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Chapter One
Congratulations on your engagement! Your head must be spinning with visions of your wedding day! That’s exactly the right approach. Visualizing your wedding is the best way to plan your wedding. Both you and your fiancée’ should share your vision – with a pencil and workbook in hand. You can create the wedding of your dreams through focus, determination, compromise and love. So put your hobbies aside for now so you can start planning today. As a reminder, balance your time and energy during this demanding, emotional and fun experience.
Are you ready? Get out your pencil so you can start addressing these five important topics below.
Top Five Things to Do Now
1. Create Your Initial List of Important Decisions
The following decisions must be made before you start calling family, friends or wedding vendors (even before you shop for your gown). Discuss these together.
The size of the wedding (approximate the number of guests)
<100 100-199 200-299 300-399 400-499 _____
The maximum amount you want to spend on the wedding
$2,500 $5,000 $15,000 $20,000 $50,000 $_________
The sources to finance your wedding
Bride’s family $___________
Groom’s family $___________
Bride $___________
Groom $___________
Other ______________ $___________
TOTAL: $___________
The type of wedding (religious, civil, theme, traditional, destination)
[Table excluded]
The number of members in the wedding party [Table excluded]
2. Meet with the Parents.
Meet to discuss the topics above (if appropriate). The toughest issues are always the budget and guest list. Listen to what is most important to them, but try to stick to the topics written in your list for now. Grab another sheet of paper to record their wish list. Write the top three below. [Table excluded]
3. Pick a Wedding Date.
Consider national and religious holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, school schedules, weather, and vacation days. It is not unusual to set a date one year or more in advance, especially to reserve a popular site. Chapter Two will help you select the best date for your wedding, but for now, list three dates you prefer. [Table excluded]
4. Start Gathering Creative Ideas.
Start researching wedding web sites on the Internet for trends and articles. Purchase popular bridal magazines for the latest on bridal gowns, tuxedo fashions, cakes, flowers and more. Visit bridal boutiques for ideas. Grab a sheet of paper and write “Creative Ideas” on top; jot down all ideas you have. In time you will cross off those ideas that no longer appeal to you. Include two columns for his and her “must have” list. Review the list often.
5. Get Organized!
The more organized you are, the easier the planning, and most importantly, the less stressful. Decide who will plan the wedding details, and whether or not a wedding consultant or professional event planner should be hired to help you. Purchase a complete wedding planner, whether it is a notebook, an on-line planner, or wedding management software. You are on the right path by using this workbook, but it is only half of the necessary tools. You also want to find a good tool to manage your guest list, expenses, tasks, and more.
The Next Five Things to Do Now
You have made great progress if you completed the first five steps above. Now it’s time to focus on the next five important components of the planning process.
6. Determine Planning Responsibilities.
Discuss openly and honestly with your fiancée the planning responsibilities.” For example, who will plan the details for the entertainment at the reception and dance? The details are very time-consuming, and it will be difficult for both of you to make the decisions. If time is on your side, joint decisions are a good way to start your new chapter together.
Below is a starter list. For each component of your wedding, check under “B” if the Bride will plan the majority of the details, check under “G” if the Groom will plan the majority of the details, or check under both for joint decisions. Use this guide just to get things rolling. [Table excluded]
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