Angelion Insights

March 7, 2010

Wedding Planning Timeline Checklist

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Congratulations on your engagement. Now it’s time to go to work and plan the wedding of your dreams. With a little preparation (and a sense of Humor!) there is no need to act like a bridezilla.

Here is a checklist to help you keep your sanity.

9-12 Months before the wedding

Announce your engagement. Plan what type of wedding you want- formal, informal, day or evening, number of guests Choose a wedding date. Determine your budget- Discuss who is responsible for what expenses before making any plans. You should include your parents and future in-laws in this discussion. Remember to treat them with respect. Any money they provide is a gift! Make guest list – Don’t forget to include your parents and future in-laws in this discussion. Speak to officiant- Priest, Minister, Rabbi, Justice of the Peace etc. Reserve your ceremony and Reception Sites.

6-9 Months Before Wedding

Select Bridal Gown Choose your attendants- Maid/Matron of Honor, Best Man, Bridesmaids, Ushers, Flowergirls, and Ring Bearer Choose a Photographer Select bridesmaids dresses & accessories (Remember to be Kind and listen to their suggestions and concerns). Select a caterer (if needed) Hire a band or DJ Book your florist

4-5 Months Before Wedding

Schedule fittings for yourself and attendants (don’t forget your flower-girl) Reserve any rental items needed for ceremony and reception Finalize guest list Order Stationery – wedding invitations, thank you notes, and wedding programs Address invitations or hire a professional calligrapher Plan rehearsal dinner – set date, time and location. (This dinner is usually given by the grooms’ parents.) Arrange for accommodations for out-of-town guests. Start planning honeymoon (Groom usually makes these arrangements after you BOTH decide where to go.) Don’t forget to get any passports or travel documents you may need. Register for gifts. Purchase shoes and accessories (Remember to break your shoes in before the wedding)

2-3 Months Before Wedding

Order wedding cake Order party favors Order all necessary decorations Book all transportation for wedding day (if necessary) Buy wedding rings Visit lawyer to write any necessary wills or prenuptial agreements

5-8 Weeks Before Wedding

Purchase gifts for wedding attendants Mail invitations (A map to assist your guests in finding the ceremony and reception sites is a nice idea). Visit hairstylist to determine what style you want for your hair. (Hint: Never change haircolor or change your style right before your wedding. Any changes should be made at least 3-4 weeks in advance). Have a formal wedding portrait taken Send wedding announcements to newspapers (if necessary) Change name and address on driver’s license, social security cards, insurance policies, and bank accounts Reserve wedding attire for groom, ushers, ring bearer (Usually done by the groom). Mail invitations to rehearsal dinner (if necessary) Obtain marriage license Get blood tests if necessary in your state Plan a bridesmaid luncheon

2-4 Weeks Before Wedding

Confirm ceremony details with officiant Arrange final fittings for your gown and bridesmaids dresses Make final floral selections Finalize rehearsal dinner plans Confirm details with all service providers – It is a good idea to give them a written list of your wedding day timeline. Contact guests who have not yet responded to your invitation Pick up wedding rings Meet with your photographer to discuss special photos you want taken. Meet with your DJ or band to confirm the music you want played Remind all attendants (male & female) when to pick up their wedding attire. Purchase any special accessories or make-up you want your attendants to wear. Determine ceremony seating for any special guests (give the list to the ushers). Plan reception seating-write names on place cards.

Hold On….Your Almost Done! Last Week

Pick up wedding attire Figure final guest count and notify cater Arrange for “get-a-way” car from the reception Review the schedule of events and last minute arrangements with all service providers. Confirm honeymoon reservations Pack for your honeymoon

Take a Breath…..It’s Finally Here….Your Wedding Day!!!!

Give rings to the best man and maid of honor (If no ring Bearer) Give the best man money to pay the officiant after the ceremony Relax and have fun!!! All your hard work and planning has paid off.

Jasmine MacDonald is the editor of Fun Weddings and Merry Brides which will provide you with daily ideas and tips to help you plan the perfect wedding while staying within your budget. Jasmine can also help you design your very own wedding website to keep your friends and family updated about your wedding plans. Check out a Free Trial offer at Merry Bridals.

Popular Styles of Save the Date Cards

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There are many factors that need to be considered when it comes time to plan your wedding. Weddings can be viewed as one big party celebrating the unity of two people madly in love. Weddings can also be difficult to plan as they take a lot of work, time, and effort on the part of the bride and groom, as well as their families. While every aspect and detail dealing with planning the big day is important, one of the most important and critical tasks is making sure all of your family and friends are able to attend.

Weddings which are smaller events should be easier to ensure that everyone knows when and where the wedding is going to be held. Also, in the past, people were not constantly busy working multiple jobs to be able to support their family, giving them more free time to attend events like these. Also different from the past, current weddings are often planned at least a year, sometimes two, in advance of the actual wedding date, whereas in the past they were planned only a few months ahead of time. With that much time before the wedding, and with how large weddings can get, and how busy people can be, it is very important to make sure that your guests know about the wedding well in advance.

Typically, wedding invitations themselves are not sent out sooner than six to eight weeks before the actual wedding date. While many aspects of wedding planning have taken a turn away from the norm over the past years, this is a tradition that has not changed according to proper wedding etiquette. The problem, therefore, becomes how you can possibly notify all of your guests of your wedding date and time without sending out your invitations too soon. The best way to do this is with save the date cards.

Save the date cards have become more popular in recent years due to the increasingly busy lives that people are leading. Save the Date cards are cards that have a small amount of wedding information on it, namely the date of your wedding, which is sent to the family and friends who will be invited to join you on this joyous occasion. This is a great way to notify them of the date, while keeping any other exciting information under wraps until the day gets closer. Most save the date cards simply have the date and a note stating that the formal invitation will follow the card in weeks to come.

Today, there are many different save the date cards that are very popular. It is very important that you take the time to decide which save the date card is perfect for you. Choosing a save the date card is a great way to begin the wedding planning process while locking in your date with the location of your choice. A great save the date card will also encompass your overall wedding theme and color scheme, although at the time that these cards are sent out, you might not know that information yet!

Many couples choose to use a traditional card for their save the date notice. Even if you have not yet chosen a theme for your wedding, you can pick a few general colors that you think you will be using along with a general design that is sure to impress your guests. The best part about save the date cards is that they often go out so far in advance from your actual invitations that most of your guests will not even realize if they are completely different. Choose a one-sided card with the date of your wedding along with a picture of the two of you that can be sent easily to friends and family.

Another way to utilize unique save the date cards, is to opt for a postcard. By using a postcard, you do not have to worry about envelopes, and the postage might actually be less expensive. You can easily have a picture of the two of you along with the date that your wedding will be on the front and your guests address on the back. Many couples also choose to add their own address to the save the date cards in case people want to send them engagement gifts.

There are some other great styles of save the date cards that are very popular today as well. One of the most popular styles of save the date cards is cards that are magnets. These are popular because there is a good chance your guests will put them on their refrigerator, and look at it every day as they anticipate the arrival of your big day. Sometimes save the date cards can get lost, and dates can be forgotten, so putting your card with your date on a magnet that can go on the refrigerator is a great way for your guess to make sure that they will not forget. With so many wonderful save the date card options available today, you can be sure to find one you like.

Tiffany Jordan is a freelance writer who writes about family events such as weddings, often discussing a particular aspect of weddings such as save the date cards.

Etiquette For Making A Wedding Announcement

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Beginning on the day he proposed, there are certain wedding etiquette announcements to be observed. The couple should be aware of these wedding etiquette announcements or else wedding could fall into jeopardy.

There are wedding etiquette announcements to be observed when breaking the news to the parents. First, let the people closest to you know of your plans. The groom must ask the bride’s parents for her hand in marriage. It is traditional that men do wedding etiquette announcements to both families but modern times have changed this. Now, both of them can make the wedding etiquette announcements together personally.

The wedding etiquette announcements for friends can be personally by the couple. They can also plan a party for both their friends and turn it into an engagement party. The couple on this event can choose their maid of honor and best man.

Wedding etiquette announcements for sponsors should be done personally with the help of the parents. The sponsors can be chosen by influence, convenience, prestige, or by relationship. The important thing to remember is to get them to commit in being your sponsors and list them down in your planner.

The wedding etiquette announcements for wedding details can be overwhelming, which is why most couples hire a wedding coordinator. If your budget can fit in the fee for this person’s services, hire them. It will greatly lift the pressure of planning, organizing and supervising the entire event.

The maid of honor often performs wedding etiquette announcements for the bridal shower. The bridesmaids, mother and other women family members are invited to chip in and join the event. Depending on what they have prepared, the bride can expect something as elegant as a garden tea party or wild as a trip to the local men’s strip joint.

The best man makes the wedding etiquette announcements for the bachelor party or stag party. Stag parties require little preparation since most parties only require five things: the groom, food, drinks, music and entertainment. The entertainments have wedding etiquette announcements of using either a stripper or just a regular DVD player and watching x-rated movies.

There is a third option of making wedding etiquette announcements for a “couple” shower. Friends of both the bride and groom organize and celebrate this event. The best choice for this is to have a themed party, something with fantasy on it like a masque ball or have it done like Carmen Elektra and her husband Dave of Inxs where it was one big stripper party.

The wedding preparations:

The wedding etiquette announcements for the flowers should be booked months in advance. The same goes for the caterer, the arranger and the musicians. If the couple decides to hire a wedding coordinator, this will be an easier job for them.

The wedding etiquette announcements for the dress fitting is should also be made weeks in advance. Any adjustments to the dress can be done as the wedding date comes closer. For the men, their clothes are classic pieces so it is no problem for the coordinator. However, it is a must that the groomsmen have a neat hair cut prior to the wedding.

The photography and video documentation needs of the couple should be provided by the coordinator. As a rule, wedding etiquette announcements for photo and video coverage of the wedding can be open to bidders. This way they couple can sample the best work and hire the one they like most at a price that they can handle.

On the wedding event:

Within weeks of the big day, the wedding etiquette announcements for invitations should have already been mailed. Along with it are the wedding etiquette announcements regarding the attire, program, location of the wedding and a map to the reception.

The wedding etiquette announcements for the wedding program at the ceremony is usually printed and given to the guests as they arrive at the church. The couple can skip this if they prefer an informal ceremony.

With the solemnity of church celebration over, it is now time for everyone to relax at the reception. There is still another program in the event but most of it is well-wishes, thanksgiving and entertainment for everyone who attended the wedding.

Visit the Etiquette Lessons website to learn about wedding gift etiquette and bridal shower etiquette.

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