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Timelines

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Timlines

 

Planning a wedding can take time, patience and organization. Timelines are just suggestions but they will keep you on track. Keeping on top of your tasks is important so action items like making payments don’t fall between the cracks.

 

1.
First, we recommend buying a calendar and a wedding-specific binder. Make dividers for each section and keep all contracts, vendor information, and timelines in the binder so it’s easy to find.Mark up the calendar with days for when items need to be accomplished.
2.
Share duties with your partner. Make your groom feel like he has a part in the planning (remember
this is his day too). By talking and sharing timelines, you both will be able to foresee and avoid any future
problems. Grooms come up with some of the best ideas too, so make sure to include him and let him add his personal touch to the big day too.
3.
Set aside specific days to accomplish tasks and enlist friends and family to help with timelines. It takes so much
less time to stuff envelopes and assemble favors when you do it as a team and it’s an easy way to let people help. You will get a lot more done by using your specific wedding planning days and you will feel much more relaxed during your time off. It’s also important to be flexible when planning so you don’t get bogged down.
4.
Figure out a budget on paper. Find out who will be paying for the wedding and come up with numbers for each category, ie: food, music, flowers…and don’t forget tipping and misc. last minute items!
5.
Create timelines for the week of the wedding. Make sure you allow enough time for all your tasks to be completed, ie: when to pick up tuxes, dropping off items to your venue, hair/makeup…etc. There can also be a separate timeline for the reception itself.
6.
Make decisions and then move on. There is so much information available to us these days that you can go crazy looking at websites and seeing new ideas. Once you have decided on your floral design, linen colors, table numbers, then stop looking at those items online!
7.
Of course, hire a coordinator if you can afford one in your budget! He or she can put together timelines for you that are efficient and they will know the pitfalls to avoid. If you have put this much time into your planning, leave it to the experts to execute it for you the day of the wedding.

Decisions!

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Decisions are headed your way! Now that you have figured out your top priorities, you can now put your wedding plan into action. The budget has been determined, and all parties have expectations of what they need to bring to the table. The first few discussion points to get your started on decisions and making are recommended below:
– Where is the ceremony taking place?
– Will the ceremony take place at the reception venue?
– Or, will we have a religious ceremony taking place within a church, synagogue, etc?
– What day will the ceremony take place (i.e. Friday, Saturday, Sunday?)
– Will the ceremony and reception be taking place back-to-back or will there be ample time in between for pictures and such?
– Will our ceremony take place early in the afternoon or late in the evening?
Such questions are important to ask yourself. Your engagement is full of making decisions, and while it seems there are many decisions to make that are not very important- do not underestimate the impact your decisions will make.
Tip: Some brides opt to hire a wedding planner to assist with making decisions on their behalf or in a joint-fashion. Some couples are traditional, while others aim to be unique and different. Traditional, Christian brides that chose to have a secular ceremony will most likely opt for a Saturday afternoon wedding. Christian churches
often have several ceremonies during high wedding season (i.e. May through October). This may affect your time slot and availability of the ceremony location. Remember, the earlier you allow your lead time prior to your wedding, the more likely you are to nail your dream location spot. As a rule of thumb, most churches,venues, etc book at least one year in advance.
Non-traditional brides may still have some obstacles to overcome. While they may not be have to deal with a religious point of interest, many parks, private buildings, beaches, etc require licenses and applications, along with resulting fees. Again, availability is something to consider. Figuring out your location whether it involve a church or private park, may take some planning, donations/fees, and paperwork.
Creating a timeline of your day will help map out timing. Remember, this is just a rough idea of what events will transpire throughout the day. As the day draws closer, a master agenda/timeline will need to be drafted up to create a flow of the day.
photo shot list

Photo Shot List

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Photo Shot List

 

It is the job of your wedding photographer to create a photo shot list for your big day. That’s why you are hiring them! However, it’s good to understand what your photographer will want to cover and how you can help her get the best pictures on your wedding day.

It’s very important to work with your wedding photographer to make sure your wedding is captured in all its glory. Here’s a list of moments your wedding photographer will probably cover:

Bride Getting Ready
Groom Getting Ready
The First Look (if bride and groom are seeing each ot
her before the ceremony)
Ceremony
Posed Family Photos
Wedding Party Photos
Introductions as Mr. & Mrs.
Reception
Escort Cards and other Details
Wedding Cake
Toasts
First Dance
Cake Cutting
Bouquet Toss/Garter
Guests Dancing
Check out this list of“50 Must Have Wedding Photography Shots” for further ideas. We often think of photographers as documenting a wedding, but even the purest photojournalist has a special way of seeing the world. Once you have the right photographer, let them know what you like. We always recommend spending time with your photographer so they can get a feel for what’s important to you both. For example, some couples are very much into family photos, some love detail shots, some want a picture of their high school friends who flew into town from far away. Make sure to let your photographer know what you love.
It’s also nice to give them ideas of the images you favor or want to emulate. You want to provide them with as much context of your style and give them creative freedom to bring it to life. This way you can collaborate on the part of the photo shot list that is unique to your wedding!

Perfect Palette

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Choosing the Picture Perfect Palette
Aubergine. Blush. Aqua. Charcoal. Apricot. Navy. So many colors so little time. Determining the colors of your
wedding palette play into much more than one would assume. As we’ve discussed before, a theme carries throughout a wedding day, and your color palette should as well. So, what things should you consider when choosing a perfect palette for your wedding day? We have a few ideas!
Time of Year
It’s important to consider the season when choosing wedding colors. For example, would you pick hot pink and lush
green in the dead of winter? Or how about a burnt orange and mocha during spring? That isn’t to say you can’t do these things but it is helpful to have a perfect palette to blend things together.  This doesn’t mean you’re stuck with prissy pinks or greens just because it’s spring, but you can consider Mother Nature as a helper that can somewhat dictate the perfect palette.

 

Perfect Combo
It’s nice to consider colors that you both find equally pleasing. Keep in mind your palette can be many more than just
two or three. Choosing shades that lift your mood and you are drawn to make the most sense. Trust your gut!
Consider the setting
Look at the colors your venue has. Do you absolutely love the gold embellishments on the door handles or chandeliers? Using metallic colors like gold, champagne,etc will bring these adornments out. If your venue has
white and black carpeting, fixtures, etc keeping with that theme and adding pops of color such as red, purple, pink, or any other inspirational shade!
Create an Inspiration Board
A color wheel or picking out images that you find inspirational can be your first step to helping guide you through
picking the perfect palette. There are many tools out there that can help including:
Finding the right balance and complimentary colors is what to keep in mind. If color matching isn’t your thing, then you can always consult a wedding coordinator or stylist. Friends are always a helpful sounding board as well! They can help you choose your perfect palette for your wedding day!

Wedding Website

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Wedding Websites
As a new bride you’re sure to be gushing with the news! What better way than to create your own wedding website or Wedsite? Having a wedding website is a great way to keep guests and bridal party informed and share your love story. Putting information online can also reduce the amount of detail needed in your invitations, saving on printing and postage. There are dozens to choose from and it all depends on how savvy you want to be. If you want it to be easy and foolproof we suggest Wedding Wire or Nearly Weds. These sites provide templates in which you just fill in the information and pictures. The Knot and Wedding Paper Divas are also great choices that allow you to spread the word about your big day. They have a variety of backgrounds and themes to choose from.
Now, if you want to go all out, you can absolutely pay for your own site. One of the top sites this year is ewedding.com and prices range from $5-15 per month, depending on how much you want to customize it. Some brides will prefer the basics and with everything else you have to pay for, we think a website might be towards the bottom of that list. That $5 can add up each month so be sure to read the fine print on renewing your website and don’t leave it on auto renew.
Another great site is Wed Simple. This is also a paid site ranging from $10 per month to a onetime only flat fee of $80. This site is cool because you can also plan your wedding on it! This site offers RSVP with meal preference options (something many sites don’t have), a reception seating planning tool, Facebook integration, your own blog to keep your guests entertained.
So, get to it! You don’t have to be a web designer to create a beautiful and informative site that you can remember long after your wedding. With such great options, there’s no reason not to make a wedding website.
Incorporating the little ones in your day

Incorporating the Little Ones in your Day

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Incorporating the Little Ones in your Day

Setting guidelines and expectations are crucial if you want kids at the wedding (or in the wedding). For example, perhaps you have an adorable little chicky poo in mind as a suitable flower girl candidate aka your childhood friend’s little girl. But when it comes to your sister’s kids, your neighbors’ teenage son, or your boss’s brood of four you really want to avoid having to invite them (or have them show up uninvited) to the wedding. Here’s the good news; you can do all that and avoid conflict. Have your flower girl and consider giving your sister a free pass to bring her kiddos since she is after all your sister.

Here’s the bad news though. You will look like a total hypocrite if you invite select kids but don’t allow others. And you’re walking a fine line between doing what you want and being rude slash hurting feelings. Tread lightly. No one wants to see a humiliated girl in a pretty white dress. Nobody.

 

Incorporating the little ones in your day

Mark Janzen Photography

If you do end up having kids as guests, prepare accordingly. Depending on your planner or coordinator (if you have one) and how rad she is, she may bring snacks, games, and activities for the kids in order to keep them busy and out of your hair during the reception (and ceremony if said kids are spectators and not part of the wedding party). If it’s in the budget, look into hiring some sort of separate entertainment for the kids like a babysitter, a clown, a fairy princess, or some sort of person who can make sure the kids don’t get bored, restless, or out of hand on their own. Check with your venue to see if there’s a room this can be set aside, preferably close to the main event so parents are within a close enough distance should a problem arise. Ask the caterer for options kids will eat and get some juice boxes. Lot’s of juice boxes. Or sparkling pop for the older kids for the champagne toast.

You can make it work, and to your expectations. Just know that with kids in the (sticky) situation, your dance floor might attract some younger dancing kings and queens.

Stress Free Wedding 101

Stress Free Wedding 101

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Melissa at Melissa Rae Photography offered this wonderful infographic on – stress free wedding 101. Dealing with wedding day stress can help you having a more enjoyable wedding day.

Stress Free Wedding 101

Bride On A Budget

Bride On A Budget

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Bride or not, finding chic outfit choices at amazing prices is ALWAYS an appealing headline. Here are our picks for great resources when it comes to summer dressing for the Guest and Bride that will make you and your wedding budget very, very happy for years ( or seasons) to come.

 

Bride On A Budget

Photo Credit: Old Navy

Old Navy: If you are a big blog reader, you know that pairing affordable items from Old Navy with your closet staples is a no-brainer especially for summer. And when they rolled out their summer dress collection full of crisp whites perfect for pre-wedding events, we just about fell over. Whether you are packing maxi dresses for your Honeymoon or simple white minis, they have you covered. Plus, their online summer sales are no joke. Most days of the week you can checkout with a code for 35% off your entire order!

Bride On A Budget

Photo Credit: The Loft

Loft: Best known for their smart wear-to-work pieces, Loft is upping their game for incredibly priced summer wear. Thanks in part to their partnership with the ultra chi line, Lou& Grey, their fun skirts, jumpsuits, and crazy chic beachwear will take your from rehearsal to sipping cocktails oceanside for your Honeymoon.

 

Bride On A Budget

Photo Credit: Chicwish

Chicwish: A newbie, but a goodie. Chicwish has also become a major name in blogger favorites. Mostly because of their CRAZY good prices and trendy pieces. Full midi skirts in fun florals, and bright prints for wedding guests, they have pretty much every aspect covered. For lace detail that would cost you hundreds at Neiman Marcus, Chicwish lets you explore trends that are within budget and gives you options for all of your upcoming events. Join their email list and get 25% off your order too!

How to Help Wedding Guests Save Money on Hotel Rooms

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Whether you have a lot of out of town guests, are hosting a destination wedding or just have guests who don’t want to drive after the reception, many of your wedding guests may ask your advice on reserving a hotel room. Most likely, they will ask you where to book a room as well how to save money at local hotels. A 2007 report done by Smith Travel Research revealed that the average U.S. hotel room price is now over $100 per night, so many guests may be concerned about cost. However, don’t get discouraged. According to Daniel from ChicagoHotels.org, there are two easy ways your out of town guests can save money on a hotel room.

Consider Business Hotels

According to Daniel, hotels that cater to business guests often offer discounts on the weekends. This is because their main clientele only need rooms during the week. It is a basic example of supply and demand. During the week, prices are higher because demand is higher. However, on the weekends, prices are lower because demand is lower. To find a hotel that typically caters to business travelers, simply do a little online research and make a few phone calls to local hotels. You may want to make a list of hotels in your area that typically cater to business professionals and then share this information with your wedding guests.

Wait Until the Last Minute

It is common knowledge that waiting until the last minute is the best way to score great travel deals. This applies to everything from hotel rooms to flights. This is because companies lose money if they do not fill up their hotel rooms or plane seats, so they are willing to offer steep discounts to fill up those seats at the last minute. The downside to this approach is risking the possibility of not being to get a hotel room or flight that meshes with your wedding schedule. Avoid this tactic if you are planning a wedding on a holiday weekend. Travel arrangements are best made in advance for busy weekends. However, this may be a good option for local guests who don’t want to drive home after the wedding because they can always make other arrangements if they have trouble finding a room.

While you can share helpful information with your wedding guests, you are not responsible for booking the rooms for them. Give them the information they need to make an informed decision that fits with their personal finances; then let them handle the rest. After all, you are planning a wedding!

Getting The Groom Involved

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Getting the Groom Involved

It’s not unusual for a groom to take a backseat when it comes to wedding planning. Many men feel ill equipped to contribute any worthwhile suggestions during the process. In turn, many brides feel frustrated by their partner’s seeming lack of interest and wish he would offer to alleviate some of the stress. If you’re having a hard time getting your groom excited or involved in the wedding planning, try these quick and easy steps:

  • Communicate: First and foremost, tell your beau how you’re feeling as a result of his indifference about the wedding planning. It’s quite possible that he’s been staying uninvolved so as to not get in your way. Let him know that you desire his opinions and long for his help in the planning of your big day. Once he understands how much stress you’re under and that you actually want his assistance, most likely he’ll be more eager to get involved.
  • Delegate: Delegate some of the wedding planning responsibilities to the groom. After all, it’s his wedding too. Try to find tasks that might be of interest to him. Most guys are not going to want to be responsible for selecting the flowers (nor are you probably going to want to trust his opinion on that one). Instead, ask him to take responsibility for things he might enjoy like planning the honeymoon, creating a reception playlist, deciding the theme/menu for the rehearsal dinner, or choosing the cocktails and appetizers for your guests.
  • Incorporate: As much as you might hate to relinquish control over certain areas of the wedding that you’ve been dreaming about your whole life, remind yourself that this day is about you and your fiancé as a couple. Sit down with your man and get his feedback. Try to incorporate his ideas and personality into the wedding and reception. Design a groom’s cake dedicated to his favorite sports team or pastime, choose a menu that involves his favorite cuisine, or select a wedding theme that represents something unique about your relationship, dating history, or interests.

The key to getting the groom involved is letting him know that this wedding is a celebration of the both of you. Once he realizes his significance and gains an idea of how he can help, chances are he’ll be happy to serve.