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Tips for
Planning
By Diann
Valentine with Tonya Bolden
Authors of
Weddings Valentine Style: Rich Inspiration for Every Woman's
Dream Day
Once
you have established your budget and your checklist, it's time
to make it real! If funds are in place, you can probably make
your dream come true with six months' lead time, possibly less
(and possibly more, depending on the complexity of your affair).
Below, tips for the planning. If you are not your own wedding
planner, may this advice empower you to keep your wedding
planner on track and working in your best interest.
Envision
Meditate on the style and overall tone and energy you want for
your day. High formality? Offbeat elegance? Casual chic?
Play
Dress-up!
As
you envision your day, dream on your attire -- the inspiration
for so much else.
People
It
If
you are going to have a bridal party, give your hoped-for
attendants plenty of advance notice, laying out your
expectations of them, so that they will have ample time and
information to think it over before they commit. And don't
assume that just because you ask they will -- or should -- say
yes.
Next, the
guest list. How large a guest list are you comfortable with? Two
hundred? Fifty? Whatever your number, list all the couples and
then all the singles, adding "+1" because no one wants to attend
a wedding alone. (For heaven's sake, if you really want your
single friends to come, allow them to bring a guest!) If you
choose to include children in your celebration, make special
plans for them. Have a separate child-friendly menu and special
entertainment, possibly in another room. Make it so that the
kids can be kids.
Location, Location, Location!
The Where often determines the When. The ballroom you have in
mind may be booked on your first-choice wedding date -- or
perhaps it is available but the church you desire is not. It's
important to secure your location as soon as possible to
increase the likelihood of having your celebration on your
first- or second-choice day.
Yes,
You Can but . . . May You?
Find out if any element of your wedding requires a permit. And
don't forget that marriage license! Most states no longer
require a blood test, and a license can usually be obtained in
one to three days. Keep in mind that some marriage licenses will
expire if not filed within thirty days. So be sure to read all
the fine print.
Book
Your Vendors
Contract with all the individuals and establishments you need to
make everything on your checklist happen, from caterer, florist,
and DJ to photographer and make-up artist. Do not dawdle. To
secure top talent, you may need to book the person six months or
more in advance. Remember, never, ever sacrifice quality for
quantity. If necessary, scale back the scope of your wedding to
get the best professionals your pocketbook will allow.
Organize It
Purchase a three-ring binder with indexable dividers, a pack (or
two) of three-hole paper, and a pack (or two) of sheet
protectors. Devote one section to each component of your
wedding, from "Bridal Attire," "Ceremony," "Reception," and
"Stationery" on and on to "Et Cetera, Et Cetera" and "Budget."
Use the
lined paper in each section to log all communications,
decisions, and transactions on items.
Use sheet
protectors for the following:
-
Clippings
and photographs of elements you'd like incorporated in your
gown (the neckline of one couture gown; the bell sleeves of
another, for example), your wedding cake, the reception
space, and other aspects of the celebration.
-
Correspondence, estimates, invoices, and other
vendor-related paperwork. Having a paper trail on everything
is a must!
Budget
Check
Every time you make a decision, reconcile your budget.
Make
That Call to Attend!
The standard mail date for invitations is at least six weeks
before the wedding. For save-the-date cards, at least six
months.
Make
Your Gift Wish List
If
you are comfortable having a gift registry, plan on giving it a
full day, as it is very time-consuming. Fortunately, many
retailers now offer scanners so you can easily select items for
your registry. However, you must still comb each department to
personally select your preferences. Also, most retailers offer a
limited online registry. But please do not insert gift registry
instructions inside your wedding invitations. I believe that
your guests should still have the freedom to buy you whatever
they would like for your wedding. I always keep wedding registry
information on hand for my clients, and most guests will call
and ask. The only exception is when you are asking guests not to
bring a gift. And for heaven's sake, don't even think about
asking for monetary gifts . . . poor taste!
Reprinted
from Weddings Valentine Style: Rich Inspiration for Every
Woman's Dream Day by Diann Valentine with Tonya Bolden.
Copyright © 2006 Diann Valentine. Published by Atria Books;
February 2006;$39.95US/$54.95CAN; 074349747-3.
Author
Diann Valentine is the founder and creative force behind
D.R. Valentine & Associates, Inc., a full-service event
production and interior design firm based in
Los Angeles.
A native of Oakland, California, she has a marketing degree from
California State University. Her company's website is
www.drvalentine.net.
Tonya
Bolden,
a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University with a
master's degree from Columbia University, has authored,
coauthored, and edited more than twenty books. For more about
her work visit
www.tonyabolden.com.
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