Wedding Planning Timeline Blitz : 6-8 WEEKS Until "I Do!"

INSTALLMENT V | Today`s Blitz Focus >>

6-8 WEEKS Until the Big "I Do!"

^^Above Table Number design by // "The Funky Shack Art Studio" | "Distressed Chalkboard" Design Set

• MAIL your wedding INVITATIONS

→ TIP: I recommend as close to 8 weeks out as possible!

• Be prepared to COLLECT/devise a system for collecting your wedding day RSVPs

• Finalize your wedding day MENU

• Schedule and have your FORMAL WEDDING PORTRAITS done by your photographer

• Schedule all SPA, HAIR, MAKEUP, and NAIL APPOINTMENTS

→ TIP: Work with your hair- and make-up stylists to play around with possible wedding-day looks, so that all of you are on the same page BEFORE the big day arrives! This will save everyone time and undue stress in the long run.

• Send WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT and photo to local newspaper(s)

• Secure final headcount for your REHEARSAL DINNER

• Obtain your MARRIAGE LICENSE

• Plan your BACHELORETTE/BACHELOR PARTY

→ TIP: Don`t get too crazy or stay out too late! We want everyone to arrive on wedding day bushy-tail and bright-eyed, in one piece, rested, refreshed, and 100% ready to take in the wonderful memories of the day you say “I Do!”

Tune in tomorrow for the next installment in my "Wedding Planning Timeline" Blitz, where we will discuss the planning preparations that should be considered 2-6 weeks prior to your wedding day!

♥

Sources: Personal experience, several event planners I know, and wedding associations (such as the Richmond Bridal Association).

Wedding Planning Timeline Blitz : 2-4 Months Until "I Do!"

INSTALLMENT IV | Today`s Blitz Focus >>

2-4 Months Until the Big "I Do!"

^^Above Table Number design by // "By Gina Stationery" | "3D Butterfly Stationery" Design

• Shop for WEDDING RINGS and engrave them

• Schedule a cake tasting appointment, select your preferred bakery, and order your WEDDING CAKE!

• Plan and book your WEDDING DAY TRANSPORTATION

• Order WEDDING FAVORS for your guests

• Order additional ROOM DECORATIONS to enhance your rental equipment, if necessary

• Purchase GIFTS for wedding attendants (bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, greeters, etc.)

• Check on whatever requirements are in place for obtaining your MARRIAGE LICENSE

• Check with your doctor to see what VACCINATIONS/HEALTH PRECAUTIONS need to be made for your honeymoon destination, and schedule those appointments accordingly

• Optional – Consider a WILL/PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT

Tune in tomorrow for the next installment in my "Wedding Planning Timeline" Blitz, where we will discuss the planning preparations that should be considered 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding day!

♥

Sources: Personal experience, several event planners I know, and wedding associations (such as the Richmond Bridal Association).

Wedding Planning Timeline Blitz : 4-6 Months Until "I Do!"

I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend, and I know that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with family, friends, and great fireworks for the 4th of July festivities! My sincere apologies for the unintentional hiatus in my blogging blitz, but hopefully you don`t love me any less! Let`s continue, shall we?

INSTALLMENT III | Today`s Blitz Focus >>

4-6 Months Until the Big "I Do!"

^^Above Table Number design by // "Royal Steamline" | "Two Ring Circus" Design

• Start shopping for bride and groom WEDDING GIFTS to exchange before the ceremony

• RESERVE ceremony and reception RENTAL ITEMS

→ TIP: Check with both venues first and meet with their coordinator/caterer to see what type of selection they have on-site before purchasing your own rental items. This could save you time AND money!

• Finalize your GUEST LIST

→ TIP: Remember, if you are having budgeting issues, "trimming the fat" here could really help, as it will greatly reduce quantities across the board for food, favors, rental items, centerpieces, etc. Hopefully, however, you will have already taken care of this dilemma prior to sending out your "Save the Dates" 6-8 months before your big day. Otherwise, you may have to do some UNinviting, which is never fun for you or for your guests :(

• Select and order INVITATIONS / STATIONERY

• ADDRESS your INVITATIONS … or hire a printer/calligrapher if that look works better for the wedding theme or ambiance you are seeking to create for you and your guests :)

→ TIP: Personally, I would send them out closer to the 2-month mark.

• Select and reserve your REHEARSAL DINNER VENUE

• If applicable and this is something that you and your partner have discussed – and allotted for in your budget ;) – arrange ACCOMMODATIONS FOR your OUT OF TOWN GUESTS

→ TIP: Ask what kinds of specials/rates the hotel is offering for groups or larger parties. Also, remember to cancel any rooms that you no longer need prior to the hotel`s cancellation date to avoid getting charged for empty rooms! Ask for the hotel`s cancellation policy IN WRITING to be on the safe side.

• Start planning your HONEYMOON!

• Create your WEDDING REGISTRY :)

Tune in tomorrow for the next installment in my "Wedding Planning Timeline" Blitz, where we will discuss the planning preparations that should be considered 2-4 months prior to your wedding day!

♥

Sources: Personal experience, several event planners I know, and wedding associations (such as the Richmond Bridal Association).

Wedding Planning Timeline Blitz : 6-8 Months Until "I Do!"

INSTALLMENT II | Today`s Blitz Focus >>

6-8 Months Until the Big "I Do!"

• Send out your SAVE THE DATES

→ TIP: Send these to those that you want to come to your wedding, including your Bridal Party and any guests who you want to invite that have given you a verbal RSVP. This ensures that everyone is on the same page. To keep your guest list to a bearable number, only send your "Save the Dates" to those specific individuals you want to come to your wedding -- instead of the entire world!

• Select FLOWER GIRL`S DRESS, shoes, and accessories

→ TIP: Now would also be a great time to consider any dresses/suits, shoes, and accessories for any attendants that will be in your wedding, such as readers or hostesses who will seat your guests/pass out programs.

• Schedule all dress/tuxedo FITTINGS and their corresponding delivery dates

• Select and reserve your FLORIST!

• Select and reserve your CATERER

→ TIP: Before selecting a Caterer, PLEASE feel free to request to view a portfolio of his/her work, schedule a tasting, and ask locals in the area about to get the legitimate scoop on the (dis)satisfaction of his/her business!

• Select and reserve your MUSICIANS

→ TIP: This includes musicians for the ceremony, as well as musicians/a DJ for the reception. If you intend on using a CD/MP3 player to supply your ceremony music, please check with your venue first to see which music format they prefer and ask to see if they will provide someone on-site to play the music for you, or if you will need to designate one of your guests to do it! Make sure that the person you assign this task to is present at the wedding rehearsal to prevent any major hiccups on your big day! Your music is a very important piece of your wedding.

• Select and reserve your WEDDING NIGHT BRIDAL SUITE

Tune in tomorrow for the next installment in my "Wedding Planning Timeline" Blitz, where we will discuss the planning preparations that should be considered 4-6 months prior to your wedding day!

♥

Sources: Personal experience, several event planners I know, and wedding associations (such as the Richmond Bridal Association).

Wedding Planning Timeline Blitz : 9+ Months Until "I Do!"

HAPPY JULY 1ST, MY LOVES (: July is one of my favorite months each year because it is my Birthday month -- Power to my fellow CANCERS out there who share the most fun sign of the Zodiac! In honor of my Birthday, I decided to do something a little different this month with this initial July blogpost! There are thousands of wedding planning timelines floating around the world, and in all honesty, they are all fairly subjective! Well, I wanted to share with you MY PERSONAL WEDDING PLANNING TIMELINE, crafted from observing timelines of others, but primarily from my own experiences! Instead of 1 giant blogpost, I am jazzing it up by doing 9 daily installments, starting with today! So for the next 8 days, I hope you`ll enjoy my puzzle pieces for the perfect timeline!

So you just got engaged -- CONGRATULATIONS, Lovebirds! Once you come down from the high of the engagement, you now realize that it`s time to buckle down and start preparing for your wedding day! With so many elements and ideas, it can be overwhelming to know what to tackle first! So, where shall we begin? Let`s start from the engagement and work our way up to your wedding day!

INSTALLMENT I: Today`s Blitz Focus >>

9+ Months Until the Big "I Do!"

• Begin your WEDDING BINDER

→ TIP: Keep clippings from magazines, running lists of ideas as they pop into your head, calendars, and any bits of inspiration in here! It will make your life ten times easier and will help you better maintain your central focus when planning.

• Select your wedding DATE

→ TIP: Be sure to take seasons, federal/religious Holidays, and the time of day into consideration before solidifying! Have a backup option planned in case your venues are booked on your 1st date of choice.

• Determine your BUDGET

→ TIP: Allow yourself MINIMAL and sensible wiggle-room, and then STICK TO IT! Check it often, update it to the "T", and craft it from the beginning with care so that wiggle-room is solely a last resort. Your budget provides the foundation for not only your wedding day, but also your first days as husband and wife, hopefully falling more in love with each passing day instead of consuming yourselves with worry from getting out of debt for your beautifully-exorbitant "I Do`s."

• Hire a wedding CONSULTANT

→ TIP: (i.e. your`s truly hehe)

• Consolidate your GUEST LIST

→ TIP: David Tutera once spoke on this topic and said that your wedding day is often such a beautiful blur, that you probably won`t be able to remember each and every person who was or was not able to help celebrate your special day – until you look at the photographs! If you`ll regret not having their presence in your wedding photos years down the road, invite them. The easiest way to lighten the budget is to trim the guest list!

• Select and reserve your CEREMONY VENUE

• Select and reserve your OFFICIANT

→ TIP: Make sure you inquire to see if wedding counseling is required by your Officiant of choice!

• Select and reserve your RECEPTION SITE

• Select and order BRIDAL GOWN (& accessories, of course!)

• Determine your COLOR SCHEME

• Send an ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT with a cute photo to your local newspaper

• Order PASSPORT/VISA for the honeymoon or your destination wedding!

• Select and reserve your PHOTOGRAPHER

• Select your WEDDING PARTY

Tune in tomorrow for the next installment in my "Wedding Planning Timeline" Blitz, where we will discuss the planning preparations that should be considered 6-8 months prior to your wedding day!

♥

Sources: Personal experience, several event planners I know, and wedding associations (such as the Richmond Bridal Association).

Bridal Gowns: The More, The MARRYer for You & -- Your Wallet ??

Is it just me, or have you also noticed that the Love Bug has been putting in lots of overtime lately? It seems every time I log into Facebook, my mini-feed is chalked full of more love, more engagements, and more wedding photographs than I can begin to keep up with – and I`m like a kid in a candy store over all of it. Wedding season is fully underway and, fortunately for me, wedding season marks my favorite time of year.

While most aspects of weddings are super fun, there are some less glamorous components within the planning process that can be daunting to think about – like the *BUDGET*! However, the budget is a very critical and fundamental element that must be thoughtfully constructed, realistically calculated, seriously followed, and constantly checked ... constantly. Weddings today run in a wide gamut of budgets and styles, but on average, weddings in the 21st century are by no means “cheap.” There are many ways that couples are looking to keep their budgets in mind, without compromising or sacrificing certain design elements/ traditional pieces that are most important to them.

One new-age trend that I see gaining popularity is the idea of having multiple wedding gowns! Personally, I think it`s a fabulous idea, because it keeps all of your guests (and your Groom) on the edge of their seats, wondering what stunning piece you`ll come out in next, and how many more looks you`ll pull off before the night ends. It adds a more dramatic, yet playful, layer to your special day, and since all eyes will be on you anyways, you might as well take full advantage of the occasion!

Many Brides put their wedding gown on a very high pedestal – and for good reason! It truly is the most important dress you`ll ever wear. Unfortunately, it can also be the most expensive dress you`ll ever purchase :( So by now, you`re probably wondering why I previously mentioned the importance of a budget, yet I`m now promoting the idea of multiple dresses, right?

Well, I would now like to introduce to you

the 2-IN-1 WEDDING GOWN!

I first saw the concept featured on David Tutera`s “My Fair Wedding” last season, and I think they are absolutely amazing! For the price of 1 dress, you can have 2 completely different looks – usually a more classic look for the wedding, and a more trendy look for the reception (or vice versa if you wish)! You could even get a 3rd look out of the same dress if it comes with a bustle option for the train. 1 gown, 2+ looks, 1 price, all accomplished with one effortless zip! So what`s not to like?! ♥

Please take a peek at some of the designer styles below :)

o David`s Bridal --

^^ Style || KP3135 ♥

^^ Style || KP3265 ♥

o David Tutera --

^^ Style || EVA B139 ♥

^^ Style || FERGIE B121 ♥

Extra, Extra -- Read SEED All About It !

^^Photo from LarsLove Design
It probably comes as no surprise that in light of the more apparently recent effects of our tremendous human footprint on Mother Earth, both people and businesses alike are [finally] striving to be more sustainable and environmentally-friendly! Regardless of whether or not you aggressively support the “green” movement, I would like to share with you a newly-innovative technology that has completely captured my heart –

SEED PAPER ♥

Seed paper is a form of organic recycled paper that is made from crushed plant seed (most commonly wildflower) and is 100% sustainable! It comes in many colors, textures, designs, and dyes (just like regular paper), and can add a very creative element to your next event in a subtle (yet environmentally-conscious) way!

Ever since I first learned of seed paper two years ago in one of my undergraduate classes at Virginia Tech, I`ve had a couple of ideas that I`d LOVEEE to implement in my future events. Take a peek, & by all means, feel free to copy!

• Idea #1 : Use RSVP card inserts as an opportunity to incorporate seed paper in a way that will forever be reflective of the memories of your special day and the people who shared it with you!

RSVP card inserts are one of the many standard components that accompany every wedding invitation, and RSVP card inserts serve as useful tools to keep a grip (theoretically) on the number of guests that plan to attend your reception/event. The idea is for the recipients of your wedding invitations to read the invitation, check your wedding date against their personal social calendars, fill out the RSVP card insert, and mail it back to you (the bride and groom/hostess and host) to indicate whether or not they will be in attendance with you on your special day.

Therefore, why not print your RSVP inserts onto pretty seed paper, enclose them in your wedding invitations, mail them to all of your family and friends, and collect all responses that are mailed back to you, just as you would if they were printed on regular paper stock. At this point, you would hold on to the responses until you coordinated a table chart for the seating of your reception, and then you would throw the responses in the trash.

HOWEVER WITH SEED PAPER INSERTS, you can take them a few steps further by storing the responses in a cool/dark place until the weather permits, and then planting them in the yard of your first home as husband and wife!
Not only will the blooming seedlings make your yard look pretty, but every time you newlyweds look out your window and see the flowers, you will think back to your amazing wedding day and all of your closest loved ones that shared in your happiness.

• Idea #2 : Not planning a wedding for your next event? Try using seed paper for commemorative or more heavy events as a means of bonding and unity.

For a reunion or a memorial event, you could easily utilize the same concept (as Idea #1) though the idea of symbolic beautification. At the present, I`m actually brainstorming a reunion for my Sorority Sisters from my undergraduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where we could gather at Virginia Tech on the anniversary of our Chapter`s chartering; fill out seed paper inserts with our names, favorite undergraduate memories, and what joining the Sorority has done for each of us; and then planting the seed paper on campus as a service project symbolic of both our Chapter (Theta Phi) and our University-appreciation.

Still not convinced that seed paper is the next best thing?! Please click on the businesses below to check out these amazing vendors and their work:

o Botanical Paperworks --

o Of the Earth .


o Bloomin --

PS – To all my loves who received Christmas Cards from me last year, the cover contained a seed paper insert (: plant it and think of me! Mwahhh ♥