Would Like Your Help - Guide For Newbies

[DJPlus]

Have emailed it to you Jen. Let me know if it is what you were after.

[light_sabe_r]

What I've done... (in order)
Picked Wedding rings... (actually tried them on and got quoted long before the engagement ring was bought!)
Chosen the EASY bridesmaids, groomsmen... still haven't decided whether we want more...
Looked online for a dress, -
Decided on a theme. (red and asian)
Decided on CHURCH wedding (based on religious beliefs)
JOINED BEYOND THE BRIDE!!!
Organised engagement party - Kinda helps you with your guest list!
Created a database with everyone's names and addresses in it and how their related to the wedding. Made a secondary database for supplier information of stuff that I've seen and liked
Start keeping a journal/scrapbook for ideas
Started looking at venues for WEDDING, RECEPTION, PHOTOS! based on location, cost, and guest list size...
GO TO AN EXPO IF YOU CAN!!!!


What I want to do next
BUDGET - I'll have 10-15000 for the wedding when the time rolls around. I have 5000 saved now. My parents are contributing (I won't say how much) and FH is contributing and his parents will too. Figures from his side of the family haven't come in yet. My dress is NOT included in this budget as I am buying myself FOR myself.
Go to the venues we like so far... Check them out then book them!!! (DECIDE A FREAKING DATE!!!) We're still 18months to 2years out from when we'd like to get hitched so we need to do it soon.
Book Fr Peter (Family friend and old parish priest) and meet with him - Organise the "marriage" councilling that the catholic church put on.
Send out SAVE THE DATE cards/magnets...
Go and try on my dress... Order it as most places take 3months to 6months to make it (Unless I get pregnant or injured... I won't be changing shape much now I hope)
Get MOH in britain to decide on a dress. Get pictures and take other bridesmaids to get fitted here.
Get the names of my MOH's classmates (who are professional photographers) and get them to show us what they have... Book it...
Convince FH that "Even though he already owns a suit that you'll hire or BUY him one for the day so he matches in with the theme..." HELP!!!!!
Flower shopping...
Talk to hairdresser NOW about hair styles for wedding... Do I need to grow my hair?
Decide on bonbonairre, Invites,
Decide on Cake.... Although I think my Auntie and I may be the ones decorating it...
Organise transport for Bridesmaids and groomsmen... (we're using FH's Dad's Car although it's a bit stupid though if we get the venues we want... I'd rather WALK from the church to the gardens and then to the reception... It's not far... Maybe 800m???)
Organise readers, ushers, drivers(?)
help organise accomodation for family coming in from out of town...
MUSIC



Still have no idea what I'm doing though...

[lilrose]

goodness... reading all this reminds me how much there is to do... it;s so time consuming for one day but i know it's all worth it... lightsabre i feel lost too...
but we'll all get there

[Sideways Sally]

We got totally overwhelmed with all the info available so we banned the magazines, websites and all else for few days to clear our heads then sat down and made a list of things we didn't like about the weddings we'd been to. You'd be surprised what we came up with! It was a VERY VERY helpful exercise. It was, what got the groom involved, before this conversation he didn't have an opinion, the only thing he said he wanted from the day was a wife - it turns out he did have definate ideas about what a wedding day should and shouldn't include.


Next we made a list of must 'haves', things that we felt we had to have as part of our day. The non negotiables. When you've worked out the yes, no & maybe's of what you want you'll be able to start making up your own lists of what's required.

Then we wrote a rough guest list - suppliers will ask for approx numbers and it'll help you work out a budget too. When your budget is done add 15% on top as an emergency fund - you'll be surprised what pops up along the way.

Finally when we were ready to start planning we consulted the Brides Diary for our state - (you can normally pick them up at Bridal Stores / Expos) they are full of useful information and loads of suppliers and ideas. For Example - We got up to 40% off everything we booked because we're getting married on a Friday on winter. There is also a check list in the back that's dated like JesNAdam's these are very handy. JesNAdam's is great because you can save it to your computer and alter it to add items specific to your own event!

Be realistic about who your family & friends are - We avoided our first choice venue because red wine was banned incase it stained their sandstone floor and they had no smoking area (naughty I know). A lot of our guests love both. A friend who insisted on only techno music at her 200 guest reception of mostly older relatives, still regerets it. 20 people had a ball and the other 180 were miserable. If you love something that's not so mainstream make it part of your day but don't base the whole day around it or you'll run the risk of alienating your guests. It's your day - But that doesn't excuse bad manners, no one likes a Bridezilla.

And last but not least - we told ourselves that on the day, it doesn't matter if the flowers are the wrong colour, the car doesn't turn up, the drinks are warm, the food is cold or if everything we planned goes wrong - As long as we are Mr & Mrs P by the end of the day, nothing else matters - after all that's what it's all about!

Hope this is helpful!

[light_sabe_r]

SAlly! That's a real good idea up top! I may just have to do that!!!

[Diamondbride]

BUMP!!

[Loversunite]

Originally Posted by light_sabe_r

What I want to do next
BUDGET - I'll have 10-15000 for the wedding when the time rolls around. I have 5000 saved now. My parents are contributing (I won't say how much) and FH is contributing and his parents will too. Figures from his side of the family haven't come in yet. My dress is NOT included in this budget as I am buying myself FOR myself.

I wrote a little article about increasing your savings for your wedding here if it helps:
Saving money for wedding

Jess

[Ang]

Thanks jess so much! just did a quick cut an paste an now im on way to get started! My wedding is on valentines day next year an people keep saying you better do this an this an o dont know were to start! cheers!!

[jeskahm]

the biggest thing for me was i am 15ooklm away from where i am getting married, is ring around, get prices, dont be shy to ask for discount, at florist do not mention wedding, ask them to write down quote for bouqets first then add that u need button holes ect, youll be surprised how much u save. get peoples addresses as soon as possible,

[pinkstar]

Originally Posted by Sideways Sally

We got totally overwhelmed with all the info available so we banned the magazines, websites and all else for few days to clear our heads then sat down and made a list of things we didn't like about the weddings we'd been to. You'd be surprised what we came up with! It was a VERY VERY helpful exercise. It was, what got the groom involved, before this conversation he didn't have an opinion, the only thing he said he wanted from the day was a wife - it turns out he did have definate ideas about what a wedding day should and shouldn't include.


Next we made a list of must 'haves', things that we felt we had to have as part of our day. The non negotiables. When you've worked out the yes, no & maybe's of what you want you'll be able to start making up your own lists of what's required.

Then we wrote a rough guest list - suppliers will ask for approx numbers and it'll help you work out a budget too. When your budget is done add 15% on top as an emergency fund - you'll be surprised what pops up along the way.

Finally when we were ready to start planning we consulted the Brides Diary for our state - (you can normally pick them up at Bridal Stores / Expos) they are full of useful information and loads of suppliers and ideas. For Example - We got up to 40% off everything we booked because we're getting married on a Friday on winter. There is also a check list in the back that's dated like JesNAdam's these are very handy. JesNAdam's is great because you can save it to your computer and alter it to add items specific to your own event!

Be realistic about who your family & friends are - We avoided our first choice venue because red wine was banned incase it stained their sandstone floor and they had no smoking area (naughty I know). A lot of our guests love both. A friend who insisted on only techno music at her 200 guest reception of mostly older relatives, still regerets it. 20 people had a ball and the other 180 were miserable. If you love something that's not so mainstream make it part of your day but don't base the whole day around it or you'll run the risk of alienating your guests. It's your day - But that doesn't excuse bad manners, no one likes a Bridezilla.

And last but not least - we told ourselves that on the day, it doesn't matter if the flowers are the wrong colour, the car doesn't turn up, the drinks are warm, the food is cold or if everything we planned goes wrong - As long as we are Mr & Mrs P by the end of the day, nothing else matters - after all that's what it's all about!

Hope this is helpful!

Just want to say that was extremely helpful advice and tips. Thank you so much!