The A to Z of Wedding Planning

Effective wedding planning is the keystone to any wedding, so if you need some help to get started then take a look through this simple A to Z checklist.

A is for Alcohol – If your budget allows then treat your guests to champagne for the toasts & wine for the wedding breakfast. Don’t forget those guests who don’t drink alcohol & make sure you have a nice alternative for them.

B is for Breakfast – Never skip breakfast on your wedding day. You will go a long time before you eat again so make sure you have something nutritious to keep you going & to calm your nerves.

C is for Cosmetics – Choose the best cosmetics for your outfit & which make you feel comfortable. Don’t wear more make up then you would do usually & don’t be pushed into buying expensive products by the consultants on the beauty counters in your local store.

D is for Dress – Your wedding dress is the bit you will be most excited about & the bit that your guests will be eager to see. Stick to a style that is flattering to you & do not be tempted to go over the top to impress.

E is for Entertainment – The majority of wedding receptions are followed by an evening party, so keep your guests entertained with a great DJ, live band or some other act.

F is for Family – If you have family members joining you for your big day that you haven’t seen in a while, make sure you make time to talk to them during the wedding day.

G is for Gifts – Put together a gift registry with a wide choice of items & a wide price range to fit every guest’s budget.

H is for Honeymoon – Make sure you look out for special deals with travel agents & book it early to avoid any disappointment, particularly in the high season.

I for Invites – Get these sent out at least six weeks before the wedding day so your guests have time to respond. Don’t forget to put on them the basic information about your wedding including location, date & time!

J is for Jewelry -Choose simple pieces that will compliment & not compete with your wedding dress.

K is for Kind Advice – Take on board any advice family members may try to give you, but keep in mind that is your wedding & you should have what you want.

L is for Laughter – Stay relaxed, remember to smile & laugh. If you are happy then your guests are happy too!

M is for Money – Your wedding budget is vital to the success of your wedding planning, so decide on what you can realistically afford to spend & stick to it. You do not want to start married life in debt.

N is for Nails – You will showing off your new wedding ring a lot over the course of the day & no doubt will have to pose for photographs. So make sure your nails & hands are looking in the best shape possible.

O is for Organization – Proper planning & clever organization is the key to a successful wedding.

P is for Photographer – Ask to see previous work when looking at photographers & make sure you get a written quote before you book.

Q is for Qualms – Many people will have a few qualms about the wedding before the day itself. It is quite normal & if you are really worried then talk with a close friend or relative about your fears.

R is for Reception – this is the part of the day that most people will look forward to. Take some time to choose the right venue & wedding breakfast. Ask for a written statement of everything the venue will provide you along with the total cost before you book.

S is for Speech – Is traditional for the male members of the wedding party to make the speeches, but many brides are getting in on the act as well these days. If your feel comfortable making a speech then by all means do so & use notes if you need to.

T is for Transport – Everyone will need to get to the church & then on to the reception, so you will need to make arrangements for this. Again when you approach hire companies get a written quote first.

U is for Underwear – Your wedding lingerie is vital to your comfort & the look & fit of your wedding dress.

V is for Vows – A tradition that hasn’t gone out of fashion is wedding vows. Some will choose traditional ones whilst others will write their own.

W is for Wedding Rings – You can choose from a variety of materials for your wedding rings including the traditional band of gold. If you want something more unique & personal, look for a jeweler who will design & make some for you.

X is for Kisses – Include some lip balm in your bridal handbag as you will be dishing out & receiving a lot of kisses throughout the day!

Y is for why? – Try to find some time alone together after the ceremony so you can have a few moments of contemplation together.

Z is for Zzzz – Recent reports suggest that nearly a third of all newly weds fall straight to sleep on their wedding nights. Ah well, you’ve got the rest of your lives.

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About The Author

Mae Andrea is a professional writer who collects wedding favors and wedding related articles. She is working with a wedding planning social networking company that caters to all the wedding needs of brides in almost every major center in America.

10 Easy Ways To Involve Your Fiance in Wedding Planning

He’s popped the question. You’ve chosen a date. And now, you’re swimming in a sea of euphoria with no horizons. Good thing, too, because there are literally a thousand things to arrange before the big day.

You do the research, buckle under and dive in. But you find your fiancé’s ardor for the event itself seems to have cooled. It’s not that he isn’t mad about marrying you; after all, he is a great guy, even if he can’t tell a Vera Wang from a Gunny Sack. It’s that his preparation style is hands-off, to say the least. And planning a wedding isn’t a job built for one.

So what to do? Here are ten ways to involve him without increasing both of your stress loads:

1) Delegate areas that have a prayer of interesting him.
The worst thing you can do is expect him to match your ten to twenty years of feminine wisdom on the relative merits of buttercream vs. fondant.

Here are some probable no areas when roping in a reluctant wedding planner:

• Selecting the cake frosting

• Choosing the favors or favor packaging

• Selecting the wedding colors or floral arrangements

Then there are the potential maybes, fraught with fewer hazards:

• Choosing the photographer

• Choosing the videographer

• Arranging the rehearsal dinner

• Arranging the all-inclusive honeymoon

• Renting big, tricky items like outdoor tents

These are probable yeses, well worth running by your guy:

• Selecting the DJ or the band

• Setting up and maintaining your wedding website

• Researching and selecting charities, if you choose to donate instead of giving out favors

• Setting up the carriage, limo or other transportation arrangements

2) If you ask him to help you choose vendors and styles, narrow down the choices first.
It’s a jungle of options out there, enough to give the most natural-born party planner pause. So if you want his opinion on photographers, invites, flowers or cakes, narrow down the options to three or four. He’s less likely to feel overwhelmed, and more likely to feel like an important part of the process.

At times, it’ll feel so good to share the load that you’ll be tempted to drag him into the buttercream debate despite your better instincts. At these times, take a deep breath, count to ten, and call your mother or your maid of honor.

3) Ask him directly for help.
Let him know how important his input is to you, and that you can’t do it without him.

Guys like to be needed. Your frank request for help may be enough to pull him out of his comfort zone and onto your team.

4) Try the Art Director/Production Staff approach.
If you think your guy wants to help, but feels uncomfortable playing “art director,” give him “production staff” tasks. Have him make the payments, pick up the food or decor, handle the rentals, do online comparison shopping, or reserve the hotels and reception halls. These are all jobs that will take a load off your shoulders, while freeing up time for the aesthetic stuff you probably enjoy and he doesn’t.

5) Get a calendar and put all the planning in black and white.
Your fiancé probably doesn’t have the first clue in what goes into a wedding.

Get your wedding planner, write it all down, and show him. Once he gets over the shock, you’ll both probably be able to identify areas that interest him. Make lists of the things you’ve each agreed to do, and cross them off as they get done. At the very least, he’ll be far more supportive when he sees what you’re going through.

6) Weave his family heritage/ethnicity/traditions into the ceremony.
What did his parents do? He might be surprised at the question, but it could lead somewhere valuable. He might ask his parents about their wedding, and find your wedding consequently enriched. Look through their wedding album together. Are his ancestors German, Polish, Italian, Croatian, Asian? Incorporate some old-world traditions into your ceremony.

7) Don’t bring him in too early.
Treat your fiance as a bit of a pinch hitter. Sure, you may be fully aware that you can shave 5K off your costs by starting your favor crafts and reservations 18 months ahead of time. But if he’s like most guys, the wedding won’t become real to him until it draws closer. Expect him to jump in about six months before the actual ceremony, and break into a (relative) frenzy of activity about one month in advance.

Talk about something besides the wedding.
Guys aren’t the only ones who complain about brides-to-be talking of nothing but upcoming nuptials. Sometimes, even girlfriends get overwhelmed by all the wedding chatter.

Spend some time alone chatting about anything but the wedding. See a silly movie, split a hot fudge sundae, or watch a basketball game. Do something spontaneous that reminds you both of why you decided to marry in the first place.

9) Check your subtext for hidden meanings.
Tempting as it might be, make sure you’re not using your fiance as a coin-toss tool (ever noticed how people flip coins to find out what they really want?). When you ask for his opinion, take it seriously. And when you give him ownership of a task, don’t second-guess every step.

Imagine that your fiancé has told you he’s going to draft a dream team in his fantasy football league, and it’s going to cost him $20K to participate. Now imagine that he’s told you your help is supremely important to him.

You’d be a little hesitant to give opinions, right? Some of your ideas might sound feeble, even to your own ears. Hopefully he’d welcome your thoughts, however odd it felt for you to venture them. Now imagine your fiancé feels kind of like that when it comes to the wedding.

10) Remember that men become wedding experts by having one.
Chances are, your sweetheart will open his eyes to the wonder of a wedding by the time the rose petals are tossed. Forever after, he’ll be examining friend’s receptions with a practiced eye, and anticipating the next excuse for a Really Big Shindig.

So keep him around, and count on throwing a first-rate anniversary celebration ten years down the road. In a way, that’ll be the party that really matters, won’t it?

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Blake Kritzberg is editor of FavorIdeas. Stop by for continually-updated celebrity wedding news, remarkable beach wedding favors, exclusive hairstyling articles and gorgeous and unique wedding favors.