Planning your Wedding (or things to remember too important to forget )

Transcription

1 Planning your Wedding (or things to remember too important to forget ) Ruth Kuss Celebrate in Montville Phone: celebrationstotreasure@bigpond.com Facebook:

2 Congratulations Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. You may have years to plan exactly what you want or you may only have a few months. The end result is the same - you want your day to be memorable and special with the ones you love most, sharing your special day. If you re time poor, hire a Wedding Co-ordinator. They will walk you through the process and organise everything, in consultation with you, and make your day as stress free as possible. If you want to organise your day then the first thing to do is get yourself a folder, get some dividers and label them budget, venue, ceremony, photographer, florist, dress, wedding party, hair/makeup, transport, invitations, guests, entertainment/music, accommodation, honeymoon and anything else you think you might need to research. Now the fun begins (and believe me it is fun; don t stress enjoy the ride!) Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 1

3 Start looking on the Internet for ideas. There are hundreds of websites and blogs that deal specifically with weddings and are just 3. Even go so far as to look at movies about weddings Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Wedding Planner and Bride Wars. Decide on a date and venue. Once that is decided and locked in, you should then book your Celebrant Ruth Kuss, Celebrant in Montville Phone: There is now an abundance of Celebrants available; young, old, male and female. The choice is yours, however a word of advice, don t Celebrant shop for the best price. The best price does not mean you will get the best Celebrant. It often means the Celebrant has other employment or is doing ceremonies for a bit of extra money. The cost of a Registry Office ceremony is $360 on Saturdays from 10am 4:30pm and $280 Monday to Friday from 9:30 4pm. You will be limited to the number of guests and have the problem of finding parking. Choosing a Celebrant gives you the opportunity of choosing the venue. Often the ceremony is held at the same venue as your reception. Gardens, parks and beach weddings have become increasingly popular. City Council parks require contact with your local council to book your chosen site. There is a fee for the use. Another advantage of a Celebrant is you may choose the style or mood of your ceremony. You have the choice between a simple ceremony with a few guests or a larger more elaborate ceremony/reception. You may even want Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 2

4 to invite a lot of family and friends but have a relaxed more informal ceremony. The choice is yours! I ve put together a suggested time frame. It s really only a dotpoint list so that you don t forget anything, also allows you to add your own list items: 6-12 months prior to your ceremony 1. Announce your Engagement on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or in the newspaper use the method that works best for you. 2. Decide on wedding date and time. Now is a good time to think about a Theme for your wedding (if you think that s a good idea) 3. Decide on a budget who s paying for what. Good to know this from the beginning so you can choose what you like rather than cutting corners down the track because you ve run out of money. 4. Guest list. 5. Book your Venue. If you have to order tables/chairs now is the time to get quotes. 6. Book your Celebrant (check you have all the legal documents required to complete the Notice of Intention with the Celebrant. Your Celebrant will advise on you what documents she/he will require). 7. Book your Photographer. 8. Choose a Florist personally I would book the florist and hair and make-up as early as possible. This will ensure they aren t booked out on the day you want. 9. Choose a Hairdresser and Make-up artist. (refer #8 above) Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 3

5 10. Choose your wedding attendants if you re not sure how large you want your wedding to be, leave the wedding party numbers until you ve got your head around the whole concept. 11. Honeymoon destinations. If you re going overseas now is the time to check to see if your Passports are current. Many countries won t let you stay if you only a have a few months left until your Passport expires. 12. Travel Insurance. 13. Wedding Insurance decide if this is necessary 14. Wedding dress style, colour 15. Groom s/groomsmen s suits 16. Wedding transport 17. Wedding cake Hint: Take a deep breath, have a drink - wine, beer, tea coffee, soft drink, water or what ever takes your fancy. 3-6 months 1. Wedding invitations are you going to do them yourself or have them professionally printed get quotes or purchase paper and embellishments. (*) 2. Choose wedding rings. 3. Order tables/chairs for Ceremony and/or reception (see 6-12months - Book Your Venue Refer #5, 6-12 months prior to your ceremony) 4. Meet with Celebrant to discuss ceremony 5. Wedding dress fitting 6. Choose MC for Reception 7. Book Musician and/or choose music for your ceremony Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 4

6 2 months 1. Mail out invitations. If you re doing the invitations yourself this process should be well in hand by now, if not refer to Hint 1 (*) on previous page. 2. Book Accommodation for wedding night, if not supplied by Venue. 3. Visit Photographer and firm up the details for your ceremony. 4. Wedding Cake follow up regarding style and flavours 5. Decide on Reception menu. Hint: All is going well. Treat yourself too a bit of pampering massage, pedicure, special dinner, stay home and put your feet up and enjoy each other s company and don t talk about the wedding, except how lovely it will be. Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 5

7 4 weeks before 1. Follow up with your Celebrant and arrange to have a rehearsal. Your Celebrant should have been in contact with you a number of times by now. 2. Make-up and hair trials. 3. Seating arrangements for Reception. 4. If there will be speeches at the Reception coordinate these or delegate to a trustworthy friend/relative. 5. Confirm honeymoon bookings. 6. Choose gifts for each other and your attendants. 2 weeks before 1. Finalise details with Photographer 2. Confirm number of guests to finalise seating arrangements for Reception. 3. Follow up with Cake Designer. 4. Pick up wedding rings 5. Pick up wedding dress 1 week before 1. Visit hairdresser and have a hair treatment, trim, colour or whatever is necessary. 2. Ensure all wedding attire and accessories are ready. 3. Organise for collection and return of all hired wedding outfits. 4. Confirm all hired equipment delivery. 5. Confirm the flower delivery. 6. Confirm the cake delivery. Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 6

8 The day before your big day (2 days before if you re going to another town/city for your ceremony) 1. Have a rehearsal with your Celebrant. It will make your day much more relaxing if you re not wondering where everyone is suppose to be standing or who has the rings. Ensure you have filled out the paperwork for the Celebrant to submit to Birth Deaths and Marriages for your official Marriage Certificate. This document will be used to change your name with banks, Medicare, Electoral Role etc. I will give you this form to complete. 2. Have your nails manicured. 3. Confirm hair and make-up times for the next day 4. Pack emergency kit for wedding day (a caring Celebrant often carries an Emergency Kit safety pins, scissors, tape, insect repellent (yes, often needed) tissues, Blu Tack). 5. Lay out everything required for your wedding day and then pack. 6. Pack bag for wedding night. Hint: Relax and enjoy yourself because your wedding day will be over in the blink of an eye. Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 7

9 Your Wedding Day Stay calm. Today you will start the day as just two people in love and end it as husband and wife. Think of these words on your wedding day from the Poem by W.B. Yeats - Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven I have spread my dreams under your feet, Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. Hint: Take a few minutes during your Reception, away from your guests, to just sit and talk. Look at each other and acknowledge how lucky you are to have found each other. After your honeymoon Phone Photographer and make an appointment to see wedding pics. Send out thank you notes and don t forget the Celebrant, Venue, Photographer, Cake Designer, Hair and Make-up, Transport, Musicians and anyone else who helped make your day memorable. Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 8

10 Important things you need to know. Booking Your Celebrant Should you wish me to officiate at your Wedding it is advisable to book me at the same time as you book your Venue. Ruth Kuss Celebrant in Montville Mobile: I offer a no obligation meeting at my home office or a place convenient to us both. This meeting is usually for about 30 minutes to an hour actually it depends on who likes to talk the most, you or me. I will explain all the necessary paperwork and give you a peak at the resources I give you to enable us to build you ceremony. If you don t have a clue, (many couples don t; they may have been to a number of weddings but don t often pay attention to the finer points). I will help you through the process and together we will explore all the ceremony ideas available and even make up a few of our own. Your ceremony is only limited by our imagination. I will explain the Notice of Intention data/assets/pdf_f ile/0005/7529/bdm-notice-intended-marriageform.pdf. This form has to be completed and lodged with me at least 1 month and no later than 18 months prior to your ceremony. To complete this form you will need to show me your original Birth Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 9

11 Certificates and if either of you have been married before, death/divorce certificates. If either of you were born outside Australia a current Passport from that country is sufficient evidence of your birth. I will also require photo ID when I sight your Birth Certificates. If you have changed your name I will need to see original paperwork to confirm this. In a nutshell, I need to see a paper trail from your birth to now. If you decide to book me as your Celebrant we will complete the Notice of Intention and a nonrefundable payment of $150 is due. I will also give you the Resources Pack and we can start building your ceremony. I know it s often difficult to explain what you want in your ceremony so I also give you a Q &A booklet that helps me glean some information about you as a couple. Who proposed, where, when? How long have you been together? Are you a romantic couple or would you be embarrassed in front of your friends if your ceremony was too full of love stuff? Once I ve received your Q&A and some idea of how you want your ceremony to unfold I will put together a draft. Feel free to alter/edit it as you see fit. The idea, is for me to create a ceremony that reflects you, and not what I think you should have. Often subsequent meetings are needed so that we can get to know each other a little better Skype is also an option (although cameras on computers are not very friendly). Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 10

12 Rituals within your ceremony are also very popular. Sand Ceremony Unity Candle/Candle Lighting Sharing of Wine or Spirits Dove Release Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 11

13 China The Ring Bearing Owl Lock Ceremony Ceremony Box Love Letter Other Rituals: Ring Warming, Butterfly Release, Stone Ceremony, Handfasting just to name a few Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 12

14 Supplier Check List: Celebrant Wedding Venue Wedding Date and Time Photographer Videographer Florist Hairdresser Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 13

15 Make-up Wedding Invitations Cake Transport Wedding Gown Bridesmaid s Dresses Groom s Suit Bestman/Groomsmen suits Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 14

16 Equipment Hire Chairs/Tables/PA Music/Entertainment During Ceremony Reception Accommodation Honeymoon Insurance Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 15

17 Wedding Planner (if you re really short of time or totally disorganised) Let me hold your hand and guide you to create a wonderful memorable ceremony, one you will both treasure. Not Good Luck - Good Planning Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 16

18 Ruth Kuss Celebrate in Montville Phone: Facebook: Let me be the voice to speak from your heart Ruth Kuss - Celebrations to Treasure 17