important occasions, will demand most of your time. It can inevitably drain your energy and stress you out. Ease yourself of stress by relaxing, taking long walks, or enjoying a good body massage, whichever you think will put you into a more relaxed frame of mind. You can also invite your bridesmaids and family members to make it more fun.
6. Double check. Even though you have all your ducks in a row well in advance, allow yourself approximately one hour (more or less depending on wedding size and details) to make some last minute phone calls. This should be approximately 1-2 weeks in advance. This gives a bit of time in case anything needs to be adjusted or corrected.
7. Ensure that the rings are safe. Funny as it may sound, wedding rings are among the ones that need to be secured. Because of their size, they are vulnerable to being lost or getting misplaced especially if little ring bearers had to handle them.
8 Keep receipts & records. This is a great task for one responsible person. Then on the big day, you can quickly and easily determine who's been paid & how much is still owed, and can also serve to keep track of your memories going forward.
9. Security. Some couples prefer their wedding held in one place but there are also some who prefer having it in several locations. In any case, make sure that security is assured if ever some items are left in a particular venue. With the numerous concerns to be attended in a wedding, it seems easy to lose focus and concentration even if you are the most organized person on earth!
10. Give thank you notes or tokens. Get your thank you notes printed weeks before the wedding. Anyway, you have bridesmaids around to help on this particular task. Guests and those involved in your wedding will be pleased to receive a small token from you. Lastly, thank you notes can serve as a memento on your big day.
Posted under Wedding
This post was written by Karen Taylor on December 16, 2008
