Planning Your Wedding - Preplanning

There are hundreds of expectations placed on brides. Starting with the dress and ending with what color tablecloth she needs to choose. A wedding planner can help to sort out all the details, but there are a few things you should think about before you meet with a professional.

How many people are you planning to invite?

The number of guests affects everything from the number of invitations you need to print, to the size of the rooms you'll need to rent, to the size of the cake. Set a limit early and whittle your guest lists away until you meet that limit.

Do you want a formal, semi-formal, or informal event?

Formal events are black or white tie events. Men are expected to wear a tux or a formal suit. Women are expected to wear a full-length dress or ball-gown. (A lady's tux would also be acceptable.)

Semi-Formal events require men to wear a suit and women to wear a dress. Semi-formal dresses can be cocktail or tea-length. Business clothing is acceptable at semi-formal events. Afternoon semi-formal events are usually business wear events.

Informal events can range from business casual to cut-offs and bathing suits. If you're holding your wedding on a ranch, you might tell guests to come in cowboy gear. If you're holding the wedding near the ocean, you might tell them to come in beach-gear.

What is your budget?

No one likes to talk about money, but in wedding planning budgets are a *must*. Weddings can cost anywhere from $500 to $500,000. Decide early on a target number. Talk about this with your significant other. It's a necessary evil. If you're commited to spending several thousand on the flowers and your mate is just a determined to spend it on the band, there will be fights.

Will you have attendents?

Attendents (also called bridesmaids, groomsmen, or witnesses) stand by the bride and groom. It is commonly accepted that the bride and groom will each have at least one attendent. Not only do the attendents provide moral support, but during the ceremony, they play a supporting role it drama. For instance, the Maid of Honor holds the bride's bouquet and makes sure her train and veil don't trip her up. The Best Man holds the rings and passes them to the pastor or groom at the appropriate time. The number of attendents will play a part in your budget and the look of your ceremony and reception.

What is Fondant?

Fondant is the very smooth frosting you see on many wedding cakes. It is rolled out in a sheet and draped over the cake. The cake is usually frosted with buttercream below the fondant. While you can eat fondant, most people don't care for the taste and will eat around it. Fondant is necessary for any design that's meant to look like fabric or needs to be very smooth. It's more expensive than buttercream due to the time and skill necessary to make it and drape it properly.

What is Buttercream?

Buttercream is the soft piped icing that you find on most store-bought birthday cakes and sheet cakes. It can be used to make simple flowers, basket weaves, and other traditional decorations. The cake in the picture above is a buttercream decorated cake. It's usually a less expensive option than fondant.

What sort of Non-Traditional "cakes" are there?

Non-traditional cakes are growing in popularity. These range from individually sized cakes for the guests, to Krispy Kreme donut cakes. Twinkie cakes, cookie "cakes", and cupcakes are all options. It all depends on the size and formality of your event.

What kind of flowers should I use?

While you can get almost any flower any time of the year, you will pay a premium for flowers that are out of season. Shop around to find a florist who who has good prices and a passion for the job.

If you're looking at a winter wedding, look for greens like holly and consider using silk flowers. The newer flowers look incredibly realistic and will last.

If your wedding is in the summer and outside, beware of using flowers that aren't sturdy. Lilies and tropicals are a better bet for the summer months.

Spring weddings have the widest range of flowers available. Spring flowers don't need to be as sturdy as summer or winter flowers. Most flowers will be in season as well, so the costs won't be as extreme.

Fall weddings can open up a range of colors and textures that you don't find in other seasons. Autumn leaves, wheat, and grasses can be woven into a fall bouquet and accented with deep red and orange flowers.

In the end, most florists will be able to find any flower you want. You will pay a premium for out-of-season or high-demand flowers. Roses are always expensive, but the demand skyrockets around Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. Flowers in May, June, and July will be more expensive because these months are the high season for weddings.