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Wedding Planning Basics

October 21, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

You’ve done it! You have finally hit that point in your life when you are about to embark on an amazing journey. Marriage. You have the proposal, you have the ring, now all you have to do is plan. The planning of a wedding can be fraught with anxiety, disorganization and all out stress. Try to alleviate these feelings by having a few wedding planning basics in place.

Get  a Team

Assembling a team of wedding planners can’t hurt. Having to many hands in the pot may be trouble, but in this instance you need to recruit your wedding party to assist in some planning. The little jobs that can become tedious are the jobs that you can delegate out to someone in your wedding party. Ultimately you need to be focusing on the projects that can only be done by you or the groom. The rest can be done in a joint effort to keep all areas and aspects of planning covered. Enlist the people you feel will carry out the tasks you ask, and you respect their judgment. When you ask people to be in your wedding, there is the expectation that a level of commitment will be met.

Plan A Budget

Often couples can be on the same page with what they initially think they want to spend. It gets a little out of hand when you go your separate ways and you see things that you think are a must have. It can get very ugly if you have not set an agreement in place. The cost of your wedding dress, flowers and photographs may be quote “the bride’s jurisdiction” however this contributes to the end result cost of the wedding. Planning a detailed budget will allow you to itemize all the items that need to be purchased. Write a breakdown that will list the most expensive items first to least expensive. Then once you have reached a grand total, agree or negotiate on what the most you will spend on a certain item is. This will keep your budget into perspective and alleviate any confusing or misunderstanding of what your budget is.

Comparison Shop

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting the most for your money. After all weddings can become quite costly. So why not try to cut costs where you can, and ask for deals? The only way to get a deal is to ask for one. Things like flowers and venues are marked in price the moment you mention wedding so why not be afraid to ask for a discount if your comparing price with a similar item. The market is flooded with alternatives so it’s important to make sure your getting the best service for the cost.  If someone isn’t willing to give you a break on cost, always remember there is a similar service around the corner who will. It’s about taking the time to comparison shop. Don’t settle, it’s your dream day and you should be able to achieve it.

Planning a wedding can be a headache or it can be an experience that you enjoy and remember forever. In order to make it a memorable experience use a couple of these wedding planning basics to ensure your day is a stress free one.

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Wedding Planning For Dummies

June 24, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

There’s the dress, then the rings, the caterer, the band, the venue, the celebrant, the cars, the suits, the cake, the bridesmaids, the photographer, the guest list, and then if you have the energy, the honeymoon. Planning the wedding of your dreams is no task for the faint-hearted and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Ensuring your special day is all you ever hoped it would be is easy with a little know-how and some forward planning.

‘Wedding Planning for Dummies’, 2nd Edition will help you negotiate the many decisions that need to be made when planning your wedding. The perfect guide for anyone organizing a wedding, large or small, this book will advise anxious future brides, grooms, and even has a spot for their families.

What should you expect from Wedding Planning for Dummies? All the aspects related to the Big Day are tackled in detail:

  • Planning the ceremony
  • Deciding on the guest and gift lists
  • Designing your invitations
  • Preserving your special memories of the big day
  • Controlling the cost without cutting out the fun
  • Choosing the setting, music, and menu for the reception
  • Selecting the perfect gowns and suits for yourselves and your wedding party
  • Deciding on the right cut, clarity, color, and carat of your rings

Wedding Planning for Dummies now with its 2nd Edition looks like the perfect guide for anyone who wants to see their wedding dream come true. A friendly guide such as Wedding Planning for Dummies will save you a lot of sleepless nights worrying about what to do next. This book carries numerous examples, charts and the other finer details on the subject. Just like any other “for dummies book”, it provides a larger and a clearer picture on the subject, for the benefit of the readers. This book could really assist in planning and organizing the perfect memorable wedding. You’ll be ready to choose the perfect menu, design very stylish invitations, order the gowns and tuxedos you’ve always wanted and decide on the place where you want to spend your honeymoon.

For a perfect and memorable wedding you should take the time to read some of the tips that the Wedding Planning for Dummies brings. You’ll learn lots of new idea’s making the best of times out of the wedding preparations as well. A variant of the Wedding Planning for Dummies guide, is the DVD series, that takes you step by step through all the important stages of the pre-wedding preparations. Wedding Planning for Dummies series may just be the perfect solution!

All your wedding questions answered right here at Rachael West Designs.

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Wedding Planning Tips

June 18, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

For some, wedding planning is no more than booking a banquet hall for the gala reception and the wedding ceremony. In reality wedding planning encompasses much more . A perfect plan will include invitation ideas, bridesmaid dresses, attire for mother of the bride, and selecting the right bridal flower bouquets. Most importantantly  you should make your wedding fun and fabulous. Every wedding has a budget. It  always depends how much you want to spend on your wedding day, what you would like to remember and what you would like your guests to see. Most bride and grooms feel overwhelmed in the process of wedding planning. It becomes a daunting task where decision making becomes a dreaded inevitability.

Planning Your Wedding

Begin by creating a personalized month-by-month to-do list with an approximate wedding date, your date could end up being determined by what is available as far as your church and reception hall.By creating this organization you will feel you have more control over this event. Add all meetings related to the wedding to your checklist so you don’t forget.

The place for your wedding reception  should be selected depending on its availability, price, proximity to the ceremony site, and the number of people it can accommodate. The reception is where all your guests come together to celebrate this event with you, it should reflect and complement the formality of your ceremony.

The selection of your wedding dress will help with determining the style, whether formal or a themed wedding, for your big day.The dress should be perfect in such a manner that you as the bride feel and look beautiful. A well-fitted dress that flatters your figure, a trumpet style or a classic ballgown  all are styles that should be coordinated with the flow or your wedding. Most importantly it should be comfortable to wear allowing you the movement you will require for the entirety of the event.

Wedding Planners to the Rescue

You may also go for hiring a wedding planner. The fact is that most brides are working professionals, finding time to compare vendors and review deals can be next to impossible. A wedding planner will understand your needs and create a wedding  in such a manner that it reflects your style, taste and personality, all within your desired budget.

Still thinking about doing it on your own, well it can be done. The Internet has sites that will guide you with your big day, keep you on track of what is required and when. You will be surprised the network of sites available to help you and your groom with planning your wedding. From your beautiful wedding dress, tuxedos, flowers, to table decorations. It all is just a click away.

Have any wedding questions? Get all the answers you need now at Rachael West Designs.

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Wedding Planning Guide : Success for Your Wedding

June 14, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

There are a hundred and one things that need to be planned for your big day, so a wedding planning checklist is essential. You should start planning well in advance – a year is not too long although that does assume that yours is not a gunshot romance! A Wedding Planning Guide can be the key to success for a smooth wedding. Planning can’t start too early! Here is a wedding planning list to get you started on your wedding day success:

1. The Budget

You need to establish early on what your wedding budget is. Ask will either set of parent be contributing financially to the wedding? Ideas of roughly how many guests will be attending need to be considered at this early stage, as the size of the event will have a big impact on the cost.

2. The Ceremony

As soon as you know what date you are aiming for, you should find out about the venue and personnel for the ceremony. For a church wedding in particular you should discuss your wedding with the priest or vicar as soon as possible. Even civil ceremony venues can have long waiting lists.

3. Wedding Insurance

This is worth considering, especially if you are planning a particularly expensive wedding. In the unfortunate event that you had to postpone, you could end up paying for everything twice! Wedding insurance can remove that worry. This isn’t a conventional need but who is to say you you shouldn’t consider it?

4. Wedding Reception Planning

Spend some time beforehand jotting down your requirements and priorities, then visit a number of venues before you make your final choice. Attending friends and families weddings can really get your creative juices flowing.

5. Flowers

These will need to be booked well in advance, especially if you are planning a wedding on a budget. You may wish to shop around and perhaps do some of the flower arrangements yourself.

6. Wedding Music

You may consider to select music for both the ceremony  and the reception venue. Many people hire a live band for the latter. But there is nothing wrong with hiring a DJ. It all comes down to personal preference.

7. Photography

If you are planning a wedding on a budget another option is to consider asking around for friends of friends who do wedding photography.

8. Invitations

Allow extra time depending on how nicely you want to personalize them. Hand written calligraphy invitations are beautiful yet time consuming, so if you have a friend or relative willing to volunteer you should jump at the offer! A detail like this can be very inexpensive to one of the most elaborate things you choose.

9. Wedding Dress

As well as the Groom’s outfits, bridesmaids, plus ushers or ring bearers if you will have them.

10. Wedding Cake

Again, book well in advance or if you are lucky enough to have one of the mothers cooking it for you make sure that you discuss the size and decoration early on.

11. Rings

Again, you may be surprised at the time it takes to both decide on the rings and potentially have them ordered in the right sizes. Visit a jewelers early on in the planning and make sure you discuss budget!

12. Wedding Gift List

Give some thought as to whether you are going to have a traditional wedding gift list, or something more modern like a note to the effect that “We want your presence not your presents,” as some couples do these days.

13. Transportation

Not only from the church to the reception venue, but also transportation arrangements for guests – and very importantly your travel plans for the honeymoon! The importance of planning ahead for your wedding can’t be over-emphasized.

The best wedding planning tip is simply: Be Organized!

Get all your wedding questions answered now at Rachael West Designs.

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Step By Step Wedding Planning

May 4, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Overwhelmed? Do Step by Step Wedding Planning!

Feeling overwhelmed by all the notes you have to make, the suppliers you have to talk to, the appointments you need to show up for, and all the budgeting you will need to do? Slow down, breathe, and do ” step by step ” wedding planning.

Admittedly, planning your own wedding can be very daunting and seem like an overwhelming task. Many brides-to-be start with so much enthusiasm, only to end up throwing their hands up in frustration. This isn’t the way to start off your blissful union. Make it easy on yourself by doing it step by step. Keep a list of everything that needs to be accomplished, too. That way, you can see where you are at, what you have done, and what you still need to do.

Below is a checklist that you can use for step by step wedding planning to ensure a stress free organized event.

Wedding Planning Step One

 Decide on the location and date. This is one of the most(perhaps even the most)important decisions you will have to make. Pick the date and the spot, and keep in mind that these two choices will affect your budget immensely.

Wedding Planning Step Two

 Plan the reception. Do you want a reception after? Some couples, especially those on a tight budget, do not.

Wedding Planning Step Three

 Book the wedding venue and reception hall. You are not the only one getting married. Neither are you the only one doing step by step wedding planning. Chances are, other couples are just as eager to get married in that dreamy spot by the beach, too. Do not leave anything to chance and risk being turned down by management for the reason that they are fully booked.You definatley don’t want to be at your own wedding wishing it was elsewhere. As soon as you have decided on a place, put down a deposit right away.

Wedding Planning Step Four

 Choose your wedding party. This could be your family members, friends, or people from work. Choose people you trust, people you would love to see standing up for you at the wedding.

Wedding Planning Step Five

 Choose the theme and the colors. For most brides-to-be, this is the most fun part of step by step wedding planning. Well, it is fun but it is not the most crucial part, so do not give in to the temptation to plan this first or focus on it the most. In the grand scheme of things, this is one of the smaller details of the ceremony so work on it only after you are done with the basics.

Wedding Planning Step Six

 Choose the food. Some say at the heart of all wedding receptions is food. There is truth to this. Guests tend to remember the weddings with the most sumptuous banquets. So, choose the food with care. There is certainly allot to consider when choosing the food. You must take everyone into considering , so trying to a select entree’s need to be done so with care. Provide alternatives for your guests as well. You do not have to spend a ton. You can go for an informal buffet or if you have the money for it, a fancy plate dinner.

Wedding Planning Step Seven

Send out invitations. Experts recommend doing this two months before the wedding date.  Something to consider here would be to supply alternative response methods. RSVP are as important as the invitations themselves.If you are getting married out of town, send out invitations even earlier so your guests can make travel arrangements.

Finally, after you have done steps 1 to 7, you can now pick out your dress, souvenirs, flowers, and everything else. Keep a notebook and a pen handy at all times. These two tools are invaluable in your step by step wedding planning.

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Planning An International Wedding

April 19, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

 The idea of getting married somewhere other than home can often times seem romantic. An international wedding seems glamorous an appealing. While that may be true, it is not one without it’s complications. It can be a spectacular event if it goes off without a hitch! There are several steps you should follow when planning an international wedding to make the entire process even less complicated.

Planning Step 1

If you are planning to get married in a different country from your own, you will need to familiarize yourself with that country’s marriage laws and requirements. This is easily done by web search and phone calls  for the marriage laws of the country in question. Ask which legal documents you will need to take with you when you go and verify your information. Ask the questions before hand of what you will have to obtain to  prove that you are either single or divorced .Or if that is a requirement in  order to get a marriage license in that country. Some foreign countries require a waiting period before a marriage license is given. Sometimes you have to prove that you have been involved in a relationship with the person in question and this can be done through emails or even postal mail.

Planning Step 2

It is best to familiarize yourself with the traditions and customs of the country where you are planning to get married. Some countries may have unusual or beautiful traditions that you may want to incorporate into your ceremony. Just as you are looking at traditions for the country to don’t forget about the ones where your from. If you are thinking of carrying your traditions with you internationally, it’s best to make sure none of these are frowned upon. Contacting the local dignitaries office should give you plenty of information.

Planning Step 3

Timing is everything when planning an international wedding. Nothing can occur unless you have concrete information of marriage licenses. Receive in writing from the local legal counsel how long the waiting period is before applying for the marriage license. Also inquire about the waiting period after the the license is received. It is doubtful that any couple could apply for a marriage license and be able to get married right away. Bring your identification with you, in the form of a passport and a valid birth certificate. Research what you will need very carefully ahead of time, as making just one mistake in the process could set you back months or even years.

 Planning Step 4

You will most likely be faced with the exclusion of some family members when choosing an international wedding. Most often it is only the two people chosen for witnesses that attend, or the parents of the bride and groom. This usually means that there will most likely be two weddings, one now, in the foreign country, and another later, at home. Keep this in mind when you are planning your expenses and your guest list. The best advice for planning an overseas wedding, is to just keep it simple all the way around.

Planning Step 5

Now that you have gotten everything off on the right foot and the big day has arrived, have a happy and blessed wedding day. Enjoy your day and your celebration because it will be a moment of a lifetime that you will never forget. Capture the moments you can, as this intimate ceremony takes place with several photographs. Every time you share them you will relive each moment again.

Additional points to ponder

  • Keep the season in mind when you are picking your wedding day. If you are on a tropical island, there could be a a peak rainy or hurricane season. Research the weather trends all you can.
  • Wedding finery can be rented rather than purchased if you wish to keep your expenses down. Check availability
  • Some countries have wedding customs that could strike you as unconventional. try to establish all these ahead of time, so as not to be taken off guard.
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Wedding Checklist a Guide to Planning Your Special Day

April 15, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Weddings are something that can truly take a lot of time to prepare . Both a mental and emotional commitment occur. Whether your planning your wedding or helping some else with theirs,  it is a time consuming process.  Overwhelming as it may be, believe it or not a wedding can be planned fully with the right approach. Ideally you have a year to plan to full event. Some weddings occur faster than that, but on the whole a wedding usually begins with three hundred and sixty five days until “D” day.

One of the first things you’ll need to determine is the actual date you are getting married.  Once you have this date it will give you an exact time-frame of when you need to get things done and how much time you have to do it. A checklist can act as a guide throughout while planning your wedding.

9-12 months  Planning Ahead

  • Announce Engagement in the fashion of your choice
  • Select Wedding Date
  • Hire wedding consultant/coordinator or create a  checklist to guide yourself
  • Determine the style of wedding, venue , number of  guests and theme
  • Determine  the budget & finalize how expenses are to  be shared
  • Buy a day-timer , upload a calender to your phone, laptop or pda to keep track of appointments & events
  • Develop a record keeping system for payments, deposits and other expenses
  • Create an approximate numbers of guests
  • Establish if you will inviting children for your invitations
  • Select and reserve ceremony site
  • Select and book Officiant/Priest/Minister/Rabbi
  • Select and book reception location
  • Select and order bridal gown
  • Determine colour scheme
  • If ceremony or reception is at a home, arrange for any home improvements
  • Obtain, passports, visas, birth certificates, any documents needed for travel and/or marriage licenses

6 to 9 months Planning Ahead

  • Select and book caterer , this can be a long process as there are several options available
  • Select and book photographer which will compliment the look and feel of your wedding
  • Select wedding party and be sure to confirm every one’s schedules
  • Give wedding party a list of their responsibilities and reiterate the importance of reliability
  • Select and buy attire or bridesmaids & flower girl
  • Select and buy attire for mothers of the bride and groom which can be challenging depending on everyone’s schedules
  • Select and book ceremony musicians or if this is not applicable, establish the equipment needed for this
  • Select and book live band or DJ for reception, try to use what suits your venue
  • Select and book videography
  • Select and book florist, this encompasses so much you may want to give this particular task allot of attention
  • Register for your wedding gifts (this can be done sooner)

4 to 6 Months  Planning Ahead

  • Schedule fittings for custom made bridesmaids gowns, the key here is co ordinating all your wedding parties schedule
  • Arrange marriage prep-courses, if necessary-this can be anywhere from a 4 to a 6 week course so allow yourself the time
  • Reserve rental items, this can  range from all sorts of equipment
  • Select and book decorator or select items that you need and organize who from the wedding party will be helping you
  • Finalize an A and B list of guests
  • Select and order invitations and other wedding stationary, this can include “save the date” cards and reply cards
  • Set date, time and location for rehearsal dinner, make sure the location is convenient for everyone included
  • Select and book honeymoon night suite unless you plan to leave immediatley after the reception to catch a flight
  • Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests, or provide a list of suitable locations near by the venue and include them in your invitations
  • Start planning your honeymoon, now this can be very overwhelming, stick to a budget to get what you want out of it
  • Shop for your wedding gifts to each other, this may not apply depending on your personal preference
  • Shop for your wedding gifts to your wedding party, when doing this agree on a spending limit and style that suits everyone
  • Shop for your wedding gifts to your parents,again, this may not apply to all couples
  • Buy shoes, lingerie and accessories for the bride, this can be a fun task to include your bridesmaids in
  • Buy shoes and accessories for the bridesmaids, comparison shop on these items
  • Select and order wedding bands,if your egagenent ring already came with a wedding band, choose a complimentary style for the grooms

2 to 4 Months Planning Ahead

  • Take formal engagement picture to have sent out with your announcement
  • Select and order wedding cake, make sure you choose something suitable to your wedding theme
  • Order party favors, this may not be yours to do if you have hired a planner
  • Select and order decorations
  • Purchase honeymoon attire and luggage, this may have been supplied as gifts already
  • Select and book wedding day transportation, this should be well thought out in order to accommodate all the wedding party
  • Start addressing your invitations
  • Go on trials and book wedding day hair and makeup. Bring your headpiece and wear a white shirt, don’t be afraid to voice your dislikes on this
  • Obtain marriage license , be mindful that marriage license do expire so gather required information on this
  • Send out your invitations
  • Select ceremony readers
  • Select ushers to seat your guests
  • Select guest book attendant
  • Select your MC

 

6 to 8 Weeks Planning Ahead

  • Maintain a record of RSVP’s and early wedding gifts in order to keep organized
  • Maintain a record of shower gifts and send thank yous, everyone’s enjoys a thank you card
  • Purchase all ceremony and reception accessories: guest book, toasting glasses, garter, ring pillow, etc.
  • Select and reserve wedding attire for all gentlemen, make sure this is complimentary to the bridesmaids
  •  Invite all intededs to rehearsal dinner
  • Plan bridesmaid luncheon, this can be fun for the girls to get together and share all updates thus far
  • Select your something old, new, borrowed, blue

2 to 6 Weeks  Planning Ahead

  • Finalize all food and beverages for wedding, confirm the serving guidelines
  • Finalize all ceremony details with Officiant, confirming all regulations that need to be met
  • Finalize all rehearsal arrangements and confirm everyone’s attendance
  • Finalize all floral arrangements confirming delivery times
  • Final fittings for yourself and bridesmaids, make this an occasion itself!
  • Make a wedding day itinerary, it can be hard to remain focused with so much going on
  • Give a copy of the itinerary to your wedding party and vendors
  • Finalize all details with all your vendors
  • Decide order of receiving line and head table setting
  • Contact guests that haven’t replied to try to obtain a close head count for food and seating
  • Pick up wedding rings
  • Give photographer a photo checklist to ensure you get the photos you want
  • Visit reception site for floor plan
  • Create reception seating plan
  • Give musicians a list of your music selection or confirm play list with your DJ
  • Inform attendants when and where to pick up attire
  • Print out seating cards
  • Pick up honeymoon tickets

1 Week  Planning Ahead

  • Give caterer/reception venue final tally of guests as close as you can get it
  • Pack for your honeymoon destination
  • Organize wedding reception table favours
  • Arrange mail collection while you are on honeymoon

Day of Rehearsal Dinner

  • Drop all wedding accessories and decor off at ceremony and reception locations, enlist your wedding party if need be
  • Make sure you bring all gifts that will be handed out at dinner
  • Make sure you have all final payments in envelopes for wedding day labeled and readily available
  • Make sure wedding party has their itinerary and is informed of any changes
  • Go to church for rehearsal
  • Review VIP seating with ushers at ceremony location

the Much Anticipated Wedding Day

  • Most of the details will be on your wedding day itinerary
  • Eat breakfast, you will notice if you have not!
  • Pack anything remaining on your “To Bring” list in cars that you may need last minute
  • Make sure Maid of Honor has groom’s ring and Best Man has bride’s ring
  • Make sure you have your marriage license, photo permit and Special Occasions Permit, if needed
  • Put your engagement ring on your right hand if you choose to wear it during the ceremony
  • Remember to look around and soak in the views of the day you planned so long and hard for, this is it.
Announce Engagement

Select Wedding Date

Hire wedding consultant/coordinator

Determine type of wedding: location, theme, # of guests, formality, time of day

Determine budget & how expenses will be shared

Buy a daytimer to keep track of appointments & events

Develop a record keeping system for payments

Create an approximate # guest list

Decide if you will be inviting children or not

Select and reserve ceremony site

Select and book Officiant/Priest/Minister/Rabbi

Select and book reception location

Select and order bridal gown

Determine colour scheme

If ceremony or reception is at a home, arrange for any home improvements

Obtain, passports, visas, birth certificates, any documents need for travel and/or marriage licenses
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Wedding Planning Software

April 5, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

The much anticipated day has arrived, your wedding day. The goal is have  everything to turn out just the right way, the way you always dreamed it would. How can you  ensure that everything will go smoothly? You do have the option of hiring a wedding planner This act alone could be more costly as just as stressful as your wedding day. What you need is a plan. Wedding planning software is out there, and user friendly. Why not plan your wedding the way you want it and have your finger on the pulse of everything with just one click?

Software that covers every little detail, including ones that you might not have thought of on your own is invaluable when you’re planning your wedding. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that no small detail is left undone?Think about it; managing your invitations, budget, RSVP’s and so much more. You’ll know at the click of a button who is coming, who has declined the invite and more. Wedding planner software can literally turn the mundane tasks of planning your wedding into something that is almost enjoyable. There is no doubt what your saving on besides money, piece of mind.

Think about this just a moment, addressing invitations takes a lot of time, what if a piece of software allowed you to import your data from another windows application then ensure you addressed them all correctly.  Technology has so many advancements in so many areas, why not apply this to your wedding planning?Many people don’t realize it but if you’re going to be following a traditional wedding then there are right and wrong ways to address the invitations to different people. How about the wedding gifts, keeping track of who is bringing and giving what saves you a lot of duplication of effort after the wedding. The normal time consuming  tasks  then turn into a streamline  effortless task.

Sending out thank you cards couldn’t be easier then just clicking a button to address them all, print out what the guest gave you then sign and send out. How about the remaining parties in the wedding, the groomsmen, bridesmaids, caterer, and even the  photographer. All of these peoples contact information should be at immediate access to you, especially when the date is getting close. Wedding planning software keeps it all organized and planned in one easy to follow place.

 Why not go one step further with your planning. Provide a  detailed list of what each person is taking care of, and what duties they have. This can be very helpful again when planning a traditional wedding where different members of the wedding party have responsibilities. Contact everyone can become a feat in itself. If you or someone close to you has ever planned or been involved in the planning of a wedding before then you know just how much time it can take out of you. If you have never been involved in the planning process, then just take our word for it that wedding planning software is a smart way to go about making the experience as smooth as possible. What couple wouldn’t want a no hassle wedding?

Most wedding planning software will give you simple tips on doing things you likely haven’t done before such as hire a photographer, or caterer. Asking the right questions before the reception or wedding means less surprises on the day. Planning your wedding should be something you enjoy so why not make it a success before it even starts? Use wedding planning software.

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Cherish Forever Your Wedding Memories

March 31, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

  Weddings take a great amount of planning and preparation, although  within 12 hours from start of your wedding the whole ceremony and the day is over. All the time and planning to ensure several details come together at just the right time has ended. Isn’t then so important to make sure every aspect of the day is captured? Finding some ways to preserve those memories will be an improtant step in planning your wedding. Think beyond the day of your wedding, memories will last you a lifetime. There are ways to capture the essence of wedding in more than just a photograph, you will want to re live every moment of that day.

Why Not Write Wedding Wishes for Each Other?

While writing your wedding vows may be a sentimental part of your ceremony, the window of opportunity to tell your partner everything you are feeling on this day, and what it means to you is small. Why not can capture what you are feeling on that day in depth with a note that you can cherish forever. Expressing your love and happiness of this day will let your desire of sharing a lifetime of memories togetherbe put into words. It can be in a form of scrolls, cards or any other creative form of message. Wedding wishes will remind you how you felt on the day you exchanged wedding bands and when you re read them you will remember how you felt.

 Try Compiling  a Wedding Card Album

On your wedding day, with every gift you receive, you will also receive well wishes to go with them.  Friends and family express their joy and happiness and personal messages on the cards for your wedding. It seems a shame to throw away all the thoughts that your guests wanted to share with you on this day. A great way to preserve these sentiments is through a wedding card album. This way you will be able to flip through an album full of warm wishes from the people who care about you. It provides an extra sentiment  to cherish your memories.

 How About Pressing Your Wedding Flowers?

 

While fresh flowers seem to be a staple in a weddings decor, they are also the most perishable of your decorations. The also are quite costly. Fresh flowers add a wonderful touch to both your ceremony and your reception providing a magical ambience.  To keep them as souvenirs, pick a few from your bouquet, aisle stands, tables and wherever else they may be, and press them down in a thick book. Photographs will provide you with the visual reminders of how the flowers looked on this day, but pressing the actual flowers will provide a sensory reminder.

What About Your Wedding Trinkets?

A memory box will provide a place for your mementos of the day . Selecting a piece from each aspect of your day such as  your wedding napkins , place cards and any other personalized momentos  will remind you of every aspect of the day. As you go, select something that you will consider meaningful and set it aside. They will be a good reminder detailing the hard work that ensued before the day.

Hire a Professional Photographer or Video-grapher

Most couples do hire a photographer or videographer to capture special moments on their wedding day. This is an excellent way to safe keep those memories and relive all your moments for years to come.Candid photo’s and interviews are a great way to achieve the memories you are after, so meet with your photographer and discuss what memories your after. You may even want to leave it up to the professional, who, with enough experience, will compile an album to remember. Be sure to discuss your tastes ahead of time.

Some tips on things to keep from you wedding or events leading up to it include: invitations to showers and the wedding, thank you card, wedding program or menu, any ribbon or decoration,  hair accessories, or your garter. The important thing is that the way in which you choose to cherish the memories truly reflects how special of a day your wedding was.

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Effective Habits For Wedding Planning

March 29, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

 Habits are generally associated with  negatives things and are not necessarily used in a positive nature.  Using habits to during wedding planning can be an effective tool if you know how to use them in your favour. A wedding is a process, and with process comes habit forming ways which can be utilized to your benefit during these planning months. These effective habits for wedding planning  are also about how to help you keep close tabs on your wedding dollars while you make decisions on your wedding.  Proper planning and communication allows for budgets to be followed, without it the expenses can get out of control. Make the following seven effective habits part of your wedding planning to ensure your wedding day has everything you hoped it would.

1. Procrastination is Not The Answer!

This morsel of wisdom isn’t stressed enough. Wedding planning is not the time to be a last minute planner, it a time time sensitive event where preparations begin almost a year in advance. Most things that involve your wedding such as flowers, wedding cake and venues take months of pre planning.

2. Go In Search of The Right Wedding Planning Guide

Planning this event alone can be a very overwhelming task and likely to make for mistakes. Everyone needs to start somewhere, and to be effective in this process you need planning be it from  a professional or a guide. Finding the right wedding guide can offer tips and tricks to saving substantially on your big day.

3. Schedule and Then Schedule Some More

Be sure to schedule meeting times for  discussions of the details of the wedding. Scheduling with help keep on track with  the budget, the vendors, etc. Be diligent about keeping these appointments with each other and with those whose services you plan on using for you wedding. Communication is a key habit to form when planning an event  like this. Allocated time to discuss details in a group setting is highly beneficial. Various ideas and resources are shared, making the planning process run smoothly.

4. Compromise is King

You’ll definitely have the opportunity to familiarize yourselves with the delicate arts of communication and compromise.  When two people are trying to combine both “wants” into one day, it can become highly argumentative especially if there are certain aspects that either party has their heart set on .Through this process of planning and compromise you will learn new ways of communicating with each other, as well as discover areas where it is difficult for you to express yourselves.

Establish a daily ritual to discuss your feelings and share your thoughts new things that you have seen or ideas pertaining to. Even if you only have time for a five-minute chat it will keep the lines of comunication open. This is a habit that will serve you well as a married couple too. It is the consistency, not the quantity of conversation that counts.

5. Always  Share

Wedding planning has taken on a new shape with both couples taking control of where the money is spent and the decisions  that are made. Joint decisions are happening when it comes to  the location for your ceremony , the colours chosen and any other aspects of your wedding.  Couples are now splitting the list in half. Two people dividing the lengthy task list will also help reducing the stress.

6. Play Nicely

Communicate your wishes clearly and tactfully to wedding professionals, friends and family members. Practice saying “no” and using phrases like, “we have discussed this and we feel that”. Conveying your wedding wishes in an appropriate manner is the most effective way to communicate. Make sure you and your partner are on the same page when doing this it , otherwise it can make for an awkward situation.

7. Mental Health Day?

 Overall the idea is to stay in good mental health. Planning with some effective habits for wedding planning will do that for you. Your wedding should be something you have looked forward to . Keeping the stress levels down will allow you to enjoy the experience as you should be.

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