Become a Super Organized Bride!
Planning a wedding is no easy task – even for the most capable of people. But if you have ever wondered how it is that some brides just seem to be ultra-organised then here are a few tips on how they do it!
Firstly you need to fight the urge to rush off to the nearest bridal dress store to start trying on dresses and begin your planning by making four key decisions:
1. Work out your wedding budget
2. Set out an initial guest list
3. Choose the date
4. Start looking for a venue
Your wedding budget needs to set out exactly what is being spent and where by means of an itemised list of every little detail pertaining to your wedding day. Keep your figures realistic as well as your ideas about what you want and can afford! Draw up a guest list which includes all the most important people at the top. Speak with family and friends in case there is anyone you have missed but be firm about numbers – remember each additional guest is a further chunk of your budget. Choose a date that suits both you and friends and family – don’t choose a date that clashes with an event or occasion important to someone close to you. Holidays such as Valentines Day and Christmas will be more expensive. Look for venues that are no more than 30 minutes from you so that you won’t have to travel too far.
Your next task is to try and plan your time effectively and keep yourself focused on what is important within your wedding planning. Arm yourself with a notebook and write lists of all the tasks you will need to complete and when, you can do this daily, weekly or monthly depending on how far into your wedding planning you are. As soon as possible book your key suppliers such as caterers, florist, photographer and transport.
Consider hiring a wedding planner to help you with your wedding preparations. You can hire one to organise the entire wedding or to simply handle one part of it such as the reception. Wedding planners have various contacts throughout the wedding industry and can often get you great deals that you wouldn’t ordinarily be eligible for.
Keep tight control on your wedding budget. It is the deciding factor on every decision you will make and you should not try to plan a wedding you cannot afford. Set up a separate bank account for your wedding funds and keep track of every transaction made along with notes on when various bills need to be paid by. If you overspend in one area then you will need to claim that money back from something else.
Get to grips with spreadsheets and set one up for your wedding budget, your wedding timeline, your guest list and RSVP’s and your supplier’s details. Keep them regularly updated and you will find that they are worth their weight in gold should anything go wrong and you need a quick reference.
Choose your attendants with care because they will be your support before, during and after the big day. You need to pick people whom you trust and who are reliable and they too need to be organised and fully understanding of their roles.
Finally you need to try and stay focused on what is important to you about your wedding day. Take time out regularly and have days or evenings together when all talk of the wedding is banned, you can then return to it feeling more refreshed and focused.
