Wedding Layers

Once you become engaged you will probably begin to plan your wedding almost immediately. Here is a timeline to help you establish when you should do what. From bridal showers to the honeymoon, this simple guide may help you have a stress-free wedding day.

When the engagement is official, you may send your announcement to your hometown newspaper. This will allow family and old acquaintances to share the happy news.

Six to Twelve Months Before: Yes, you can plan a wedding in a week, but you will not enjoy the stress!

- Your first and probably most important task will be to plan your budget. While parents may help with the cost of the wedding, it will be up to you to keep a close eye on your spending.
- Decide the location for your ceremony. You should let your fiancé take part in this decision as well. You may want to be married in a certain church. Planning well ahead and reserving the church for your wedding day will ensure that you are able to have the location of your dreams.
- Set the date. You may have a date in mind, but cannot reserve your dream location. By being flexible, you can have it all.
- Decide the type of ceremony you want. Do you want a civil ceremony or a religious ceremony? Once you have decided this, contact the officiate who will be performing your ceremony and reserve his/her services.
- If you are planning to use a wedding coordinator, schedule a meeting with him/her.
- Plan your reception. Choose your location and reserve it. Remember that your wedding location and reception location must be available on the same day so it is wise to book in advance.
- Select your dress, veil, and accessories.
- Schedule meetings with wedding photographer and videographer. Reserve them well in advance.
- Register with our favorite department store or specialty store.
- Both you and your fiancé should create your invitation list.
- Choose and reserve your florist.

Four to Six Months Before:

- Choose your attendants.
- Make a list of every item you will need to purchase. This will include everything from your guest book to your ring bearer’s pillow.
- Choose your wedding and reception music and reserve the DJ if you plan to use a DJ for the reception.
- Order your invitations, personalized stationary and notepaper.
- Plan your honeymoon. By booking ahead, you might save money.
- Choose your color scheme and meet with your bridesmaids to choose their dresses.
- It is a good idea to visit your physician for a complete physical examination.

Two to Four Months Before:

- Have mothers choose their dresses.
- Address wedding invitations.
- Buy wedding rings.
- Buy gifts for your attendants. Remember that everyone in your wedding party should receive a gift from you and your fiancé.
- Check with the Clerk of Court in the area you are to be married to see what the requirements are for your marriage license. Make a note of when to purchase your license.
- Plan your rehearsal dinner. Make reservations.
- Choose your hairstylist and make-up artist. Have a trial run to make sure that you love your hair and make-up the day of your wedding.
- Have dress altered if needed.
- Mail your invitations.
- Schedule a time for formal wedding portraits.
- Remember to record each gift and write a thank-you note in a timely manner.

Two to Three Weeks Before:

- Send your wedding announcement to the newspaper. If you choose to include a photograph from the wedding along with your announcement, appoint someone to hand-deliver the announcement and photograph to the newspaper in a timely manner.
- Draw up seating plan for your reception. Order and make cards for the bride’s table.
- Assemble an emergency kit for the wedding. Include safety pins, needle and thread, scissors, and any item you might need at the last moment.
- Make plans to change your name on your Social Security card, your driver’s license, bank accounts and credit cards.
- Confirm reservations for your honeymoon travel and accommodations.
- Pack personal belongings that you will be moving to your new home.

One Week Before:

- Create a timeline of your rehearsal and wedding day. E-mail or fax to all important members of the wedding: bridesmaids, groomsmen, both sides of the family.
- Have final consultation with your coordinator, florist, photographer and any other professional you have reserved.
- Give bridesmaids’ party.
- Confirm rehearsal plans with your officiate and attendants.

There will be other things that you may need to plan for. Invest in a wedding planning book from a local bookstore. It can be a wealth of information for those little details that you may not think about as your happy day approaches. It may also give you tips on how to stay within your budget, as well as ideas for choosing your wedding favors and bridesmaids’ gifts.

Remember that planning is the key to a stress-free wedding day!

Ashley Moran is the owner of Cherished Gifts & Favors, an online store specializing in the latest trends in elegant wedding favors, party favors, and personalized gifts for corporate events, bridal showers, and many other special gift giving occasions.

Author: Ashley Moran
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Finding and hiring a professional photographer to document your wedding day is a sizable investment, in not only money, but time as well. By doing your research and hiring a professional that suits your style, you can rest assured that he or she is going to capture your day exactly how you want. But achieving the best possible results doesn’t end with the signing of the contract. Below are a few simple things you can do as a client before and on your wedding day to help you and your photographer capture the photographs of your dreams.

1. Develop a personal relationship with your photographer. Hopefully you have selected a photographer whose personality meshes well with yours, besides your fiancé, they are the person you will be spending the most amount of time with on your wedding day. By the time your wedding day arrives, you should consider your photographer a friend, not just another vendor. This can seem like a difficult task to accomplish, considering how busy and hectic the months leading up to the big day can be, but it can be done. Most photographers understand the importance of this dynamic and will take the initiative, but it does take a little bit of effort from you as well. You must make yourself available. Though most beneficial, it doesn’t necessarily have to take place in person. Phone calls, emails, any form of conversation will work. And it most certainly doesn’t need to pertain to the business of your wedding. The stronger this sense of friendship is between you and the photographer, not only will you feel more comfortable and relaxed around him or her, the rest of the wedding party will as well. As soon as the guard comes down, the photographic magic happens.

2. Be yourself. This may seem like common sense, but it can be more difficult than you might think. Most people aren’t used to having a photographer document their every move, especially with intimidating looking professional equipment. Though they may not realize it, people tend to carry themselves and act differently as soon as a camera is pointed at them, which looks stiff and unnatural in photographs. Others just freeze up altogether. Unless your photographer is giving you specific direction, the best thing you can do is relax, be yourself, and act as if the photographer wasn’t even there. Pay special attention to your hands, they are a good indication of how tense you really are. Relax your hands and the rest of you will follow. No need to put on an act, simply be yourself.

3. Don’t rush your wedding day. When planning the schedule of the day, allot a realistic amount of time for each separate event. Planning a shorter, more casual wedding is one thing, but attempting to pack an eight-hour event into four makes everything feel rushed, like you’re trying to run a race. Not only does it make it difficult for everyone involved to enjoy the day, it makes it more difficult to capture natural looking photographs when you’re sprinting from one thing to the next. Pace your day and cherish every moment, it is, after all, a once in a lifetime experience (hopefully).

4. Look through magazines, on-line, and, of course, through your photographer’s portfolio for specific examples of images, scenes, and body positions that appeal to you and share these ideas with your photographer before hand. It will give both you and the photographer a better sense of direction when working together. Also, if you internalize these ideas and are able to carry and position yourself in a similar way without having to be completely directed by the photographer, the photographs will look much more natural. The more the photographer must direct, the more awkward you will feel and it will show in the images.

5. Communicate with your fiancé about the photography. Often photography is of much greater importance to one half of the couple, typically the bride, but occasionally the groom. Sometimes the photographer wont even meet the groom until the day of the wedding, as everything related to photography was arranged and booked by the bride. This usually translates to the groom and groomsmen standing around in complete disinterest, with a ‘this is her deal’ attitude. If you communicate openly with your fiancé, and, even better, the core wedding party, beforehand about the photography, it will make it much easier and enjoyable to achieve your desired results.

6. Enjoy your wedding day. Again, this may seem like common sense, but with the anticipation and stress involved in planning the perfect day, it can be difficult to actually enjoy it. While there is certainly no way to eliminate the stress and worry completely, you can minimize it. If you don’t have a professional day-of coordinator, appoint someone you trust to handle the logistics of the day and let them worry about the details. You have been planning this day for months, even years, once it finally arrives, relax and enjoy it. You certainly deserve to and doing so will translate to more natural looking, joyous images.

Joshua Walker is an award-winning wedding photojournalist based in San Diego, CA. www.joshuawalkerphotography.com

Author: Joshua Walker
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There can be a lot of confusion for the recently engaged couple on what to look for in their prospective wedding photographer. Questions can range from what the photographer will wear at the wedding to whether the photographer photographs with film or digital cameras. Planning a wedding can be a stressful and confusing process. The following guidelines will help soon-to-be brides and grooms make an informed and solid decision regarding the employment of a wedding photographer.

How important is a wedding photographer?

At the end of your wedding day, the things that are going to still be with you are your memories and, hopefully, beautiful wedding images that will help you relive those moments for the rest of your lives. Therefore, hiring a wedding photographer is can be compared to hiring a personal historian- someone who will help document and record the tears, the laughter and the joys of the day. Entrusting your memories to a professional wedding photographer may very well be the most important decision you make in all of your wedding planning. Therefore, all care should be taken in ensuring that the professional you select is talented, skilled and fully capable of delivering the finished product.

Finding the right wedding photographer

1. What style of photography to you like? Do you and your fiancé prefer a primarily photojournalistic and candid approach or is a more traditional style more to your liking? Would you like your photographer to perform extensive post-production to your images (such as color tinting a black and white photograph) or do you prefer a more organic enhancement of your images?

2. How many photographers do you want providing coverage of your wedding?

Many photographers bring second-shooters along to help cover the wedding. Other photographers prefer to work alone and feel confident in their abilities to provide full coverage of the wedding solo. Talk with your fiancé about your preferences and whether or not you want an assistant to accompany your photographer.

3. Are your negatives and/or digital files included in the package?

Many wedding photographers now include the negatives and high resolution digital files in their packages but there are a number of photographers who do not. If you’re working with a budget, you may want to look for photographers who offer the negatives and/or files as ordering prints from a photographer could cost you a lot of money.

4. What sort of photo album are you looking for?

Wedding albums range from the simple to the extravagant. Some photographers will offer a simple linen album that holds approximately 50 4×6 images. Other options are Flush Mount albums or Coffee Book Table albums. These albums can cost anywhere from $600 to $2000. Review your photographer’s samples of wedding albums and talk about what you’re looking for.

Remember, being informed gives you the tools to make a good decision about your wedding photographer. Knowing what you’re looking for before starting your wedding photographer search will save you a lot of time and help you be confident that you’ve made the right decision.

Jesse Chatham encourages you visit http://www.photographik.org/ to find the best wedding photographers in the USA and beyond

Author: Jesse Chatham
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Your guest opens up her mailbox, and sees a lovely envelope addressed to her. Inside is her invitation to your wedding! What a lovely way to tell her how much you want her to share in the joy and celebrate you and your fiancé’s exchange of wedding vows.

But wait! There’s more! What are all the other things that’s in the envelope?

One of the two most common types of enclosures is the Response card, also known as an RSVP card, (French for Respondez, s’il vous plait, or please respond). This card (with its pre-addressed and pre-stamped envelope), allows your guests to easily let you know if they will be coming.

The other most common enclosure is the Reception card. It gives them information on the time and location of the reception. If the ceremony and reception will be held at the same location, the Reception card can be omitted as long as reception information is also included on the invitation itself. Something along the lines of “Reception immediately following ceremony” will usually suffice – and save you money.

Maps and directions are also popular enclosures. The easier you can make it for your guest to attend your wedding the better. Even if your guests live locally, a map with good directions is thoughtful and much appreciated.

One other common enclosure is hotel information If you have several out-of-town guests, an easy and inexpensive (doesn’t cost you a dime!) courtesy is to book a block of rooms at a nearby hotel. Include the name of the event (ex. Smith-Jones Wedding), the hotel’s reservation phone number and room rates (hotels will often give a discount) on coordinating cardstock. Whether your guests choose to stay at this location is up to them, but you’ve conveniently and thoughtfully put the information right at their fingertips.

A less common enclosure is the Within the Ribbon card. This card, which is about the size of a business card, is not sent to every guest, but only to those particularly special friends and family members. This card is brought to the ceremony and shows the ushers that you and your fiancé want to ensure that these special guests are seated up front. These cards are not necessary for grandparents or siblings, as they are traditionally seated up front, or for parents as they traditionally have the honor of sitting in the first row. Within the Ribbon cards are usually used for very large and very formal weddings where many guests are expected and reserving enough room for seating special friends and family members is a must.

The purpose of the invitation and its various enclosures is to provide all necessary information a guest will need to easily and comfortably attend your wedding and share in your celebration.

Jean Neuhart is the owner of Weddings From The Heart . As a Professional Bridal Consultant, she helps busy brides and their fiances plan creative, personalized and stress-free weddings. Your questions and comments are always welcome.

Author: Jean Neuhart
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The current “buzz” in honeymoon planning is the destination wedding. Simply put, the destination becomes the wedding chapel, honeymoon site and vacation for the bride and groom and all invited guests.

A destination wedding is more of a concept than a location. For example, if you and your fiancée love the Wild West, you could plan a wedding at a dude ranch. How about being married surrounded by undersea wildlife at a large aquarium? Or standing on lava created by Pele in Hawaii?

If the “traditional” wedding doesn’t appeal to you – the “been there / done that” of the church and reception, then a destination wedding might be right for you.

If you have a destination wedding, who will you invite? Can your family, friends and loved ones afford to travel to the destination you choose? Will you pick up the costs for their travel and accommodations?

Are you willing to “run into” your friends, family and loved ones during your honeymoon? If you are all at the same location, you will end up seeing them. Do you want to share your honeymoon time? If you do choose to share your honeymoon time, be prepared to set expectation levels with your guests. For example, will you have dinner with them one night – but expect them to leave you alone the rest of the time? Or will your guests expect you to spend the majority of the time together? Neither way is bad – but it should be candidly discussed beforehand. You do not want any hurt feelings over your honeymoon – including your own!

Consider your guest’s preferences as well as your own. You’d love to have a lavish destination wedding in the Bahamas – but your mother is allergic to the sun. Is this a good choice? Remember, when you return home any problems you had with the destination will return with you.

Destination weddings can be comparable in costs to a traditional wedding. In fact, they can be more affordable. Because attendance is generally smaller, you can devote your budget to travel and lodging instead of church and reception. Many resorts will create packages for your destination wedding to include the license, minister, flowers and reception. And, because you have multiple people in your party, you may end up with discounts on packages.

Destination weddings can be very unique and special. Destination weddings are a definite change from the traditional wedding that will live on in you and your guest’s minds for a very long time.

Before you plan your destination wedding, be sure to make a list of all the pros and cons. Then contact your travel agent for expert assistance.

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Author: Kim Gillett
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A big question for newly engaged couples is where they should have their wedding – get married here or have a destination wedding? Both options offer positives and negatives. The important thing is to consider personal preference, budget, family accommodations, and wedding style when making this decision.

Personal Preference

The first thing to consider when deciding where you will get married is what you and your fiancé have in mind. Perhaps you have always dreamed of an elaborate church wedding, and he was thinking more of a simple beach wedding. Taking a part of each of your dreams can bring together the perfect wedding. The important thing is that you agree on a location that you both will enjoy.

Budget

Almost all brides are on a budget, and location can make a deep dent in the budget if you are not careful. Popular locations such as historic hotels or mansions will require higher budgets and early reservations – rushed schedules can cost extra! The same goes with country clubs – but you can find a location much less expensive if you are a bit creative.

Is there a location that is sentimental to you and your fiancé? Maybe a park or outdoor location near where you had your first date? Finding places that are not already popular wedding locations can possibly offer a lower cost than expected. You could even check with your college to see if a theater or concert hall is available, and possibly receive an alumni discount.

Family Accommodations

Do you have a family member that will require special accommodations? Does your grandmother have a difficult time climbing stairs? Questions such as these can help you narrow down your choices for wedding locations. If you are choosing between a small church that is at the top of a large hill and a larger church on a flat surface, it might be easier for Grandma to attend the wedding at the second location. Not to say that everyone in your family must be 100% happy with the location you choose, but keeping major accommodations (such as being wheelchair accessible) in mind will make the party even happier!

Wedding Style

After you and your fiancé have shared your ideas of a dream wedding, try to decide what you desire to be the “feel” of your wedding – this will determine your wedding style. If you are going for vintage and charming, perhaps a local historic site would be a good choice. If you would rather go for large and theatrial wedding, a large church or concert hall would probably be the best choice. No matter where you choose to hold your wedding, make sure you and your fiancé are in agreement and are both excited about the location. It should be a place that is in budget, fits your style, and can accommodate all of your guests. If possible, you may want to have wedding cars available for the guests if the location is out-of-the-way. However, remember that when the wedding car drives you away from that dream location, all that will have mattered is that you shared that special day with the people you love.

For all your wedding car needs, please visit http://www.instyleweddingcars.co.uk. We have a fabulous selection, including some very hard to find makes and models, such as an original 1932 Rolls Royce Limousine. As the owner, I promise you will find our selection second to none and our service will rate above all the rest.

Author: Teresa Fox
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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I’ve sold thousands of engagement rings during my 20 year career in the jewelry business and with that I’ve gained intimate knowledge of what works when creating a memorable proposal. Most men think that a women’s only concern is the ring – how big it is, what shape, precious metal type, etc. While every woman wants their engagement ring to be something they’ll always cherish, they do want a proposal story to tell their grandchildren. After you propose, your girlfriend’s family and friends will ask two questions – “Can I see the ring?” & “How did he propose?” Now that’s pressure but it doesn’t need to be if you follow some rules of engagement, no pun intended.

Surprise Her

Men have a hard time picking an engagement ring for their future fianc and rightfully so. After all, how many times in your life have you purchased an engagement ring? With that being said, 50% of guys thinking about popping the question will bring their girlfriends with them to help pick the engagement ring. This can be helpful in finding out what she really is hoping for but sometimes it really hurts the romanticism of the event. The women that are most excited always seem to be the ones that were completely surprised when receiving the ring. There’s no substitute for getting down on one knee in front of your unsuspecting bride and presenting a ring that you’ve selected on your own. It shows that you’re excited enough about getting married to do it without help and that you want it to be a special time for her.

It’s not always easy for you to decide which ring is the one she’ll fall in love with but you can get the job done a lot easier than you think. First thing you should know is that there’s tons of information at your fingertips and you don’t even know it. Look to her lifestyle choices, clothing, and her shopping habits to determine what she would like for a ring. Ring styles are created with the wearer in mind just like clothing; some people are bold and outgoing and prefer clothing & jewelry that matches.

This type of person would hope for a ring that’s a unique style and has a bold fresh look. You can get ideas for ring styles at www.rokstok.com. An active person would want a ring that won’t be obtrusive or get caught on things. Traditional women tend to choose classic designs like round solitaire engagement rings.

If you still can’t decide what she would like then ask her friends or family for their help. Women spend time discussing jewelry choices with one another, especially when people in their circle of influence become engaged. Another good approach is to look for opportune times to discuss the ring without tipping her off. When you see an advertisement in a magazine, the internet, or on television; comment on the rings and then ask her for what she thinks about them. Women’s magazines are a wonderful tool to do this because there many jewelry advertisements in them.

Style Choices:

Classic/Traditional

Round Solitaire

Tiffany Style

3 Stone Settings

Bold/Contemporary

Tension Set

Thicker Settings with Multiple Diamonds

Designer Diamond Shapes

You’ll also need her ring size before going to the jewelry store to begin shopping. There are a couple of things you can do to get her size without tipping her off. First, find a ring that she wears on her ring finger and bring it with you to the jewelry store. The jeweler can measure the size of the ring to determine the right fit for her engagement ring. If you’re concerned that she’ll become upset because her ring is missing, then you can trace the inside of the ring with a pen and take the inside measurement to the jeweler. In some cases you won’t get the perfect fit on the first try, so be sure to ask the jeweler if the ring you choose can be sized in case it doesn’t fit properly.

Your engagement will be magical and memorable if you take the time to prepare for the engagement ring purchase. Take it from someone who has worked with thousands of engaged couples, do it on your own for the most romantic proposal possible.

Author: Andy Moquin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Couples go about getting engaged in many different ways. Some couples go shopping for engagement rings together, giving the woman the opportunity to select every detail of her engagement ring, while others skip the tradition of the engagement ring altogether. Still, many men want the thrill of a surprise proposal, complete with giving that special someone the perfect engagement ring. At the same time, the average man has not purchased a ring for his girlfriend until that monumental time comes, leaving him to wonder how to determine what size ring will slide perfectly onto her finger at that magic moment.

Sneakily figuring out a womans ring size may be simpler than you think. If she has a friend or sister who may know her ring size, you may simply ask. If you take this route, make sure the person you ask is trustworthy enough to keep the secret! But if asking someone is not an option, you can still determine her ring size without spoiling the surprise. First, take note that ring sizes are different for each finger, so be observant of which rings she currently wears on her ring finger. With a little crafty ingenuity, you can use a ring that she wears on her ring finger to determine her ring size without cluing her in on your plan. With these tips, you can surprise that special woman with the most magical moment of her life, paired with a perfectly fitting engagement ring.

Once you have scoped out the ring you will use to determine the size of the engagement ring, it is time to take action. What you do at this stage takes choosing the best course of action based on knowing your future fianc. If she is absent minded and loses things often, you can likely slip that ring in your pocket, take it to the jeweler for measurement and return it unnoticed. But if she is emotionally attached to the ring or knows where it is at all times, you will have to determine her ring size in a more clever way. One option is to make an impression of the ring and take it to a jeweler who can determine its size. You may press the ring onto a block of clay, a bar of soap or any pliable substance that will hold the shape and size of the ring. Just make sure to remove any evidence left behind on the ring! Another option is to try the ring on yourself, and mark the place it reaches on your finger. Then, go to the jeweler and try to determine which size is the exact match.

Whatever approach you take, your future fianc will certainly notice the effort and ingenuity that reminds her of why she wants to make the journey of life with you in the first place.

Author: I. Maher
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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For anyone, their engagement marks a very important day in their life. So why not go a step further to make it even more special by getting yourself a truly unique and customized engagement ring. Certainly it would be a great way to impress your fianc. So how do you get a customized ring that would make its mark. Thats where Engagement ring designers come into the picture. Engagement ring designers are blessed with an unique ability to make you a distinctive and exclusive engagement ring.

Engagement ring designers can create great designer engagement rings for you and your fianc that youll never be able to find at any local store. To find an engagement ring designer all you have to do is go online as many are now available online. They would be able to help you throughout the process of designing your engagement ring. Dont forget that you will have a major role to play in creating your designer engagement ring. After all its is you who has to select the metal, stones and also the type of design you want your engagement ring to be.

Engagement rings are supposed to be personal and hence individual preferences are very important for the ideal personalized engagement ring. Once you have let the engagement ring designer know your preferences, your likes, dislikes and a general outlay on what you want in the ring, the designer will suggest appropriate settings for the ring. The best ring would be when both you and the designer share your ideas and opinions openly. You can always go for the option of asking the engagement ring designer to design 2 or more designs so that you can pick the one you like the most.

When you customize your engagement ring, it can actually work out to be cheaper or similar to the cost you would pay at a pre-designed shop for a ring. So going to an engagement ring designer need not be necessarily expensive. You can always talk to the designer about your budget for the ring and in turn the designer will be able to guide you on what best can be done for your budget.

An added benefit of going to an engagement ring designer is that you can always come back even after a few years to get them to make similar or matching pieces of jewelry. Many ring designers tend to keep a record of the designs made so getting matching jewelry made shouldnt be much of a problem. This benefit is almost not going to be available to you if you pick up an engagement ring from a pre-designed shop. Unless you decide to but an engagement set which comes with ear-rings and other jewelry.

Make sure that you verify the credentials of the ring designer that you are going to. Do not hesitate to do a bit of research on the engagement ring designer that is going to make you your ideal engagement ring. Also some designers are experienced with a particular type of cut. So if you are looking for a particular cut, then look out for such designers. But most designers are normally quite well versed with all the different cuts and styles. so finding the right engagement ring designer shouldnt be a problem.

Author: Roy Dietelzieg
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So he’s popped the question. Let the games begin! Most wedding advisors urge you to begin planning your wedding anywhere from 12 to 18 months before the big day. To quote one online source; “We know it sounds simple but the key to successful, carefree weddings is planning ahead. The earlier the planning takes place, the more you can let go and relax closer to your wedding day. The end result of early wedding planning is that the bride and groom can have more fun, enjoy their guests and drink in that special day.”

Hmm…kind of makes it sound like the more your plan, the better your assurances of lifelong marital bliss. What if you don’t have that kind of time? Maybe you simply want to be married without all the stress of wedding planning. Still, though, it is a special day and you certainly don’t want it to look thrown together. How do you balance sanity, a reasonable timeline and budget and the desire for a beautiful wedding against high-priced vendors, year-long waiting lists and bridal magazines that urge you to begin the planning process up to 18 months in advance? (I’m assuming Vegas is not your style.)

Now, bear in mind that we are anything but “anti-planning,” but good heavens, do you really want 18 months of your life consumed with planning the festivities for one day? Granted, it is an important day, but so are the 547 involved in the aforementioned 18-month timeframe. Better for you (in our humble opinion) to enjoy that time being in love with your fianc than becoming embroiled in cake tastings, the color of your bridal party dresses (sage, mint or teal?) or the ever-critical choice of music for your first dance!

If the prospect of planning your wedding feels more like an arduous chore than a delight, don’t worry. The answer is simple. Just “do the never”. I can’t take credit for this bit of ingenious simplicity, for I believe the phrase was coined by Seth Godin in Small is the New Big. Forget the always and do the never. I like this philosophy so much that I made it my theme for the year. It’s wonderful. You look at how everybody else handles a situation and then entertain how you could handle the same issue in a totally opposite way.

So, in order to do the never in planning your wedding day in a more feasible time period, I offer the following:

1. Plan off-season. Late fall and winter can be breathtakingly beautiful in all 50 states and in most cases, you’ll have many more options. Many vendors cut their prices in the winter months, as well. Just picture an outdoor winter setting, complete with sleigh-rides and hot chocolate (spiked!) for your guests and thousands of twinkling white lights.
2. Get married on a Thursday–or any weekday. Who made the rule that weddings need to be on weekends? And don’t worry that people won’t attend if it’s during the week. All kinds of important events occur during the wee–births, deaths, Christmas, presidential inaugurations, the first day of pre-school. It’s your wedding day–they might grumble a little, but they’ll make it. Some of them will even thank you for an excuse to leave work early.
3. Keep your numbers low. It’s difficult to plan a wedding for 200 guests in 30 days or less, especially if folks are coming from out of town. Make it easy on yourself and keep the guest list to 75 or less.
4. Grocery stores have gorgeous flowers and talented arrangers who can make up bouquets and boutonnires in a day or two. Professional florists can also put something together for you quickly if you are ordering flowers in-season.
5. Ditto #4 with cakes. Large-chain grocery stores can put together something gorgeous and delicious in less than a week’s time.
6. Consider a non-traditional wedding venue. (Remember–do the never!) Traditional wedding venues are usually the first to be booked, so consider alternative options. The parlor of a B&B is an excellent idea (often they will let you use this for free if your wedding is small and your guests book their rooms there.) Consider recreational centers, restaurants with small private rooms (also free much of the time if you order off their menu), or how about a restaurant that is closed for the day (usually Mondays–a perfect win/win opportunity. Know any real estate agents? (Who doesn’t?) They may know of some vacant (even posh!) properties in the area that you could rent from the owner for an afternoon or evening. Consider out of the way lakes or parks. I performed a lovely wedding last month at a small local par–on an octagonal-shaped dock overlooking the lake. Breathtaking and arranged with two days notice. (Also free!). Think of private homes and gardens, as well. Aunt Millie may love the idea of hosting your wedding in her living room.
7. If you can’t find a photographer on such short notice (and if your wedding is on a weekday, this shouldn’t be a problem) then schedule a professional photo shoot at their studio–complete with your bridal attire–so that you have some professional-quality photos. Then, let the amateurs (i.e. your guests) handle the day of wedding shots. The new digital cameras are virtually foolproof and you’ll get some great photos. Or, contact one of the professors at the local college; they’ll recommend one of their students who will do a beautiful job on short notice.
8. Traditional bridal shops don’t always take forever to order your dress. Approach them with your request and ask what they can do for you. They may have something off the rack and their alterations department can work wonders. Also consider bridal consignment shops, and general formalwear stores. Of course, if you are truly “doing the never” you’d opt for something totally different to wear anyway. Throw a Great Gatsby wedding and wear vintage. Do Halloween and come in costume. Go outdoors on horseback wearing western attire.
9. As far as your bridesmaids go, simply pick a color (black is easiest, but any color will do) and tell them to buy a dress of their choosing in that color. Or be even more flexible and let them pick out their own dress in whatever color and style they wish. This lends interest and variety to your wedding. Besides, identical bridesmaids are so beige!
10. Plan an eBay afternoon at your computer (do it at work when the boss isn’t around in order to save your precious leisure time!) and completely blitz the task of shopping for favors, cake toppers, guest book, cake-cutter, bridal party gifts, place-card holders, garter, unity candle, disposable cameras, tiara, jewelry and any other wedding day accessories you might want.
11. Getting someone to marry you with 30 days notice might be a stretch (But again, not on a weekday, or in off-season). If all the ministers in town are booked, then consider writing your own ceremony (there are tons of resources available online or at your local library). Or consider hiring a professional wedding officiant to help you write your ceremony (it shouldn’t take more than an hour of their time) and then having a friend or family member read it. (Note: they will need to obtain an instant ordination to do this and this is not legal in all states, so check your laws before going this route!). A great chance for your fianc’s brother–the wannabe actor, or your jocular Uncle Ed to shine. If you’ve got your heart set on a church wedding, then approach your place of worship first (before booking other vendors) and be willing to work around their schedule.
12. Delegate. Delegate, Delegate. A brilliant and talented person like you has equally brilliant and talented friends and family members. Put your cousin in charge of flowers, enlist the help of your best friend to create your ceremony programs. Your future mother-in-law offers to find the wedding officiant. Let her! You can’t expect to handle all the details yourself in this timeframe. Let them have at it and refrain from micro-managing. We’ve found that grooms excel at getting the officiant and planning the honeymoon, so give him those two tasks for sure!
13. Hire a wedding coordinator for a few hours. Even during their busy time, they will be willing to work with you on the planning aspects of your wedding and they have wedding resources like you wouldn’t believe. They will find you a chocolate fountain in a day, a DJ in two.
14. Speaking of music–that shouldn’t be a time-consuming factor either. In addition to professional DJ’s and musicians (ask your other vendors for recommendations) contact the music departments of local colleges and private music schools. Anyone who travels in music circles will have contacts, so try high school music teachers as well. When I was married, I had my high school chorus teacher sing at the ceremony. It was beautiful. Don’t overlook the simple solution of an Ipod with some decent speakers; the sound quality will amaze you.
15. Invitations can be made easily on any computer with a decent printer. They do not have to be ordered months in advance. Delegate this project to your best friend, the graphic designer and let her creativity flow!
16. Pick out your wedding rings at any reputable jewelers (they can be sized) and have the engraving done after your wedding. No one will know.

After it’s all over, at the end of your wedding day when you (finally!) find yourselves alone, pop some Champagne and congratulate yourselves. You’ve pulled off the perfect day and remained best friends through the process! Cheers!

Author: Maureen Thomson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: PCB Prototype & Manufacturing