Wedding Planning Made Easy

He's popped the question, you've accepted. What's next? It's time to set the date. Friends and relatives will be anxious to know your plans. It's possible to plan a wedding in a month, it's possible to take a year and half and it's possible to remain engaged for five years before setting the date (though I wouldn't recommend this). However, before any planning can commence, you must sit down and set the date. Here are some tips to help narrow down the 52 plus weekends that lay before you!

1) Consider the weather. If you live in or plan to marry in a place with inclement weather, seasons will be a big factor in your decision. Do you dream of a picturesque New England fall wedding? Do you loathe the idea of traipsing through snow in a wedding gown? Or do you simply want to get married outdoors in Miami without having your guests melt? Thinking about how the weather could effect your event will help you to narrow your options.

2) Make a list of important guests and check their schedules. You don't need to do your entire guest list to know that there are certain people without whom your wedding would seem incomplete. Check their schedules. Ask them about birthdays, trips or other plans within the next year. More likely than not, there will be some conflicts and if you're aware of them early on, you will be able to work around them.

3) Think about venues. Have you always dreamed of getting married at the Plaza? Or is the winery where your husband proposed your ideal spot? If you are desirous of a venue that is commonly rented for weddings or other events (be it for ceremonies or receptions), know they book up quickly-often times more than a year in advance.

4) Talk to potential vendors. It is likely too early to know every vendor you want to use, but think back to other weddings you've attended. Was there a band that you loved? Does one of your friends have an amazing wedding album? Like venues, wedding vendors can also book up more than a year in advance. If there is a vendor who is of particular importance to you, check with him or her before you lock in your date.

5) What about budget? While budgeting will be an obvious factor in making most wedding related decisions, it can more subtly affect your date. Getting married on a Sunday is cheaper than a Saturday, and Fridays are often the cheapest. However, if you are considering an off-weekend date, keep in mind that it could affect the tone of your wedding. Friday night and Sunday weddings are often tamer than their Saturday counterparts.

6) Check local resources for potential conflicts. Think you've found a date? One of the last steps before locking that date is to check local resources (newspapers, websites, etc) to determine that there are no other major events that day. Do you want your guests fighting traffic because of a road race? Do you want out of town guests competing for hotel rooms? This simple, seemingly extra step can save you and your guests a lot of hassle down the road.

While picking a date can seem overwhelming at first, go through these steps and the ideal date will likely present itself. Once your date is locked, the rest of the fun can begin!

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Your Wedding Day will always be special, but how do you make it something "no one will ever forget?" Have a beautiful theme wedding, choose a romantic wedding on a beach or a beautiful sunset wedding.

Below you will find 10 of the best wedding themes we could find. Hope it is the most memorable event of your life.

Beach Wedding themes conjure up romantic thoughts of a fairy tale wedding. The gorgeous colors of the sunset dipping below the horizon; glistening rays of the rising sun over the water in the early morning hours, they all create their own beautiful pictures in our minds, and make a most mesmerizing wedding for all who witness it.. The feeling of freedom and peace that most of us feel while on a beach with the water stretching out before us is exhilarating. No wonder beach theme weddings are so popular.

Garden Wedding Share the budding romance you both share, show your guest the light you bring into each others lives. The best season of course to have your stunning garden wedding would be either spring or early summer. The flowers are in bloom, and you have beautiful, lush green landscaping just about everywhere. You can have the wedding right in your own backyard, or look for a traditional English style garden, a horticultural center, or a country estate home with exquisite gardens to host your event. While an outdoor wedding is always beautiful, you might want to consider renting tents to use for shelter in the event of a bit of liquid sunshine falling during your festivities.

Las Vegas Themed Wedding Las Vegas...full of energy and flair! Bring the flamboyance of Vegas to your wedding with lavish Vegas decorations or simple Vegas favors like chips or dice. Add pizzazz to your reception with roulette wheels or craps tables, just to give it the feel of being in Las Vegas. Any way you look at it, your wedding will be exciting and memorable.

Italian Themed Wedding The most important part of any Italian wedding is the food. A good Italy, wedding will boast as many as 14 courses, accompanied by wine, cocktails, and various coffee drinks. And most Italian weddings include the whole family, down to the youngest children. If you want this type of affair, consider looking into large banquet halls, Italian restaurants with banquet facilities, or you can choose an outdoor location with plenty of room for tables and dancing.

Black and White Themed Wedding A classical black and white wedding theme is still a very popular choice among couples. Simple, yet sophisticated, this theme is fairly simple to plan. Combining shades, textures, and prints with the essence of black and white, will leave your guests with the sense that your event was a truly sophisticated experience.

Sports themed wedding is a great choice for sports lover as it expresses the passion and love for the game. It can be a lot of fun to hold a sports wedding theme. It is best to choose a single sport as a theme for the wedding. One can keep the wedding classy and happening by incorporating a sports theme into wedding.

Asian themed weddings are on the rise as couples are choosing innovative ideas to celebrate their wedding. The couple don't have to be Asian to enjoy the taste of Asian themed wedding and often couples are choosing this theme for purely aesthetic reason. There are two main types of Asian themed wedding including the elaborate and colorful Chinese style celebrations and the simple Japanese or "Zen" style weddings.

Hawaiian themed wedding is one of the popular choice among couples. It is a perfect theme for the dream wedding. Hawaiian themed wedding will be a splendid memory for the couple as well as the guests. Hawaii is known to have a laid-back and casual attitude and this should reflect in Hawaiian themed wedding.

Fairytale themed wedding Every woman dreams of a fairytale wedding from the time they are very young, but if you really want a Fairytale themed wedding you need to think, glass slipper, horse drawn carriage and beautiful wedding gowns fit for a fairytale princess.

Winter Wonderland themed wedding It is a normal tradition to get married in the hot months of summers. However, there are many couples who wish to exchange their vows in winter. Starting the married life in the snow covered part of the year is really exciting. The winter wonderland themed wedding creates magic and charm in the environment and leaves a long lasting impression to all the guests.

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My best friend has a dilemma: she is engaged, moving forward with the planning, but hates the idea of registering. She doesn't feel like it is appropriate to imply that her guests have to buy her something and more than that, she finds it rude to tell them what to buy. Although my friend has never had a problem making a Christmas list, I can understand her predicament. There is something different asking your friends, your colleagues and your parents' friends to buy you stuff. While there are no rules for wedding gifts per se, I do think that registering is an aspect of wedding planning that shouldn't be overlooked. Here are some things to keep in mind when debating whether or not to register:

1. Why register? Chances are not everyone coming to your wedding will know you and your fiancé extremely well. Registering will give your guests a sense of your taste and style. Even if they don't ultimately choose something off your registry, they will at least have a guide as to whether your tastes are traditional or modern and whether you are a chef or prefer decorating items. Help your guests by narrowing their choices. Trust me, they will appreciate the optional ease of buying a gift off a list.

2. Register in a broad range of prices. You never know how much a guest will want to spend on a gift and chances are, your guests will run the gambit. For my wedding, we had some guests spend as much as $1000 on a gift or conversely as little as $20. Having a range on your registry gives your guests options and let's your guests know that you are not marrying simply for the loot.

3. Be respectful of your guests. Weddings are about setting up your home, not about your favorite hobbies. You may be dying for a new state of the art road bike, but now is not the time to ask for one. Getting married is about setting up a new life, a new family and a new household. Let your guests know you understand that by choosing items that reflect this idea.

4. Register for a honeymoon. Are you more interested in a trip to China than in china patterns? There are a variety of websites that allow you to build a honeymoon registry. On these sites, you can breakdown different aspects of your trip and people can purchase them for you. For example, my friends Ryan and Kara planned a honeymoon to Italy. The items guests could buy them ranged from gelato on the Spanish Steps ($5) to massages at a spa in Capri $200). When they participated in an activity that was purchased for them, they snapped a picture and sent it as a thank you note to the purchaser letting the purchaser see for themselves how much they enjoyed their gift. These sites are essentially fancy ways of registering for cash and you should be aware that these sites generally make their money by taking a percentage of the total amount of money you are given.

5. Have everything you need? Consider a charity registry. Most organizations will let you set up a fund directly with them or you can register through a broader site such as www.justgive.org or www.give.org.

There are plenty of options for registries. Whether you want help paying for a honeymoon, plan to give to charity or are more traditional, having a registry will be helpful to your guests. As long as you are not mature and thoughtful with your selections, your guests will likely appreciate the guidance.

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If you're anything like me, you get obsessed. And how can you not when planning a wedding? There are hundreds of decisions to be made from large to small; from how you want your napkins folded to whether your great aunt is seated next to the band or the bar. Its easy to get obsessed, and let's face it, sometimes obsessing can be fun. However, over the course of your planning, it's important to take some breaks. Otherwise, you will likely become a bridezilla worthy of destroying Tokyo! Here are some things to keep in mind to help you keep your sanity:

1. Put a moratorium on wedding talk for at least one night a week. It's easy to slip it in. You're out to dinner and you see a napkin fold that you love, you're walking the dog and you see a shirt that's the perfect color for your bridesmaids' dresses. Put a pin in it. Choose at least one day a week when you and your fiancé promise not to speak about your wedding. Make parents agree to it as well. It sounds easy enough, but it takes more effort than you think. However, the effort is worth it as it will help you both distress and remember that there is more to marriage than a wedding.

2. Cheat on your health routine. You want to look your best on your wedding day and you're taking every precaution to do so. However, endless dieting and exercise can take its toll. Don't overlook the occasion ice cream reward and remember to take at least one day a week off from exercise. Let your body chill out and you will reap the rewards.

3. Pamper yourself. Planning your wedding can be extremely stressful. Take some time for yourself to nourish your mind and body. If money is an issue (and let's be honest, when is it not?) try checking out a local massage school in your area. They often offer cheap massages that will leave you in a Zen like state. Likewise, giving yourself a manicure can make you feel just as wonderful as spending the money and time in a salon. Be it blocking off an hour to quietly read or indulging in a massage, you will not regret finding time to be alone with your thoughts.

4. Plan dates. It's easy to let your relationship fall into a routine when you have so many other things on your mind. Taking a few extra minutes to plan real dates with your fiancé will help continue to grow your relationship during this otherwise stressful time. There will undoubtedly be times when you argue (in fact I don't know any couples that don't have the worst fights of their relationship during their engagements), so try to remember that your relationship needs nurturing as well. Especially when the pressure is on, make the effort to get out of a pizza/TiVo routine.

As you plan your wedding, remember to keep things in perspective. There will be a lot of voices, a lot of decisions and a lot of pressure throughout the planning. Taking some time to step away from the planning is necessary and can make the whole process much more enjoyable.

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Sometimes it's the little things that matter. You know your flowers, your colors and your dress, but sometimes small touches can make your wedding truly stand out. Here are some inexpensive ways to add little touches that will warm your guests' hearts.

1. Remember the children. Do you remember how boring it was to be in an adult world? I hated it. Dressing up, sitting still and likely not having any of your friends around to play with. So what did I do? Annoy my parents. Restless children have less fun and so do their parents. However as the bride, you can put some simple activities at their table to help entertain them and make sure that everyone, old and young has a wonderful time at your wedding! My husband and I placed coloring books and some crayons at the places of our nieces and nephews (the only children in attendance). Similarly, I had a friend who placed disposable cameras at the table of all the children. She left a note asking the kids to help the photographer capture the day. With this mission in mind, the kids were fully entertained for all 6 hours.

2. The under-discussed or thought of: bathrooms. If you are getting married at a hotel or restaurant, then your bathroom will likely already be stocked. However, if you are getting married outdoors or at your house, taking the extra time to put some essentials in the bathrooms won't go unnoticed. Place a small basket with mints, combs, etc and your guests will feel more loved. Similarly, if you have to go the port-a-potty route for the wedding, your guests will feel more refined with some extra touches to dress up the facility.

3. Having an outdoor ceremony? Don't forget about people's feet. My wedding was outside on an un-manicured lawn. We warned our guests on our website that they should wear "shoes fit for a field" but since we knew that not every guest would heed our advice, we had a small basket of plastic heel savers called "Sole Mates" ready for our guests to use. The guests simply slipped these on their heels and they were saved from sinking into the dirt. The plastic casings are easily removable, so they could take them off again for a night on the dance floor. If you can't spring for Sole Mates for all of your guests, consider giving them to your bridal party. Their shoes will thank you later.

Small details can go beyond your flower choices and your napkin folds. Take sometime to think about what might make your guests extra comfortable and also, how you can infuse your style into all aspects of your day. You will quickly learn that there are fun and frugal ways to improve your event.

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We've all been there. It's your friend's day. She's pampered, she's prepped and she's in a glorious white gown. Her skin glows with that bridal radiance. Meanwhile, you and the rest of her "beasties" have been relegated to a flimsy, unflattering peach dresses that normally you would have pulled off the rack to mock endlessly. Well, now it's your turn to make that choice for your closest buddies. As soon as you ask them to be a part of your wedding, there will be one hope in the back of their minds: please, please don't make me buy an expensive, ugly dress that will simply take up space in my closet, leading me to curse your name every time I look at it. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing your bridesmaids' dresses:

1. Cost vs. quality. Let's be honest, in the world of fashion, you generally pay for what you get. With few exceptions, the cheaper the item, the less well made it is. Consider this when choosing your dresses. If given the choice, would you rather spend less on something that you will only wear once or would you rather spend a little more and have something that you can wear multiple times? There are other factors in determining whether a dress is reusable, but the quality of the product is definitely one of them. Your bridesmaids might prefer to spend a little extra to have a dress that they will wear more than once.

2. Consider going outside traditional bridesmaids dresses. Why limit yourself to bridal boutiques and made to order dresses? There are several department store designers who make gorgeous gowns that might be less expensive and more suited to your tastes. Explore all avenues before settling for a redundant dress.

3. Consider different body types. More like than not, if you have multiple bridesmaids, their body types will not be exactly the same. There are several cuts that work well for most people (particularly A-Line) however another way to go is to let your bridesmaids pick a style that flatters their body. The maids can still look uniform if you pick the color, fabric and designer, but they will likely feel more confident and comfortable in a style they have picked for themselves. I chose to go this route at my wedding and within five months, they have all worn their dresses at least once since the wedding-something that might be a new record! Keep in mind though that I went with a very basic color, so that also upped the re-wear factor.

4. They don't all have to match. Although some uniformity is nice, many brides today are giving their bridesmaids more freedom. In addition to choosing a fabric and letting your wedding party chose their own style (see above), you could also give them leniency in terms of color. Pick a designer, a fabric and a palette and let your girls decide what they want to wear. One might love pink and another blue, but having some say in what they wear will definitely make them happier.

At the end of the day, your bridesmaids do a lot for you. In addition to supporting you throughout your wedding planning, chances are these are lifelong friends and relatives who have been there for you through thick and thin. Give them the respect you wish you had been given by allowing them some freedom or input in the decision-be it in terms of color or style; or in terms of pricing. They will feel happier and more confident at your wedding and your pictures will feature not only your own glow, but the radiance of your wedding party as well.

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Amazing Wedding Planning Book by Erica Yoon

Some Shocking Facts About the Wedding Industry

#1  Often it takes less than $100 to manufacture a wedding gown that normally retails at $2000.

 #2   More than 70% of wedding vendors will price a product or service higher if the word 'wedding' is mentioned.

 #3  In 2006, the average cost of a single wedding was $27,852, which had increased by 32% since 2000

  

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