What are the steps to planning a wedding for someone else?

Question

My aunt is getting marry in July. Besides me, there will someone else I am going to be working with to plan the wedding. I want to do some research and contribution. The reason why I am being asked to plan the weeding is because I am studying as an interior design and it will help me learn more than just drafting a floor plan.

Answer 1

The first you need is to know the budget. I suggest going to www.weddingchannel.com and using their free wedding calculator to find out exactly how much money is to be spent where.

The next thing you need to a good timeline. I suggest the one in the back of Martha Stewart Weddings. Follow that timeline as your law and try to go "ahead" whenever possible. Don't leave anything to the last minute or to chance.

Have your aunt state very clearly what her vision is and write it down.
Decide date and time. Then the size.
Find a ceremony/reception facility. (ask the venue for other vendor recommendations)
Contact a florist.
Find a photography.
Select the DJ.
Order her dress.

Once those key features are handled, everything else will fall into place. When the big day comes, make a day of timeline and a list of vendors to "hassle." My best advice is to use your time wisely and understand clearly what her vision is.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

1.Assessing how much is willing to be spent with some estimate including if something else needs to be substituted instead. Because if you want a simple yet elegant wedding, there won't be any need to be so extravagant, and if they have a med-high budget, than that means that they want something really fabulous
2. How many guests will be attending. This will determine the church or other facility that will be used. This will also determine how the floor plan is going to look because you're gonna need enough seating for everyone as well as if there will be a separate area or different location for the wedding.
3.Location of the wedding. Will it be in a different place where the bride and groom lives; if it's in a church or in a ballroom
4.choose wedding colors. this needs to be chosen because you want to see if the bridesmaids dresses can be ordered in the colors, the particular flowers, ribbons, and other decorations will coordinate along with the colors.
there are miscellaneous things as well such as a d.j/band, photographer, cameraman,that might be used.. but these are the main ideas/goals that need to be kept in mind, and don't forget the most important:

5.always keep a good line of communication with your client. Keep them updated on the progress, extra things to implement, or if something they want cannot be provided. it's their day, so try to keep it where it is what they want but within your ability to give them options and suggestions that can be worked out among the couple. Nothing is worse than a wedding that the couple was disappointed about. And most of all your job is to MAKE IT HAPPEN THE BEST WAY YOU CAN!!

Answer 3

You pretty much plan all weddings the same way.
You start at the beginning.
Only you are having to start at someone else's beginning with someone else's wants, expectations, likes/dislikes & budget. It's harder than planning your own.

If you need a jumping off place, email me. I have a planning list I offer my brides.

Answer 4

It's a lot of freakin work so here's your start:

1. Go to theknot.com NOW
2. Set the budget
3. Figure out where you are in your time line and get going. The big ones are church date, reception hall, and mailing out of the invitations. Then you get down to the little appointments, cake, flowers, music....I'm only repeating what you'll see on theknot so go there NOW.
4. Stay in contact with your aunt so that you are carrying out her wishes. She's lucky to have you!!!

Answer 5

If a wedding planner doesn't fit the budget start by getting ideas from the wedding magazine and go online and get pictures from designers websites on weddings they have done

Answer 6

Well..You will need to find a location for the wedding and a location for the reception if they are not going to be at the same place. You will need to pick out flowers and decorations for the ceremony and reception, bridal bouquets and bouquets for the attendants. Dresses need to be picked out...wedding cake..DJ or band for reception. You need to pick a caterer, the bride will need to have her hair and makeup done, a rehearsal dinner needs to be scheduled after you pick the bridal party. Who will be helping the bride dress the day of the wedding? You will need a wedding photographer, wedding favors, linens, chair rentals, etc.

Answer 7

The first step for you is to buy the Wedding Solutions Organizer from Barnes & Noble. www.bn.com It comes with checklists, timelines, etc. It is a lifesaver!

The bride and groom need to decide on a budget.

Answer 8

Do you have a color pallet or a theme? Then you can start exploring start with one of those and that will inspire you. Martha stewart weddings magazine helped me. I'm doing my friends wedding in June and I completely sold her on the Lilac and Chocolate Brown theme of her latest issue. I thought it sounded gross but once you look at it you will be surprised how nice those colors look good together.

Answer 9

you need a lot of things to do or to know like:

1. no. of guest
2. invitation
3. giveaway
4. DJ
5. hall/hotel (for the reception)
6. florist
7. photographer/videorapher
8. short program for the reception
9. garden/nice place (for the pictorial)

* talk to your aunt how she would like the wedding like what color she wants (motif).. then canvass or go to a different stores that you think you can find a cheapest but nicest things for the wedding ***

Answer 10

Step 1 MONEY.....
I am planning my wedding and my friend wanted me to help with hers but what she didn't understand was that it all depends on your budget. You really need to know what your going to spend it makes a huge difference.
My wedding $20,000
My friends wedding $3,000

You really need to know what your working with... my flowers were $1,000 of my budget were as my friend can really only spend a couple hundred if that.