The following five-page section, which includes a complete planning guide, detailing everything from budgeting to guest list management and music to

Transcription

1 GETTING P l a n y o u r MARRIED p e r f e c t w e d d i n g.

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3 The following five-page section, which includes a complete planning guide, detailing everything from budgeting to guest list management and music to flowers, will make organizing your perfect wedding both fun and easy. Start off with the time line below and define your deadlines for each task. If you are starting your wedding planning less than 6 months before the wedding date, it s time to get to work! Don t ever let the workload of planning your wedding get in the way of this exhilarating experience of a lifetime.

4 WEDDING PLANNER 6 MONTHS OR EARLIER Decide on the style and time of year for your wedding. Will your wedding be an intimate celebration, a formal affair or a glamorous event? Determine your budget and who will be contributing. If you would like, consult a wedding planner. Prepare a preliminary guest list and compile addresses. Set your wedding date and book the ceremony and reception venue(s). Book the ceremony officiant. Book a caterer. Order the wedding cake. Decide on your flowers (colours, types etc.) Choose your ceremony and reception music. Book a photographer and videographer. Plan your Honeymoon and book your accommodations. Start setting up your new home. Identify the people you would like to ask for help with the planning. Choose your bridal gown, accessories, veil and shoes. 4-6 MONTHS BEFORE Arrange for rentals like tables, chairs etc. Arrange transportation for the wedding day. Order wedding invitations, Thank You cards and all other stationary. If you would like to use one, research and find a professional calligrapher. Register for your wedding gifts. Purchase your wedding bands. Buy or rent the groom s tuxedo. If you will have a wedding party, select the attire for the groomsmen and bridesmaids. Purchase the rest of the bridal accessories, such as stockings and lingerie. Order the wedding favours. Book a hotel room for your wedding night. Make accommodation arrangements for out-of-town guests. If you would like, start taking dance classes. Decide on your hairdresser and makeup artist. 1-2 MONTHS BEFORE Make a Must Play and Do Not Play music list for the band or DJ. If you are required to get blood tests, make appointments for these tests. Make arrangements for your wedding permit and other official papers. If you will be keeping your maiden name, prepare the proper documents. Book a hair and makeup rehearsal with your veil. Contact the necessary companies and organizations to change your address. Purchase a guestbook/album.

5 WEDDING PLANNER 2 WEEKS BEFORE Do a bridal gown rehearsal with your accessories and lingerie. Prepare the seating plan and table cards. Give the caterer a guest head count. Call guests who have not yet sent in their RSVP. Send out ceremony announcements. Wear your bridal shoes around the house to work them in. If you have plants or pets, arrange to have someone take care of them when you are on your honeymoon. Confirm where your out-of-town guests are staying if you would like to leave them a Welcome note or package in their rooms. 1 WEEK BEFORE Decide on the final seating plan arrangement. Get any skincare treatments, if necessary. Pick up your bridal gown. Discuss and confirm all the final details with your caterer. Review your honeymoon itinerary and share it with a friend, in the case of an emergency. Pack for your honeymoon. Give the caterer the final guest head count. 1 DAY BEFORE Confirm all transportation arrangements. Put all the ceremony-related accessories, such as favours, wedding band boxes, ring bearer pillow and guestbook in a box to be taken to the venue. Get a manicure and pedicure. Do a ceremony rehearsal. If you would like, you may give your parents Thank You gifts for all their help and support. Set aside all the cash payments and tips in a separate envelope, and confirm whom you will be handing them out to on the wedding day. ON THE WEDDING DAY Relax and enjoy this special day!

6 BUDGETING Before starting to plan your wedding, it is important to set a budget to determine the type of things on which you would like to spend your money. As a general rule, it is fair to set 50% of your budget aside for venue costs (venue rental, catering and drinks), with 10% allocated to each of the following: flowers, photography, attire, and music. The remaining 10% should be used for invitations and other details. CEREMONY AND RECEPTION A Wedding Planner (if you would like one) Ceremony Venue Rental Ceremony Arrangements Marriage documents Reception Venue Rental Reception Dinner Wedding Cake Beverages Rentals (chairs, tables etc.) Transportation for Bride and Groom Transportation for Guests and Parking Tips and Coat Check MUSIC Ceremony Music Cocktail Music Reception Music PHOTOGRAPHY Photographer Rate Engagement Photography Wedding Album Albums for Parents Extra Prints Video-DVD STATIONARY Save-The-Date Cards Invitation and Envelopes The Wedding Program Seating Plan Cards, Table Cards, Menus Thank You Cards Shipping Calligraphy Announcements FLOWERS Ceremony Décor Flowers Bridal Bouquet Maid-of-Honour and Bridal Party Bouquets Flower Girl Accessories Bride s corsage Groom s boutonniere Reception Centrepieces BRIDAL ATTIRE Wedding gown Headpiece and Veil Shoes Lingerie Jewellery and Accessories Hair and makeup Manicure-Pedicure Groom s Tuxedo Groom s Accessories Wedding bands Dry Cleaning PRESENTS, WEDDING GIFTS AND OTHER Gift for Maid-of-Honour Gifts for Bridesmaids Gift for Best Man Gifts for Groomsmen Gifts for Ring bearer and Flower Girls Gifts for Parents Wedding Favours (and other memorabilia gifts) Ring bearer Pillow (for rings) Guestbook

7 After f illing out your planner, the form below will allow you to organize your guest list with phone numbers and addresses, and track the number of RSVPs you have received, and Thank You cards you need to send out. Depending on the size of your wedding, you can photocopy this page as many times as you need. PLANNING THE GUEST LIST Total Guests

8 MUSIC COORDINATION Fill in your music preferences in the form below and hand copies out to the musicians and DJ. This way, they will know what should be played and when, as well as the Do Not Play list. If there will be live music at your wedding, specify, in detail, which songs you would like the band the play. Entrance SONG SINGER/BAND START TIME CEREMONY Before Ceremony Ceremony Exit SONG SINGER/BAND START TIME Cocktail Hour First Dance Bridge-Father First Dance Groom-Mother First Dance Guests Welcome Dance Dinner RECEPTION Dancing Cake Special Requests Last Dance DO NOT PLAY List SONG SINGER/BAND START TIME OTHER Announcements and Toasts

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