How do I start planning a wedding?

Question

My boyfriend and I are planning to get married before he joins the military. But I have no idea how to start planning for a wedding. I'm an only child and have no one really to turn to. Even my mother who single and never been married before doesn't know where to begin.

Any advice?

Answer 1

There are some really awesome wedding network websites that help you out with all this.  The one I use is www.theknot.com.  I have also heard of www.weddingchannel.com.  They have online wedding planners that you can use to plan out your budget, build your guest list, and blog about the whole experience.  If you don't like either of those, you can easily do a search for more!

On theknot there are a ton of articles, which have taught me about things I totally did not know were part of a wedding!!  (I'm the first child in my family to get married.)  That's why I chose to use that site over the others.

I have also found the wedding articles at About.com useful.  I'll try to find the link...http://weddings.about.com/

Answer 2

Yes, go to the Knot.

http://theknot.com/?MsdVisit=1

Look at the wedding checklist and budget calculator.  You may not want or need everything mentioned at the Knot, but it is a good place to start.

Answer 3

This checklist was my lifeline to my wedding planning. I didn't follow it EXACTLY, but it gave me a great starting point and helped me to assure I didn't miss anything. The internet was a GODSEND for planning my wedding, if I didn't know something, or couldn't find something, I would run to my computer.

The biggest keys are:

- Budget

- Type Of Wedding

- Size (guest list)

- Reception type

- Date

- Legal Documents for your state

(to get your marriage license)

*Put These Items On Your Calendar First*

•Wedding Date

•Rehearsal Date

•Invitations should be mailed 6 weeks before the wedding

•Wedding dress should be ordered at least 6 months before the wedding

•Bridesmaids' dresses should be ordered at least 6 months before the wedding

•Bride's hair should be cut and colored approximately 15-20 days before the wedding

•Groom's hair should be cut 2 weeks before the wedding

•Blood tests generally must be taken within 30 days of the wedding

*Twelve to Six Months Before the Wedding*

•Purchase engagement and wedding rings; arrange for engraving

•Select a wedding date and time

•Announce your engagement and wedding date

•Discuss and create a preliminary budget with all involved

•Determine your wedding theme or style

•Reserve your ceremony location

•Determine who will officiate the ceremony

•Reserve your reception location

•If you plan to have your reception outdoors, make alternate plans for bad weather

•Decide in your color scheme

•Determine the size of the guest list

•Start compiling names and addresses of guests

•Select bridal attendants

•Obtain bridal attendants measurements and sizes

•Select groomsmen

•Obtain groomsmen's measurements and shoe sizes

•Plan reception

•Select a caterer

•Select a photographer

•Select a florist

•Select a band or DJ

•Select soloists, organists, musicians for ceremony

•Select your dress and order if necessary

•Select your headpiece

•Select bridesmaids' dresses and order if necessary

•Select and order invitations, matches, napkins, thank-you notes and programs

•Start addressing invitations and announcements when they arrive

•Pre-address than-you note envelopes while addressing invitations and announcements. (This saves a great deal of time later.)

•Prepare maps and directions to include with your invitations.

•Check with the post office for the amount of postage needed to mail the invitations when all the pieces are included in the envelope.

•Register with bridal registries

•Reserve the rehearsal dinner location

•Select a baker for the cake

*6-4 Months Before the Wedding*

•Check with your local newspaper for the form and timing of your wedding announcement submission.

•Have mothers select their dresses

•Select the men's formal wear

•Choose songs that you would like for the band or DJ to play at your wedding

•Keep gift checklist up to date and write thank-you notes daily

•Arrange accommodations for attendants who do not live in town

•Reserve a block of rooms for out-of-town guests

•Hire limousines and/or other transportation

•Make appointments for physicals and update your immunization shots and records

•Shop for wedding rings

•Start planning the honeymoon

•Begin shopping for trousseau

•Begin addressing invitations and announcements. (They should be sent 4-6 weeks before he wedding.)

*Two Months Before the Wedding*

•Finish addressing invitations and send them out.

•Finalize all details with the caterer, photographer, florist, reception coordinator, musicians, etc.

•Order the wedding cake if it is not supplied by the caterer.

•Finalize the ceremony details with the officiant.

•Make rehearsal and rehearsal dinner arrangements.

•Plan the bridesmaids' luncheon.

•Make appointments with your hairdresser and mark-up artist.

•Finalize honeymoon plans.

*One Month Before*

•Have a final fitting of the wedding dress and bridesmaids' dresses.

•Have a formal bridal portrait done.

•Complete all physical and dental appointments.

•Get blood test and marriage license.

•Make transportation arrangements for the wedding day.

•Purchase gifts for all of the attendants and participants.

•Purchase gift for your fiancé

•Keep careful records of the gifts you receive and write thank-you notes as you receive them.

•Select responsible person to handle the guest book.

•Make sure that all of the men's attire has been ordered.

•Pick up wedding rings and make sure they fit.

•Take care of legal affairs such as changing the names on insurance policies, etc.

•Reconfirm the accommodations for out-of-town guests.

•Prepare wedding announcements to be sent to the newspaper.

*Two Weeks Before*

•Arrange to have wedding gifts moved to your new home.

•Turn in a change of address card to the post office if necessary.

•Finish addressing announcements to be mailed on the wedding day.

•The groom should have his hair cut.

•The bride should have her hair colored if necessary.

*One Week Before*

•Contact guests who have not responded.

•Give the final count to the caterer and review the details.

•Go over any final details with all wedding professionals you have hired.

•Give the photographer a list of pictures you would like.

•Give the videographer a list of shots you would like included in the video.

•Give all musicians the lists of music for the ceremony and reception.

•Plan the seating arrangements.

•Continue to write thank-you notes.

•Pack your suitcases for the honeymoon.

•Make sure you have the marriage license.

•Make sure that you have the wedding rings and they fit.

•Make sure that all wedding attire is picked up and it fits.

•Reconfirm all honeymoon reservations.

•Make sure that you have your plane tickets.

*The Day Before*

•Have the bridesmaids luncheon if you are not having it the day of the wedding and you haven't already had it.

•The bride should have her nails done.

•Have rehearsal with all participants, reviewing their duties at least twice.

•Go over special seating or pew cards with the ushers.

•Give any instructions about on the wedding day such as what time everyone should be at the church for pictures, what type of transportation is provided, where the reception is, etc.

*The Wedding Day*

•Have the bridesmaids' luncheon if you have not already had it.

•The bride should have her hair and makeup done.

•Make sure that each of you have the rings.

•Make sure that you have the marriage license.

•Place the officiates fee in an envelope and give it to the best man so he may resent it after the ceremony.

Answer 4

Start by seeing how much money you have to spend on a wedding.  When you know what you have to work with you can decide upon the size and type of wedding you want to have.  the less people you have the more you can do per person with the  money.  If you want more food you might opt for a DJ instead of a band.  If you know a good band that might serve you better than the cost of a DJ.    Are photos enough or do you want ( and can you afford ) a wedding video.  Know a camera wiz maybe they could take pictures for less than a professional if you don't mind and know they could do a good job.

If your money needs to stretch to cover a honeymoon and I recommend it even if it is just a weekend at a nice place in town, you might save by cutting down on the reception.  Maybe have a buffet instead of a sit down, maybe a cake and coffee instead of a full meal.  

You could have your bride's maids and your self carry a single stem flower such as one calla lilly or staff of gladiolas instead of full bouquets for everyone.  Get the idea.

Get a copy of Bride's or someother wedding magazine and you will find all sorts of info on how to go about planing a wedding and all the traditions to follow or ignore as you please.  Good Luck and Congratulations.

Answer 5

Finding wedding professionals in your local area is a good place to start.  They'll be able to give you lots of ideas and advice.  You can also go to online wedding forums and read ezines.

Check out this website for tips on sourcing suppliers, wedding ezines etc:

http://www.romantic-wedding-music.com/we...

Answer 6

I started by working out a budget (very, very important!). Then we drew up a rough guest list so that we knew how many people we needed to cater for. Then find a venue that will accommodate the amount of guests you have and set the date with them. Don't forget to pay a deposit so that you know for sure your date will be locked in. Start with the above because things like music and vows...etc, fall into place when you are speaking to your celebrant. Things like flowers are usually decided after the attire for the bridal party is picked and stuff like food, beverages and entertainment come once you have met with someone from the venue. Good luck. Hope this gets you started.

Answer 7

First, congrats! :) as long as you keep yourselves relaxed the two of you will have fun planning your wedding.

Pick you're theme (ie classic hollywood, modern, or just colors)

Find a budget

Determine things you both really would like to have in the wedding (ie cultural items like oragami or a mariachi band- my personal favorite :)-

Find the place for the ceremony and reception

Figure out what entertainment you want or can afford (live band or dj)

Those are the main things. Then you can do the fun things like find your dress :D cake testing, finding a hairstyle that suits you...etc

Most of all have fun! You're getting married!

Answer 8

the first thing to do is pick a date,get a budget, chose your colors, find your ceremony and reception sites,  pick your vendors, chose your wedding party.If this is too much for you to handle hire a wedding planner if you can