By Pandora Poikilos
Table Of Contents
Introduction
The Wedding Scrapbook
Dollars & Cents
Setting The Date
Setting The Theme
Wedding Planner vs. Own Effort
Wedding Invitations & RSVP
Part 2 & Part 3 will include topics such as Ceremonial Do’s, Wedding Favours, Prenuptial Agreements and much more!
Introduction
Whirlwind romance, childhood sweetheart or having a two year relationship, every woman has an idea of the type of wedding she would like to have even before she turns 10. With a lot of thanks owed to Fairy tales such as Cinderella, Snow White and newer styled ones shaped by Hollywood, the idea of a big, lavish wedding is anticipated by many people. However, once the ultimate question of "Will you marry me?" is popped and the excitement settles down, only then do most people realise that the biggest challenge of all is just beginning. Weddings are not weddings until you see a white dress, a fancy car, a crowd of people you may or may not necessarily know and even more food that you may not necessarily have the opportunity to eat.
Yes, weddings can be a lot of work but if done properly, your wedding preparations will be one of the best journeys you'll experience in your lifetime. When the word properly is used, bear in mind, that there isn't a right or wrong way of preparing for a wedding. Each one brings with it different perfections and different disasters but nobody wants to look like something the cat has dragged in on their wedding day. So, what "proper" actually means is methods that are comfortable to you and to end your wedding ceremony with as little element of drama as possible. It will be very easy for most brides and wedding families to immediately feel the strain of such a daunting task. You will soon find yourself torn and crazed between cake, food, fabric, invitations, demanding relatives and in some cases ceremonial differences. How do you cope with all this and much more? Here's how.
Setting The Date
Fixing the perfect date for your wedding may seem easier said than done. You would need a date that is easy to remember, convenient for others to attend and of course carries some form of significance to the both of you. Some couples find it symbolic to have their wedding ceremony on the date of when they first met or on one of their birthdays so birthday and wedding anniversary are both remembered. Ideally, weddings are usually held on Saturdays but these days, a wedding date also relies a great deal on holidays, airfare and venue availability. Weekday weddings, although rare have been done before, provided of course your guests are willing to take time off from work to attend your special day.
If you have made up your minds to have a church wedding, you would need to make sure that the church is available on your selected date. If you are planning an outdoor wedding, you would still need someone to officiate the ceremony and the date would have to suit their calendars as well. If you are considering a big wedding ceremony or anything more than 500 people, then you would need to look at which holidays would best suit you, your other half and your guests. Stay away from holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. While the dates may be easy for you to remember and the wedding may have a festive appearance with all your family around, some friends may find it difficult to attend as they will need to celebrate these special occasions with their families as well.
Prices of items from venue to food to transportation are also likely to cost more so be prepared to have a bigger budget when planning your wedding during a major festival or holiday season. If you are flexible about the date and would like to know which suits your family and friends better, shortlist three dates and send out a quick survey to see what others choose and why.
Another important factor in setting a date would include your marriage license. Some states and countries are very open about having your priest issuing the license on the same day as your religious ceremony while others prefer that it is done earlier. You would need to find out what are the requirements for this and have this arranged well in advance.
Wedding Planner vs. Own Effort
Making the decision of whether you need outside help in planning your wedding is usually decided by two factors, time and money, and of course, how much you have of both of it. If you have a job that gives you little extra time in making your wedding selections and you are unable to take any time off to meet with caterers and florists, then yes, you'll need a wedding planner.
The money factor relates to whether you can afford the services of a wedding planner or not. Some couples choose to have wedding planners solely to source out florists and caterers, negotiate prices with them and once this is done, the couple take over planning the rest of the event. Other couples of course, hand over everything, from the tiniest detail of earring purchases for the bride to the bride's gowns and even vehicle parking during the dinner. Again, what kind of wedding planner you choose to have depends on the size of the wedding you have decided.
Now, when you have decided to use the services of a wedding planner, you must remember that it is still your wedding and your money that is paying for it. You do not have to make any decision just because you are coerced into it. If something makes you uncomfortable, you will have to speak up about it. Be open to suggestions but be very clear about what it is the two of you want your ceremony to look like. Do not tell your wedding planner, "anything goes" and then be horrified when they deliver a purple and orange wedding theme. No wedding planner physically does everything for you. They usually outsource tasks such as food catering, decor and clothing to their pool of suppliers and contractors.
You will, of course, be meeting with these suppliers and contractors and if something does not meet your requirements, do voice out your concerns before the ceremony instead of after when you would need to make payment for the services provided. You will also need to be very aware of payment modes and methods between your wedding planner and their suppliers. You wouldn't want to pay your wedding planner and their supplier double, for the same thing. You have a wedding date coupled with memories for the rest of your life, the wedding planner has a pay day.
Work closely with your wedding planner where decisions and deadlines are concerned. No, don't get all bridezilla and drag them out of bed at 3am for a change in flower choices but once you have appointed a wedding planner, ask them for a timeline and stick to it, this also allows you to be less stressed about unexpected changes which are bound to happen as the day of your dream wedding approaches.
About The Writer
PPandora Poikilos has been writing for more than 10 years for various media which include newspapers, radio, television and various websites. A social media enthusiast who is passionate about blogging and finding her way around the virtual world, she wills away time in the real world by reading, writing and people watching. More about Pandora Poikilos.
For more information regarding this e-publication and upcoming publications, please email the writer - pandorapoikilos@gmail.com
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