What To Do When You're Engaged

Planning a wedding can be some of the happiest time of your life, but where do you start?  Here’s some tips to get you moving in the right direction:

Shortly After the Big Announcement

• As you begin to have ideas about the wedding, sit down with both families to formulate a budget. Remember, parents who planned their wedding twenty or thirty years ago can be surprised by today’s costs. Expect to be flexible.
• Decide on a date that works for both families and your work schedules.  Be aware of family birthdays, anniversaries or annual events that may cause a conflict.

12 to 18 Months Prior to the Wedding

• Begin visiting venues!  Peak dates go quickly, so if you have your heart set on a Saturday in June, lock in your venue early.
• If you are using a wedding planner, begin interviewing now.  They can help you with the decisions to follow.
• Visit bridal shows, the Internet, and look in current magazines or directories for ideas for your wedding day.

9 to 18 Months Prior

• Hire the photographer, caterer, videographer, officiant, and DJ. Prime dates book quickly, as do good vendors. The earlier you book, the better chance you’ll secure your first choice vendors.
• Begin looking at wedding dresses.  If you are considering a custom designed dress, you’ll want to leave plenty of time for it to be prepared.
• Schedule your engagement session with your photographer.

6 to 9 Months Prior

• Bridal party dresses should be ordered, save-the-dates mailed, overnight accommodations reserved for wedding guests.
• Order your wedding cake, flowers and transportation for the wedding and reception.

4 to 6 Months Prior

• Reserve rehearsal dinner location, establish bridal registries, rent tuxedos, order wedding invitations, reserve necessary rental equipment.

2 to 4 Months Prior

• Book your honeymoon and secure arrangements for wedding night accommodations.
• Schedule appointments for hair, makeup, facials, massages and spa treatments
• Order reception favors
• Begin dance lessons if you want a choreographed first dance

2 Months Prior

• Mail wedding invitations
• Verify requirement for marriage license
• Purchase bridal party gifts
• Create ceremony program

Final 6 Weeks 

• Confirm all vendors, finalize food and beverage choices with your caterer or reception site. Schedule a final dress fitting (tuxes for the gentlemen) and plan seating arrangements for your reception.
• Establish a timeline for the wedding day.
• Select songs for your ceremony and special dances
• Schedule a consultation for your hair and makeup.  Many brides do a “dress rehearsal” to make sure they like the look.

Week of Your Wedding 

• Confirm timeline and desired shot list with your photographer and videographer
• Discuss song selections with your wedding DJ
• Get plenty of sleep and practice good nutrition
• Relax!  It’s almost time for the big day!

Click here to get started!

Click for Pinspiration.

Email us or call 248-689-0777

Become a Facebook fan.

How To Organize Wedding Plans

While wedding planning should be enjoyable, it comes with its fair share of stress too.  One of the main sources of that stress can often be traced back to organization – or lack of.  Use these tips to stay organized from “yes” to “I do”.

Get Organized!  Appointment books, smart calendars and bridal planners are essential for a busy professional.  Block out time for planning and prioritize what you will do when.  If you need to speak with wedding professionals during the day, block out time during your lunch, commutes and during any downtime you have during the day.  Color coding between professional and personal engagements will help you to better visualize how your time will be spent. For a copy of Metro Detroit’s ultimate wedding planner, click here.

Some things to include in your binder:

• Checklists
• Planning Calendar
• Budget
• Receipts and Contracts
• Fabric Swatches
• Contact List
• Inspiration Photos

Go With What You Know!  Do you use google docs and calendars to keep track of your daily tasks and important notes?  Color code project files at work?  Whatever method you are accustomed to using daily will work well for you as you plan your wedding.

Multitask!  It would never be a good idea to address your wedding invitations during a department meeting, but you can do that during your lunch hour.  Look for little pieces of time you can claim for simple tasks that won’t interfere with your work duties.

Create A Wedding Day Plan!  You, and everyone involved in the success of your wedding plan, will be much happier with a wedding day plan.  Your master agenda will give everyone the information they need to complete, as well as an overview of the entire day.  Some things to include on your wedding day plan include:

• Vendor set up schedule
• Wedding party appointment times and locations
• Photography plan
• Start times for wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner service
• Schedule of events for master of ceremonies
• Vendor breakdown times
• End of the night tasks

Make A List, Check It Twice!  You can settle your week of the wedding nerves by taking one last look at your planning notes and reviewing the last minute details. You can see the finish line; all of the major decisions have been made, the details finalized and the anticipation builds.  Here are a few things to remember as the big day approaches.  

• Review all contracts and check for changes
• Complete final calls with vendors
• Add setup, start times and cell phone numbers to the agenda
• Distribute agenda to everyone involved in wedding day

We offer appointments that fit your schedule.  Click here to learn more.

Email us or call (248) 689-0777.

Become a Facebook fan.