Wedding Layers

Congratulations on your engagement! If you have not already begun, this is the time to begin planning your wedding ceremony and reception. Ideas are probably flowing through your mind at an alarming rate. Family members and friends are more than likely lending you their ideas as well. How do you make sense of everything? A wedding planning list is an ideal and essential tool for organizing your wedding day.

A wedding planning list is slightly different from a wedding checklist. The planning list is an overall picture of what you want for your wedding and the estimated costs of each broad category. Many couples today are tying the knot later in life. Most of the time, both the bride and the groom are already well established in their careers and have more money to spend than younger couples right out of high school or college. The average wedding costs roughly $15,000 to $30,000, so it is important to outline how that money will be spent ahead of time.

Examples of items included on this list might include the following: photographer, flowers, ceremony location and fees, reception location, wedding favors, bridal gown and tuxedo for the bride and groom, formal wear for the wedding party, the wedding rings, invitations and stationary, music and entertainment, names of hotels for out of town guests, and gifts for family members.

A wedding planning list should also include:

1) Vendor information including names and contact phone numbers

2) An alternate location for the ceremony and reception if scheduled as outdoor events

3) A timeline for the events and the person responsible for each

4) Song selections for the ceremony

5) The order of the wedding party and how they will proceed down the aisle

The reception should be planned using a wedding planning list as well. A few items that should be included are the names of your wedding party and family for introductions, music to be played as they enter the reception area, seating chart, special dances and music, the toast and blessing times, and the menu with beginning and ending times.

Designate one person to make sure that all of your vendors are paid accordingly on your wedding day. Include the name of the vendor, the amount to be paid, and the method of payment they will accept on the wedding planning list. A copy of this information should be on a separate page and given only to the person paying each vendor.

Creating a wedding planning list will enable you both to see the overall picture of your wedding day and reception. You will rest easier knowing that the plans are in motion and you know up front how much you want to spend. Money is one of the biggest stresses between couples, so deciding on these numbers before the planning is too far along is going to relieve stress and eliminate misunderstandings down the line for both of you.

Your wedding planning list will be just one tool used to create the most memorable day of your life. This list will be placed inside your wedding planner book, along with your checklist, guest list, and other important items. Keeping everything organized is crucial for keeping stress levels at a minimum. This list is especially important if you are planning the entire event yourself, without the services of a professional wedding planner.

Learn how a bride saved over $10,000 on her wedding using simple tricks that anyone can easily do.

Plus, learn how you can get a cheap wedding planning but still get an amazing wedding of all time.

Check out http://weddingplanningcenter.blogspot.com for more information and details.

Author: Izrul Fizal
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How Long Does It Take to Plan a Wedding?

Have you heard the expression that a task takes the time allotted to it? Wedding Planning is exactly like that. It can take weeks to years, depending on… well, that is what this article is about:

When Is Your Wedding?

Assuming you do not have a shotgun pointed at your head, you will take some time to plan your wedding – even if it is an elopement. Once you set a date, you can calculate how much time there is between now and then; alternatively, you can do it the other way – which is to decide how long you need to plan the wedding and then set a date.

Set Your Priorities

The closer the date, the fewer choices you get to control because fewer resources are available. Pick the most important item(s) to you and your future spouse to lock in first. It could be the date, the ceremony location, the reception, the attendance of someone who lives far away, the time required to obtain a specific wedding gown, or perhaps the availability of your favorite vendor: the officiant, florist, photographer, videographer, caterer, a wedding singer, band or DJ, or wedding coordinator.

What Is Your Style?

Planning a wedding is about creating several different events to happen in a short period of time.

• Are you a lone planner or do you work better as part of a team?
• How much can you do in a day with or without getting stressed?
• Can you make many decisions on the spot, do you need to have someone with you or do you need to “sleep on it” so that you do not change your mind?
• How much research do you want or need to do before you start planning?
• Will you rely on the experience of a family member or friend?
• Will you hire a wedding coordinator and use their experience to shorten your learning curve and use vendors with whom they have proven successes?

How Close Do You Live to Your Wedding Location?

If you do not live near the location of your wedding, how many trips to your wedding location will you make before the wedding? Are you depending on family members, friends, or local vendors and strangers to help make decisions? Will you have other events and responsibilities when visiting this location, i.e.: how much time will you have for wedding planning when you are there?

Enjoy the Process

You want a put together event. Hopefully, you only have to do this once. Create and use a team to help you. If you can afford it, do not reinvent the wheel and use experienced wedding professionals. (They have already made their mistakes on someone else’s event.)

Take a break and for some comedy and light entertainment [http://www.brideandgroomthankyougifts.com/romance-and-wedding-dvd-movies]. There is a nice list of wedding planning movies you can watch with your intended or planning team.

Summary

Wedding Planning is about research, preferences, priorities, trade-offs, budget, compromise and decisions.

• Who is on the planning team, who is on the implementation team, and what are their assignments?
• Who controls the budget and who is the final decision maker?

You can focus on your wedding planning and get it done it a short time or you can take the same amount of time or longer and stretch it out over weeks or months. How long will it take to plan your wedding? It is up to you.

Where to Shop

Go to [http://www.brideandgroomthankyougifts.com] for wedding presents, wedding gifts and wedding favors. We know what it takes to plan a wedding… Look around our website to find most wedding day accessories, wedding thank you gifts, and traditional wedding day items associated with events of a wedding. Find wedding bubbles, bridal party gifts or wedding thank you Gifts for All your wedding day guests.

We have been in this business for more than 15 years! You will find what you are looking for here, and if by chance you don’t, please let us know so we may find it for you! We have more helpful information and additional articles which may assist you as you plan for your special wedding day. Our expertise is providing you creative, tasteful and memorable gifts to thank everyone who is involved in your wedding. Sign up today for our exclusive offers.

Copyright 2007 – Marketing Good Stuff, Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article.

Author: Elizabeth Hamilton
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Planning a wedding can be a stressful time for many couples. However, planning the wedding does not have to be. With a bit of advanced planning and a well thought out plan on how to organize your to do list, planning a wedding can be fun and easy. The key is not to get too wrapped up in every minute detail, be calm cool and confident when talking with vendors, and to read every contract in detail.

It takes approximately a year to plan a wedding, especially if you are planning to have your ceremony and/or location at a popular venue, or during a popular time of the year. After announcing your engagement the first step is to plan your budget, and determine who is paying for which expenses. Once you know your budget, you can then decide how this budget will work for your wedding plan.

Decide on location, theme, number of guests, formality, day of week, time of day. Make your preliminary guest list. Approximately half of your budget will go toward catering and the reception venue, the more people attending, the more expensive the reception will be. With the remaining funds think of general budget estimates on how much you want to spend on flowers, wedding attire, entertainment, photography, videography, transportation, invitations, stationary, favors and gifts.

It is also important at this time to who the wedding attendants will be, as they will also take a vital role in planning your wedding.

Your major planning issues that need to be addressed during the planning process are:

1) Formality of the wedding

2) Date and time

3) Setting – indoors or outdoors

4) Ceremony – location, minister or clergy

5) Location venue for ceremony and reception

6) Guests – how many and who should attend, seating plans

7) Caterer, food choices, wedding cake & dessert

Entertainment – Ceremony Music, DJ or Band for Reception

9) Florist and floral decorations

10) Photographer – Where and what type of (black and white, journalistic, etc)

11) Videographer

12) Transportation

13) Wedding Attire for the bride, groom and wedding party (including shoes and lingerie)

14) Wedding Accessories (guest book, flower girl basket, ring pillow, garter, etc…)

15) Jewelry for your wedding (including rings)

16) Gift Registry

17) Wedding invitations and stationary

18) Wedding favors

19) Gifts for the wedding party and parents

20) Trial runs for hair and makeup

21) Permits, marriage licenses, passport documentation, religious requirements

22) Honeymoon location

23) Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner

Get the terms of every service or sales agreement in writing. You will be able to refer to your contracts later if you have a question on what was decided on. Have a beautiful wedding and happy planning!

Erica Tevis is the owner of Little Things Wedding Favors. Visit them on the web and check out their large supply of wedding favors, themed favors, invitations, and wedding accessories.

Author: Erica Tevis
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You want your wedding ceremony to be perfect, and the reception that follows to be fabulous, but how do you achieve that dream idea? A lot of it starts with your wedding location.

First, you will want to find venues that are suitable to your wedding theme, if you have one. Holding your reception at a seafood restaurant would be out of place for a Christmas or western themed wedding for obvious reasons. However, don’t get stuck on this idea either. If your theme is “Rock and Roll” you can still have your ceremony in a quaint church and use subtle decorations to convey the theme. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you scout around looking for that perfect location.

• Start by taking a drive around the town jotting down ideas as you pass by possible venues.
• Take your time when looking for a good location for the ceremony and/or reception. Don’t rush in and book the first place you visit. Search out 2 or 3 different locations and then do a comparison of the sites (this applies to both the ceremony location and the reception location.) In some cases, you may not be able to book the date you’ve chosen to be married on and will need an alternative choice. It’s always good to have options.
• Take a checklist of questions that you want answered when you go so you can be sure you’ll be able to find a place that will provide exactly what you want and need.
• Ask family, friends, co-workers… even strangers on the bus, if they know of any good locations. You may be pleasantly surprised at some of the inspired answers you could receive of spots you would never have thought of.
• Call and make appointments to tour your top three picks. Don’t commit to anything during your first visit. Your first visit should be to get a good visual of the location, as well as have all of your questions answered regarding the venue.
• Take notes wherever you go. Jot down impressions of when you first enter the area, note how you were treated – was the person helpful or did you have to stand around waiting to be noticed? That’s a pretty good indication of how they’ll handle the wedding services.
• Make sure to look at available parking in the area, plus wheelchair access (if it might be needed) into the building. How large is the entrance and is there room out front for people to stand when the bridal party exits? Can a limousine or several cars park out front for the bridal party?
• Bring an instant Polaroid or digital camera with you and take pictures of the outside of the building and surrounding area, including the parking lot and entrance. Take pictures of the inside as well, including the entrance hall, the altar area, pews, and rooms that can be used for getting ready just before the ceremony. These will help you to recall what each place looked like once you get home. When checking out several locations they can start to blur together. Also, you will notice things in the pictures that you may not have noticed on your visual tour.

The above tips should help to get you started in the right direction. Obviously, there is a lot more involved in choosing a special place to hold your wedding ceremony and reception than can be discussed in a short article. If you are looking for more advice on how to plan a great wedding, while keeping your expenses in check, you can find some great wedding planning e-books on the Internet that will guide you step-by-step through the whole process.

(c) 2007 Rose Smith. Are you at a loss on what you need to do to start your wedding planning? Visit First Step Wedding Planning where brides and grooms can find the resources needed to plan a dazzling, yet inexpensive wedding. http://www.firststepweddings.com. For wedding theme ideas, check out Wedding Themes and More at http://www.wedthemes.com

Author: Rose Smith
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Although it is the photographer who has the greatest influence in the creation of an excellent photographic wedding collection, the location also has a dramatic impact. A wedding at Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula is a beautiful location for shooting a wedding and if shot correctly will contribute to a memorable wedding album.

The Vineyards are of course the attribute that sets this wedding location apart from other wedding location. When shooting in this location a photographer should use the natural, earthy, fresh backgrounds that this location permits. When shooting the actual ceremony, a photographer can get a variety of stunning shots by standing at the back of the ceremony location. Those in attendance sit in rows of chairs at the same level as where the ceremony takes place. The photographer, from behind those in attendance can climb to a higher point.  From this point of view, a photographer can get a shot of the entire ceremony with miles of rolling vine covered hills in the background. Of course a photographer needs to get close-up shots as well. Both objectives can be accomplished if one photographer shoots from the back with both a wide angle and a telephoto lens and another assistant is placed under the white gazebo where there the ceremony takes place.

One great place to take pictures of the bride is at the top of a couple flights of stairs of the lobby. There is a 19th century style black railing that goes around the hallway of the top floor of the lobby. A black and white or sepia shot of the bride against this railing creates an attractive retro look that will work well in a number of styles of albums.

Another location which is fun to shoot in is within the vineyards themselves. A picture the bride and groom framed with branches and grapes in the foreground with the couple centered between the branches in the background so that it looks as though the camera is peeking in on them as they gaze into each others eyes is another favorite shot available at this location.

Temecula has a number of beautiful locations for shooting a wedding. The Wilson Creek Winery if shot correctly will contribute much to any wedding album.

Vanessa is a Temecula Wedding Photographer who shoots in a number of Orange County, Riverside and San Diego Wedding Locations.

Author: Vanessa Honda
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Many happy returns for the betrothed couple! Before you begin a lifetime together, all of the plans related to your wedding day must still be worked out. The sooner you begin the process, the less you will need to concern yourself with the details later.

Arranging plans for your wedding day can involve a multitude of tasks from selecting a ceremony location to making your honeymoon arrangements and everything in between. The average cost of a Dallas wedding averages $26,000 for 150 guests, with many couples exceeding that figure as special touches are added, guest lists mushroom and venues are upgraded. Regardless of your budget and stress level, you can control costs and enjoy your day rather than being saddled with tremendous debt and heartache through careful planning. One way to ensure this is to hire a wedding planner.

What is a wedding planner and what do they do?

Known as wedding planners, wedding consultants or wedding coordinators, professionals who plan and direct weddings for a living can be invaluable to busy brides and grooms trying to plan a wedding amidst their demanding careers and hectic everyday lives. Whatever the title, you want to hire a true professional one who has had proper education and training and has been certified. You also would be wise to seek a consultant who has solid experience and is active in professional wedding industry organizations. Ask to see portfolios and request references.

A good wedding planner will first assess the needs of her clients by asking vision-casting questions to determine important factors such as the style of wedding they desire, size of guest list and available budget. Once the vision is established, the consultant will help develop a game plan for the entire planning process, tailored specifically for the happy couple. Moving forward, the planner will work hand-in-hand with the bride in all of the planning details, keeping track of deadlines, payment schedules and budget adherence.

If you choose to hire a wedding planner, it is most beneficial to have them involved from the beginning, when they can save you time and stress by helping you devise a focused plan and by guiding you to wedding vendors that have been pre-researched.

Many brides feel they can plan the wedding solo, only to find themselves overwhelmed with all the details and later hire a wedding consultant halfway through the process. If a bride has the time and resources to do all of the legwork to plan her own wedding and is especially organized, she might just hire a wedding planner to orchestrate the rehearsal and wedding day. The planner can ensure that everything runs smoothly, coordinate the wedding party and vendors, relieve tensions, and allow those participating in the celebration to relax and enjoy themselves knowing that everything is being taken care of!

You may decide to plan the entire wedding yourself or have a close friend or family member help, which is sometimes part of the fun of planning a wedding. However, it can also become a major headache especially if you or your faithful helpers do not have the expertise of proper training. An experienced wedding consultant has the training and experience to do the ground work, and make sure that your day is as perfect as you had envisioned it, while you relax and watch it play out before your eyes.

How Can A Wedding Planner Save You Money?

The biggest misconception about hiring a wedding planner is that it will add to your expenses. While it does cost money to hire a wedding planner, she will be able to save you money by recommending wedding vendors that will provide service within your budget, review your contracts to look for hidden costs and possible discounts, and help you avoid making costly mistakes. In most cases, a wedding planner will already have well-established relationships with vendors, such as photographers and florists, who are sometimes willing to be more flexible with a planners client because of the planners ability to bring them repeat business, which can help in reducing some of your costs.

Here Comes the Bride!

Once your wedding plans are in place you can fully enjoy the day without worrying about the details. A wedding planner can help you stay on track and relieve you of much of the minutiae related to planning your wedding. Before you know it, the bridal march will be playing and you will be at peace and enjoying your special day thanks to some wise planning on the part of you and your intended.

Author: Michael Brito
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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