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Make Your Wedding Preparations Memorable

7 Nov 2006

Make Your Wedding Preparations Memorable

Wedding Planning

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

Make your wedding preparations memorable. The period from engagement to wedding day, is the beginning of your life as a couple. Both of you, bride and groom have decisions to make and tasks to complete so that yours, will be the wedding day you always dreamed about.

There are some important first steps. First you should start to talk about what type of wedding you want to have and what your budget is going to be. If you first decide your budget then you can work within it much easier and it's much easier to keep control.

Do you want a formal wedding, casual or perhaps a beach wedding? Where do you want to have your wedding - at home, at a vacation destination? How many people will you invite - large wedding, small wedding with only close family and friends? How many groomsmen, bridesmaids?

Spend some time initially talking about the big day, then once you've got a bit of a game plan you can move foreward much smoother.

Here's a checklist by timeline to help you get started. Our checklist is based on a formal/semi-formal wedding. A causual wedding will have fewer steps.

6-12 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING

Set the date and time of the wedding

Establish the wedding budget

Establish a color scheme

Order your wedding rings

Reserve the date with your florist, photographer, disk jockey or band

Reserve the location

If you are having a church wedding visit the appropriate clergy members

If you are having a wedding on private property meet with the host/ess

If you are having a wedding on public property check with the proper officials

Choose your groomsmen, bridesmaids, maid of honor, flower girl, flower boy and ushers

Order your wedding invitations and announcements or if your good on the computer you can save some money and do them yourself. Some great packages available on the market

Purchase your Bridal gown and headpiece or veil

Decide if you will be renting or purchasing the grooms attire then make appropriate arrangements

Shop for attire and accessories for your attendants

Register for china, silver and crystal patterns and other home gifts

2- 4 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING

Meet with your florist to discuss and order your wedding flowers. It's a great idea to bring a photo of your dress and color swatches of your bridesmaids dresses.

Address all wedding invitations and announcements

Plan your rehearsal dinner

Order your wedding cake

Arrange lodging for your guests from out of town

Select your music and meet with dj or band

Meet with your photographer and be very explicit about what your expectations are

4 - 6 WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING

Mail your wedding invitations

Have the final fittings of your gown, tuxedo, attendants attire

Meet with the photographer,and dj or band to update them on any changes

Arrange wedding parties transportation

Select the groom's gift

Prepare seating chart for reception guests

Write thank-you notes for shower gifts and wedding gifts as they arrive

Place announcement in local newspapers

Contact your florist for an appointment to review your order

Send "thank you" flowers to the hosts of your pre-wedding parties

2 WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING

Make final check with your florist.

Order "thank-you" flowers to be sent to parents after the wedding

Obtain your marriage license

Since you cannot legally change your name on official documents such as passport or credit cards until such time you are married it is recommended if you are booking flights for your honeymoon that you book them in your maiden name so you id matches. In today's troubled times this can be a real problem.

Begin to make name changes to things such as bank accounts.

Keep a list of wedding gifts and their senders as they arrive

Finalize seating chart for reception guests

2 WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING

Give the final guest count for the reception to the reception coordinator

Arrange pick up of guests and attendants who are arriving from out of town

Enjoy the benefits of good planning, sit back and relax, your hard efforts over the past year have paid off - everythings taken care of. Now take a little time to pamper yourself.

YOUR WEDDING DAY

Congratulations on your most important day!

Now even with all your terrific planning, small glitches may occur, perhaps even a large one, but don't fret it, simply stay calm and relaxed and work around it. No one will remember unless "you" make it a "big deal" It's your day and that's what people will remember -

That beautiful bride & handsome groom and what a great couple they make!

© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved. About the author: Sher from Estate Jewelry International have been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at Estate Jewelry International.

Sher Matsen