I'm planning on having a wedding ceremony April 5, 2008. When’s a good time to start planning?

Question

Also I’m already married, me and my husband went to the JP and get married, but I really wanted to have a church ceremony. So it’s really not a wedding but more of an exchanging of vowels. We will still have a reception and all that.

My little sister is getting married July 8th and I didn’t want to start to plan anything because I didn’t want to over shadow her. As matter of fact we kinda kept it a secret from a few people because I wanted her to have her big day.

Now with all that said I’ve seen every possible thing that could go wrong …go wrong. I know you can never really plan a perfect day but I want to come as close as possible. And I was just wondering when is the best time to start to plan. What should I plan first?

Answer 1

These are good questions as I am in the same boat, kinda. My sister has been engaged for three years and is getting married July 19, 2008. I met my fiance last year and we want to get married next year also. I am doing the same thing in keeping it quiet and not as big because I don't want to take away my sister's big day. I think that is the best thing you could do so there is not a lot of drama in the family, especially with two girls in the family and everything.

The best thing to start off is with the church. Find out their requirements (e.g. the dress style...some churches are a little strict with certain types of dresses) and then find a close reception hall. Find out if they have their own caterer or of anyone they suggest. After you have selected the places, it is appropriate to select the wedding gown, colors, and brides maids' dresses. After that, I would suggest finding a photographer and any other thing you desire at your wedding. Hope this helps. :) Good luck with your wedding!

Answer 2

NOW!

Don't worry about overshadowing your sis! In fact work with her and you may be able to get combined discounts for using the same vendors. Swear her to secrecy if you dont want anyone else to know-better yet talk to her to ask how she feels about this idea. If its a problem then plan in secret but by all means plan. The fact of the matter is that your ceremony could overshadow hers unless you change the date to be after her ceremony-no matter what some folks will compare so dont worry about that.

Since you know the date-get to it:

-Pick a color theme and style-sounds like your style is done jut need to pick colors

-Set a tentative date for related events (bridal shower, girls last get together, bachelor party, rehearsals, rehearsal dinner, family meet and greet, etc) even if only you know it, this helps when you try to get pricing for various things

-Start looking for a wedding dress; they take a while to come back and you would rather have it early.

-Look at bridesmaids dresses, the earlier you can ask them and have it picked the longer they will have to pay and for alterations to be made. try to pick a dress that is flattering to all participants

-Go to tietheknot.com-They have online planners that you can use and later pull info for invites from. They can also help you register. That is something else that you can do now. It's easier to do this now when your plate is not so full. Create a budget and stick to it

-Choose locations for the ceremony and reception. Depending upon the site you may already be too late because your preferred location may already be booked.

-Shop for thank you gifts for your wedding party members

I hope this helps-feel free to email me

Answer 3

Make sure that you have a location reserved immediately. The rest of it should be able to wait until after the summer. Relax, enjoy summer and start making the serious plans in September. Anyone who is frantic enough to spend a whole year planning for 1 day really needs to take a downer. You can easily do all the planning in 6 months, at a relaxed pace. You just need to make a list of all the things you need to do, and go at it systematically. Schedule people who will provide services first (caterer, cake, location, clergy.) Keep in mind deadlines and time frames for things that need ordering (invitations, custom napkins, things like that) And make sure you have your dress at least a couple months in advance in case it needs altering. Most of all stay relaxed and try to enjoy the preparations. Don't let your preparations get you crazy. If you do, there will be this incredible pressure for the wedding day itself to be "the most wonderful day of your life". It won't be. It's really just a big party and celebration with your friends and family. Treat it like that, and you should have a great time. Congratulations!

Answer 4

I'm planning one for May 31, 2008. I already have the location, the caterer, the dress, the bridesmaid dresses, and the dj. You can start planning without telling anyone till after your sister's wedding. You can even tell her that her wedding was so beautiful it inspired you to have one of your own.

Some vendors you have to start early because they can only do one thing at a time. I'm following theknot.com's checklist of what needs to be done when. Most bridal magazines also have a timeline of what to do when. But you should definitely get the ceremony and reception locations now, they can only do one wedding at time so they book up quickly.

Answer 5

Well it is now less than a year away, so I would start now. I have been planning mine now for almost 2 years and there have been times when I just put it aside and say WHOA.. Break Time... So I guess if you average up the time I really did spend on planning and getting everything together I guess it would be around a year.. I think that is about the most adequate time.. I dont think that there is really any need to plan and plan and plan...

The minium I would start though would be 6 mths.... That gives you enough time for getting every thing together and work out kinks that may flare up... My 1st marriage it took me this long...

Guess I should of planned longer maybe I would of realized before the I do's how much of a jerk he is...lol..

Answer 6

It is never too early. I would start as soon as her wedding is over. Sometimes venues book a year or more in advance, as do caterers and other service people. The good news is that you have learned from her wedding and kind of have an idea of what went right and wrong. You can go ahead and book now and make final decisions, like for food and cake flavors and stuff, closer to the date.

Answer 7

I started mine 8 mos before the event, my wedding is now less than 2 mos away and I haven't had anything go wrong yet. I would say it depends on how detailed you plan on making everything. If you want a large bash w/ all the trimmings then start now, it you are looking for a small ceremony w/ close friends and family then you can wait until next year to start.
Also take in to consideration how organized you are, if you are a procrastinator then start now!!

Answer 8

how nice of you to not want to overshadow your sister's big day, good for you! you should start planning just as soon as the dust settles from your sister's wedding. start thinking now about a potential headcount, because that will determine the size of the reception space you'll need. book your venues asap (some book a year in advance), and discuss a budget with your fiance and whoever else may be contributing. start an account with theknot.com, it's very helpful with planning and getting ideas, and you can also have your own wedding web page through it. good luck!

Answer 9

You are already married, If you want a now renewal religous ceremony, great! but make it rather subdued and not the whole sheebang, it's in poor taste to do so.

With your sisters wedding so close by your renewal cereminy date, please make your affair as simple and subdued as possible, nit only becayse it's in poor taste to have an elaborate rception/ceremony for a couple that is already married, but also, because your sister's weddingm she has the right to have all the spotlight.

If you would like to start planning an intimate, small sffair, you shoudl start by booking the chucr now.

Good luck

Answer 10

Since your sister is getting married this week, I would start planning next week. Depending on where you live it could take over a year to plan a wedding so get to it. As far as the church is concerned this is a wedding, they don't usually recognize civil ceremonies. However, you won't need to get another marriage license. Talk to the priest you want to marry you.