Your Wedding and Time Management

Article posted: 6th November 2006
Author: Sonja Croll

We all have busy lives, and time is something we always run out of. Here are a few suggestions so that your can make the most of the time you have.

ONCE YOU HAVE SAID YES TO THE PROPOSAL: (which by the way will be something you remember forever and tell your children)

* If your future husband didn't already have the ring with him on the day he proposed now you have the fun of choosing it together, but if he did have your ring ready remember he has put a lot of thought into choosing something he hopes you will love.

* Now place an announcement in the newspaper to share your happiness with all your family and friends.

* Plan your engagement party. Sometimes this can be something a little more casual and you can invite all of your friends and family where as at your wedding it may not be practical or financial to invite everybody.

* Ask the people who you would like to be your attendants. (Matron of Honour, Bridesmaids, Flower Girls, Best Man, Grooms Man, Page boys)

* Set a budget and settle who is paying for what.

* Now before you do anything else decide the wedding date, ceremony venue and reception venue and book them. Have a couple of dates and places in mind because your first choice may not be available.

* Saturday is the most popular day of the week to get married, but you can save money (with your reception) if you choose a different day of the week.

* Remember to check how many people your reception venue can hold and how late you can have the room for.

* Are you having a formal wedding or something smart casual? Once you have decided choose a venue suitable to what you want.

* Does the reception venue have accommodation attached and what are the costs involved because your guests may like to make a booking so they can enjoy the reception and not have to drive home. This is especially good if some of your guests are from overseas or another state.

* Does your reception venue provide all the extra's such as chair covers, decorations etc as part of a package deal or do you need the services of a decorator. If you do need outside help for decorations book someone as soon as possible.

* Think about what colour theme and decorative theme you want.

* What sort of menu does the reception venue offer? Have a trial run of the menu if possible. Do they cater for any special dietary requirements you or your guests may have.

* Make a booking with a minister or celebrant for the wedding day. Ask what legal documentation you will need to get married.

THE DRESS:
Your dress is the next item you should start looking for. Check out magazines and bridal expo's to get ideas for what you want for your wedding day.

* Think about your body shape and your height.

* Now set a budget. Does your budget allow for ready made (with possible
alterations) or can you afford made to measure.
Which ever it is there are lots to choose from.

* If you purchase a dress many months before the wedding can it be altered (if necessary) as your weight may go up or down.

* What style of veil will suit the dress and do you want a veil at all.

* Think about the style and height of shoe you want to wear. If you are tall you may want to wear a lower heel or if you are shorter a higher heel would give you some height. If possible buy your shoes as early as possible and wear them around the house occasionally to wear them in, so they won't be too uncomfortable on the wedding day.

* Choose colours and styles of dresses to suit your attendants. Also have a look at the cost and availability of suit hire and make bookings.

TRANSPORT:

* Do you need to hire transport or have you got friends with nice cars that would be willing let you use them as wedding cars.

THE HONEYMOON:

* Decide on a destination and if you are going overseas organise passports, visa's, travel insurance, vaccinations etc.

PHOTOGRAPHER:

* The photographer you choose is going to create your visible memories that will last a life time. Some photographers supply the negatives as part of the package deal, others do not. If you get to keep the negatives you can then make copies at any time you wish in the future. If you don't get the negatives to keep you may break copy right laws if you make copies.

SIX MONTHS TO GO:

* Start looking at wedding rings and decide if you want ready made or something hand made. Ready made is just a matter of choosing and having them resized, but hand made will require designing which takes time.

* Book your flowers if you are having fresh ones. Flowers are seasonal, so find out which flowers are at their peak and what is available for the time of year you are getting married.

* Write a guest list and organise your invitations. This is where you can spend a lot of money or save by printing etc yourself. If printing yourself get one sheet of each of the papers you like and practice till you get it right, then once you have done this go and buy the required amount of paper, envelopes, seals, paper pins etc.
Remember if you have guests coming from overseas or interstate they will need more notice than local guests because they may have to save up and book flights and accommodation etc.

* Organise your cake. How many layer do you want? Will it be traditional fruit cake or mud cake or a mixture throughout your layers. Does the cake maker/decorator have things to put on top of the cake or would you like fresh flowers on the top.
Remember when having your photos taken during the cutting of the cake to make sure if one or both of you are short that you stand slightly to the side of the cake to cut it, otherwise the cake ends up in front of your face in the photos.

* Book a hairdresser and a make up artist for the wedding day.

* Approach a friend or relative to be the Emcee. Try to choose someone who has a strong voice so all the guests can hear him or her on the night.

* Choose your ushers if your having them for the ceremony.

3 MONTHS TO GO:
Invitations:
* Post your invitations. Some people say 6 weeks prior to the wedding is fine but the more time you give your guests the easier it is for them to get organised. Particularly overseas and interstate guests. Another hint for your invitations is always include a dress code which is really helpful for the male guests in particular - formal means a suit and smart casual means dress pants and shirt, tie optional.
If you have interstate or overseas guests include a note with the invitation regarding accommodation at the venue or nearby.
Now is the time to decide if you want gifts, as in a gift register or a gift of money, as in money in a wishing well or treasure chest as you can include this information in with your invitation.

* Book your wedding night accommodation. Some reception venues have accommodation for couples included in the cost, so check this out before booking somewhere else.

* If you want to learn to dance, now is the time to start and by the time the wedding comes around you will be more confident.

* Look for suitable gifts for your attendants both male and female.

* Look for bomboniere e.g. styles, colours, choice of sweets etc.

* If you haven't purchased your footwear for the wedding do it now.

* Try to finalise your jewellery and tiara / hair accessories for you and the bridal party.

* Write your toasts and speeches for the Emcee. Don't forget to thank your parents. It is a very busy day and often the parents of the bride and groom get forgotten. This does not happen on purpose, but you'd be amazed how easy it is to accidentally forget.

1 MONTH TO GO:

Re-check the following:
All paper work necessary for you to be married is in order.
Confirm bookings for celebrant/minister, reception, photographer, clothing for the entire bridal party including alterations etc, wedding rings, cake, cars and all other relevant bookings.

* By now you should have all or most of the RSVP's, but for those who have not responded contact them and get a yes or no answer.

* Have a hair and makeup trial. Does the jewellery and tiara / hair accessories you've chosen suit your hair and dress??

* Meet with your photographer to finalise where the photos after the ceremony will be taken and all other details.

* Collect your wedding rings and check the fit.

* If you plan to have pretty underwear under your wedding dress buy it now along with maybe something stunning for the wedding night.

* Make a booking to have a manicure or maybe acrylic nails applied.

2 WEEKS TO GO:

* Announce your wedding day in the newspapers and remember to keep a copy of the announcement as a keepsake.

* The reception venue will want final numbers so make sure all of the rsvp's are in.

* Write out a seating plan for the reception.

* Purchase place cards, bomboniere, cake bags, ring pillow and thank you notes.

* Have a trial run of the menu that will be served at the reception.

* Have your wedding rehearsal so that everyone knows what they are supposed to do and when.

* Re-confirm all bookings and details.

* Try on your dress and the accessories to check the fitting etc.

* If someone offers help with picking some of the items up that you are hiring SAY YES PLEASE.

* Have your hens night / bridal shower during these 2 weeks. Don't leave it till the last minute. You want to enjoy the occasion and if you have your night out in the last week you won't be able to relax and enjoy this special time with your girlfriends. (Your matron of honour, maid of honour or bridesmaids should organise this for you).

* If your having wedding gifts they should be sent to you prior to the wedding, so any that are sent make sure you write out the thank you card as they arrive to avoid forgetting who sent what.

* Have you got something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue ??
Something old might be from your mum or grandmother, remember it doesn't have to show on the wedding day you just have to carry it with you.
Something new can be your wedding dress or wedding ring. Something borrowed can be a veil, jewellery or maybe the wedding car. Something blue, well a good one for this is a garter with a touch of blue on it.

1 WEEK TO GO:

* Make sure you have this week off work.

* Have a massage.

* Get your nails done.

* Pack your honeymoon bag. (including passports, tickets etc if your travelling).

* Pack a bridal dilly bag with spare hair pins, a safety pin, tissues, lipstick and anything else for little emergencies on the wedding day.

* If you have interstate or overseas guests try to spend a day with them (if possible).

* Have a check list and go over it one last time.

IT'S YOUR WEDDING DAY:

Have you had a good night's sleep??

* Make sure you have something for breakfast ( this applies to both the bride and the groom - you don't want to pass out at the ceremony) and drink plenty of water on the day, otherwise you will dehydrate and this can cause a headache.

* Get someone to make a platter of sandwiches and fruit to have on hand in the fridge to eat throughout the day.

* Make sure you wear a shirt or dress that buttons up at the front and does not have to go over your head when you have your hair and makeup done.

Well it's 2 hours before the ceremony and you should be dressed and ready for the photographer to take some shots before you begin your journey to the ceremony venue and the man of your dreams. Relax, smile and start enjoying yourself because after all the planning you've done you deserve to have a wonderful day.

Here's to the Bride and Groom and may you have a lifetime of memories together.

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