Planning for your special day!

Your wedding day is meant to be special and with a little planning it can be picture perfect! Whether planning an elopement, a small informal ceremony just for family, or a large formal ceremony in a church:  you'll have tons of planning to do!

First things first- The Budget-

Whether you or your parents pay for the wedding you will need to make a budget. Decide on your total budget and then what you will allow as maximum expenditure on each item.  Prices can run the gamut from inexpensive to high dollar!  A site rental might cost as lttle as  hundred dolllars or as much as thousands of dollars.  You might choose a gown off the rack or have a customed designed wedding dress.  Photographers can be a talented student who charges just a small fee for his or her time and for materials or a professional with several assistants and cameras may cost over $5000.  Shop around.

Setting a Date-

Decide what month. week. and day is best. Remember the date and time will also be a consideration for officiant, guests and suppliers. A florist may not be able to deliver flowers on certain days or times. Some attendees will not be able to fly across the country for a Sunday afternon wedding. Of course you cannot accomodate.

Making it Known!-

As soon as you have a date you will want to make your formal announcement.  Some papers will publish engagement announcements free of charge.  Call and ask for rates.  Also you may consider having an professional engagement portrait done by the wedding photographer you have chosen.  This session is sometimes included included in the wedding photography "package".

Should you hire a wedding planner and or choreographer?-

Its up to you! I would at least consider the help of a professional to choreograph the event. Wedding planners can help with all the details and may be well worth the fee!

Who will attend!-

Consider the size of the wedding party and how many guests will be in attendance. You will need to know what size venue you will need and this will help you calculate catering costs,etc.

Choose your site-

You will need to research wedding sites. Whether a civil or religious wedding you will need to choose sites for the wedding and reception and make arrangements with the officiant and the venues to reserve your date. You might  choose a cathedral or a gazebo for the event or even plan a wedding in a riverside park or flying over the city in a hot air balloon!  The possibilities for a unique wedding are endless!

 Some questions to ask: How many guests can be seated?. Will there be adequate facilities for the bride and her attendants to dress and do their hair and makeup on site if necessary.

What about the lighting? Are lighted candles allowed? Is the electrical supply adequate (if you plan to have music that requires electricity)?  Is there a piano or organ onsite that you can use?

Some religious facilities may have restrictions governing the type of ceremony or music. What are the rules and restrictions? How much time is  allowed? What  fees and depposits are needed to reserve the site?  

And always ask your questions and visit the facility prior to reserving it!  Venue reservation deposits are usually non refundable if you simply change your mind.

About the ceremony-

Will a priest, rabbi or minister to perform the nuptials? Or will you ask a judge to marry you? What will you choose for vows-traditional, or modern? Will you and your fiancé write your own vows?

The reception venue-

What is furnished here? Does the venue furnish tables, chairs, tablecloths etc or will you have to rent them from an outside vendor? What are the facilities for cooking, heating and refrigerating the foodstuffs? What about electrical outlets and space for a band or DJ?

Do you need to hire someone to clean up afterward or do they provide cleanup? Some will not allow outside caterers or private parties to bring food in. Some restrict the serving of alcoholic beverage.

Ask for the rules and regulations in writing and go over them before you sign a contract.

Invitations and announcements-

Don't forget to order these well in advance!  The choices are many so have fun choosing!  You will want wedding invitations and may want some announcements for those who are not going to be invited (say a cousin serving in in Iraq or an aunt who lives in Singapore) but to whom you may wish to  announce that you have recently wed.

Food-

You may decide to have a cake and punch reception in the church hall or a huge party with dining, drinking and dancing or something in between the two! Again be sure you understand what you are buying. Ask for detailed price lists and ask to sample the food.

Make sure you ask what is included. Will the caterer furnish service staff or and dinnerware service or just the food? What do they require as far as kitchen facilities at the venue? Who does the clean up? What deposits and fees are required for the rental?

Party favors and table décor-

From simple to elegant, your table décor may include balloons or fresh flowers and may or may not coordinate with your wedding colors. You will need to know how many tables there will be for guests and don’t forget to decorate a table for cake and punch service and one for last minute gifts! Favors may be anything you choose: candies wrapped in pretty tulle with satin bows, a small framed photo of the bride and groom, a small personalized bottle of champagne, or bubbles to “toast“ the bride and groom- whatever- it’s your day and your choice!

Gifts for the wedding party-

Another consideration will be your thank-you gifts to the wedding party. From silver bracelets to the bridesmaids and flower girl and monogrammed cufflinks for the groomsmen to more personal gifts. You will have decide what to give!

Music-

If plan to have music at your wedding and/or reception you may need to retain the services of musicians, vocalists, a band or a DJ. These too will need to be booked in advance. Ask for references and samples of their work in the form of a demo CD. You will be making decisions about the music performed at the ceremony and the reception as well. You might choose the traditional “Ode to Joy” as a wedding waltz or walk down the aisle to a Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed”!

Flowers-

You will want to coordinate your flowers with the wedding attire. The florist you choose can help with this. Your floral choices may be as simple as a single flower for each of the wedding party or complex bouquets. You may choose flowers to decorate the wedding venue and reception hall as well. Will you have real rose petals for the flower girl (s) to drop as they walk down the aisle check with the florist concerning delivery options.

Decoration and Accessories-

Will you have candelabra and fancy lighting at the wedding site? Will there be chairs covered in white slipcovers for the wedding guests? A chocolate fountain?  Where will you rent these? both party rental companies and florists rent all types of wedding accesories , shop around for the best deals.  Be sure you view all pieces in advance so you know exactly wjat you are getting.

Will you have real rose petals for the flower girl (s) to drop as they walk down the aisle? Who will set them up?

Will you hire a salon or cosmetician-

You may hire a salon or a cosmetician to do your  and your attendants hair and make up on the big day.  Some will come to the site and attend to this task.  Ask friends for references and do a trial hair/make up before the big day!

It is likely you will want to hire a photographer to preserve the memories of your wedding day. Prices and package vary. So may the quality of the portraits. Ask to see the photographers work from several recent weddings and make sure you understand the pricing. Some photographers retain rights to the photos and all images and negatives belong to the photographer, while others give you those images and negatives.

Wedding day choreographer-

Here comes the bride….make sure you have someone professional or a responsible friend to coordinate the waltz down the aisle! Who will coordinate the events at the reception? Someone needs to help with announcing the cake cutting, dances, toasts, etc!

Wedding attire-

Every bride has her fairy tale dress in mind. Dress shopping can be fun and exciting but also tiring. Make sure you allow plenty of time and make several trips if you must. Be sure to ask if alterations are a part of the pride or if they are separate. Take your time and do not feel pressured into making a decision, its your wedding , your dress, your choice!

Choose your grooms and attendants clothing with care as well. Ask when rented tuxedos or gowns must be returned, and charge the best man with returning the grooms tux! One last tip: Weight may fluctuate. And you may have your gowns fitted far in advance of the wedding date. Make sure you and your bridesmaids “try on” your gowns a week prior to the wedding to make sure everything fits just right.

BEST WISHES FOR A FUN AND ROMANTIC WEDDING DAY!

Copyright2006