I need help with planning a wedding?

Question

Im planning my wedding for july 4th 2007 is it to early to start planning now? and how do i start planning and picking things out where do I start?

Answer 1

Nine to Twelve Months Before

* Establish a preliminary budget.
* Select a wedding date and time. (Date is done have you selected a time?)
* Determine who will officiate at the ceremony.
* Announce your engagement in the newspaper. (optional)
* Determine how many guests you can afford
* Determine the type of wedding you want (formality, style, color scheme/theme).
* Select the attendants for your wedding party.
* Select and secure a photographer.
* Select and secure your ceremony location.
* Select and secure your reception location.
* Select a caterer if not already provided by the reception.
* Begin choosing your wedding cake baker, videographer, musicians, and florist. Sign necessary contracts.
* Pick out engagement ring with fiancé. (if not given to you at proposal)

Six to Nine Months Before

* Shop for the wedding dress, headpiece, veil, etc.
* Select and order the bridesmaids' dresses.
* Start compiling the guest list (inform your families to do the same).
* Start planning for honeymoon.
* Register with a gift bridal registry in your favorite store.

Four to Six Months Before

* Check requirements for blood test and marriage license in your state.
* Make appointments for a physical exam with your doctor/dentist. (optional unless required by state)
* Shop for wedding rings.
* Select and order the invitations and stationery.
* Decide where to live after the wedding.
* Complete the guest lists.
* Inform mothers to select their dresses.
* Select and order the men's attire.
* Finalize honeymoon details and make the necessary reservations.

Two to Four Months Before

* Confirm the menu and catering details with the caterer.
* Prepare all maps and directions for the ceremony and reception.
* Select your wedding rings.
* Buy a wedding guest book.
* Set the dates and times with the officiant for the rehearsal.
* Plan the bridesmaids' luncheon and any other parties.
* Determine your resources for designing and printing the program for the ceremony.
* Finalize the florist details, photographer, videographer, musicians, etc.
* Arrange the necessary accommodations for out-of-town guests.
* Plan a rehearsal dinner, time and place.
* Confirm the wedding cake details with the baker.

Six to Eight Weeks Before

* Mail invitations and announcements.
* Set appointment with photographer for your formal bridal portrait. (optional)
* Select gifts for all your attendants.
* Set appointments with any hairdressers and/or makeup artists.
* Hire the limousine or other forms of transportation for the wedding.

Four to Six Weeks Before

* Decide what your menu is going to be for the reception. (Estimate the expected number of guests.)
* Buy a gift for the groom.
* Pick up your wedding rings.
* Purchase/Borrow all wedding accessories such as the ring pillow, goblets, garter belt, candles, etc.
* Confirm florist details and delivery times.
* Plan the seating for the reception as well as other details for the ceremony and reception. Start writing placement cards.
* Make sure all bridesmaids' attire has been fitted.
* Buy a gift for the bride.

Two Weeks Before

* Make arrangements to have your wedding gifts moved to your new home.
* Get information for business and legal details such as name changes, address changes, etc.
* Reconfirm your guests' accommodations
* Make sure all clothing and accessories for you and the bridal party are ready.
* Get your marriage license and any blood tests which are needed.

One Week Before

* Review any seating details with the ushers.
* Make sure all wedding attire fits.
* Finalize the seating arrangements.
* Reconfirm your honeymoon reservations. Ensure you have any necessary plane tickets.
* Start packing for your honeymoon.
* Call any guests who have not responded yet.
* Finish all the place cards for the reception.
* Review all the final details with your photographer, videographer, etc.
* Give a final head count to the caterer.
* Confirm the availability of the musicians and vocalists.
* Delegate responsibilities to reliable individuals on your wedding day
* Finalize your rehearsal dinner arrangements or other plans.

One Day Before

* Get a manicure or massage to relax yourself. (optional)
* Review and rehearse all the details of your participants.
* Wrap and present the wedding party gifts.
* Get to sleep early.

The Big Day

* Allow yourself plenty of time to get dressed.
* Be sure to eat properly.
* Rest and relax with a good bath.
* Prepare for your hairdresser and makeup appointments.
* Enjoy your wonderful wedding and cherish each and every moment!!!
* Make sure the best man and maid of honor sign the wedding certificate.



Obviously you dont have all of that time, so you will have to move a few things up in the timeline, but this should keep you on track fairly well. I also suggest using http://www.WeddingSolutions.com to help you keep track of guests, budget, etc.

If you need further help feel free to email me and I will do my best to assist you.

Answer 2

It's definitely not too soon. Big weddings should be planned 9 - 12 months in advance. Small weddings, too, since you have to find a place to hold the wedding and a place for the reception. Do that first. Figure out the number of guests to be invited (1/3 from your family, 1/3 from his, 1/3 friends). Then find a place that can handle that number. Even if you are just having a small family wedding, you need to get a place for the wedding first. Second, order YOUR dress. That can take awhile. In a rush, you can go to a store that sells gowns discounted and take one off the rack to a seamstress to alter for you in a matter of weeks. You need to get a book from the book store on wedding etiquette and planning. That will list all the other things you need to be thinking about. Good luck.

Answer 3

It is def. not too early to start!! People start as much as a year and a half in advance! The best thing to do would be to look in the phone book in the area in which you are getting married and start calling people. You have time which is to your advantage, you can sample all the vendors past work (whether it be taste testing, looking at photographs of other weddings, etc.) and decide which ones are right for you based on price, location, and quality. That way the vendors are catering towards you! They're fighting for your business, you're not in a bind or have little time to plan, so you have a better selection opened to you and an advantage over the vendors!!

Answer 4

No it defentietly is not too early to plan. The first thing I did was look at country club and banquet halls. I did all the big stuff first. dj/band, florist, officiate,dress etc. Those things go quick. You need to decide if you are going to have a formal or informal affair that may help to determine the kinds of things your looking for. Then just dive right in. Get magazines they help a lot in giving you ideas,then start making phone calls and doing research about pricing. I know it sounds like a lot, but that is why it is good you have all this time. I took a year an half that way i didn't stress myself out and i got evrything i wanted by booking early. My mom was a huge help, so hopefully you have freinds and family that will help you.

Answer 5

I am getting married June 9, 2007 and I started planning the first week of April. It is best to get your ceremony site and reception site booked ASAP as you are in a prime wedding month. It is best to get these booked first and then go from there. Check out www.ezweddingplanner.com for a FREE online wedding planner. I have been using it since Day 1 and it is helped me with everything that is involved in a wedding.

Answer 6

Its never to early to start planning. Better now than you running around like a chicken without his head and leave out details that are important. I'm planning for a 2008 wedding. So dont let anyone tell you its to early.

Answer 7

I'm getting married next May 20 and we have been doing a lot of planning for a couple of months already. This Friday actually we have to go to the place where the reception is being held and sample the food that will be served. My fiance and her daughters are doing most of the planning, have to admit that I'm not that actually involved but that's the way they want it. I have spoken with my male friends that I want to stand up for me and she has her females selected for bridesmaids etc. So it certainly wouldn't be too early to start now, it may actually be too late as you may have a difficult time finding a place to cater to you with such limited advance notice. Good luck and you'd be wise to get planning immediately.

Answer 8

It is never to early to start.
Well having planned I dont know how many events I would start with the biggest stuff.
Money is first what ya got to spend?
Where are you getting married and having the reception?
Who can come for what you can afford? (If you have a small budget some people may not get to come. Or they could come to the ceremony but not to the reception.)
After those big things are down then go to your dress, grooms attire and how "fancy" you can make things.

Answer 9

There are a number of wedding planning books you could get. But you need to start with what colors you want - what type of wedding - time of day, etc. Is it formal or casual? Once you determine that, then I'd get your dress and plan everything else around it. That's what we did with my daughter's wedding. You may email me for more specifics if you like - we did most of it ourselves, and we did it in 6 months. :)

Answer 10

Oh yeah, start now! You have no idea how many details are going to pop up. Church, hall, DJ/band, florist, then your dress, fittings, bridesmaids dresses and getting them all in for fittings, picking out tux rentals and getting them in for sizing, picking out invitations, favors for guests, decorations for the hall, gifts for the wedding party, programs, the wedding cake, a photographer, etc...

Then you have to find people to remove flowers from the church (or donate some to the church), host and hostess, how much champagne to buy if you're having it, picking your songs, where or how will your hair be done the day of, jewelry for the bridesmaids, etc...

Now, be prepared for the inevitable...bridesmaids and groomsmen who can't make it in to fitting, can't make a rehearsal dinner, the printer screwed up the invites, the mothers bicker, the dresses are backordered, people try to convince you to change things you've already set.

Trust me, you will never be so glad to get that day out of your way. My suggestion is buy legal pads and just start making lists of anything and everything you think of. You'll find them very helpful.

Best wishes hon! Congrats!

Answer 11

There are many web sites &/or books to help you get started. Depending on the size & style of wedding you intend on having you need to start thinking about booking your church, reception hall, Officiant, florist. Your first choices may already be booked which will send you in search of others. It's really never too early.

I already have dates for August 2007, booked.