How to Organize your Wedding Planning

Whether you have jumped aboard the Wedding Coordinator train or not (or maybe you are still thinking about it), here is a great way to organize what needs to be done and when.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• To keep this article on hand. Use it as a checklist!
• To include your significant other in the planning.
• The knowledge that this is YOUR wedding. This is not about other people and their wants.
• Patience. Rome wasn't built in a day.

1. ASAP you need to choose (and book) your LOCATION! Remember that old saying, "Location, Location, Location"? Well, it's true. Wedding locations book up months, sometimes YEARS, in advance. Not only do you need a venue to host the event, but the location will end up determining what TYPE of wedding you will have (formal, casual, elegant, fun, etc.).
2. Next, consider hiring a Wedding Consultant. If you're lucky, the venue you choose will already have one to assist you. Wedding Consultants are great for taking on the stress and organization of the planning. He/She makes sure that you get EXACTLY what you want on your big day without the planning affecting your current reality (work, family, etc.). Try to give your Consultant at least six months to plan your wedding; it can be done in a shorter period of time, but depending on your wants/needs, six months is a good, safe timetable to work with.
3. Budget -- the budget should really be the first thing planned, but since I know it is usually tweaked along the way (especially after choosing your location, wedding consultant, etc.), I placed it here. At this point though, you and whomever else is assisting with the planning and payment of the wedding should sit down and write out a solid budget. Weddings, on average today, are around $30k when it is all said and done; now, that is the whole dog and pony show. A wedding CAN be planned on a more modest budget (for example, my very elegant yet smallish wedding was less than $15k). It's all about what you want, where you want it and what time of year you want it on.
4. Six Months to Go:
   - Prepare your guest list.
   - Choose your wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, flowergirl, Maid of Honor, Best Man, etc.)
   - Order your gown, veil, etc., as well as the gowns of your wedding party. The average wedding dress takes 3-6 months to have made. Again, this depends on what designer you have in mind.
   - Register for gifts. Have fun with it, and do not forget to include your fiance!
5. Five Months to Go:
   - Book your florist and lighting company (if needed)
   - Reserve the Rehearsal Dinner Location
6. Four Months to Go:
   - Order wedding announcements, invitations, thank you cards, etc.
   - Decide on and order your flowers
   - Reserve any rentals you may need like linens, tables, chairs, dishes, etc.
   - Book your Music and Photography/Videography
7. Three Months to Go:
   - Start thinking about the honeymoon, your vaccinations, passports, wedding night reservations, etc.
   - Proof invitations
   - Book your Officiant, start planning the ceremony together
   - Order Wedding Cake
   - Schedule a food tasting after creating your menu(s)
   - Schedule a dress fitting (don't you like how I put this one AFTER the food? Ha Ha.)
   - Order the Suits/Tuxedos for the Groom and his Groomsmen
8. Two Months to Go:
   - Book the honeymoon
   - Purchase wedding rings, favors and/or other gifts
   - Send invitations (eight weeks prior to the wedding is ample time, but do not wait less than six weeks before the wedding) and start keeping a tally of your response cards
   - Create a seating chart
   - Order seating/place cards
9. One Month to Go:
   - Check on the requirements on your marriage license
   - Finish up any ceremony planning with your Officiant
   - Order transportation (if needed)
   - Finish planning with your Photographer/Videographer (provide them
   with a shot list)
   - Decide what to do about your hair and makeup
   - Finish all music selections, menu finalizations, floral decisions, etc.
   ** It is time to wrap it all up! **
10. Wedding Month:
    - Final dress fitting
    - Final headcount of guests, finalize seating
    - Confirm all vendors
    - Create a wedding day schedule

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to read your contracts CAREFULLY! For example, your venue will state how long you have before the ceremony to get ready and/or how long you have to party at the reception. Do not be afraid to ask questions -- leave no stone unturned! This tip will save you money and frustration.
• Do not forget to periodically follow-up with your vendors. They get busy, too!
• When on a tight budget, decide on the two or three things you are willing to go all out on, and then try to compromise on/negotiate the rest.
• Do not let yourself get bogged down -- this is supposed to be fun! Remember, do not try to please everyone; this wedding is about you and your fiance.
• There is so much to be said about how to organize the months before your wedding. Please note that not EVERYTHING is included in the article (e.g. purchasing a guest book, book hotels for the occasion, sending save-the-date cards, etc.), but I strove to include all the major elements that the majority of weddings would entail.