The Planning Process

Completed List
♦ Save-the-dates sent
♦ Ceremony location booked
♦ Reception location booked
♦ Honeymoon hotel & flight booked
♦ Honeymoon activities booked & restaurant reservations made
♦ Day of Coordinator booked
♦ Photographer & Videographer booked
♦ Transportation booked
♦ Florists booked
♦ Guest hotel rooms blocked
♦ Bridesmaid dresses ordered
♦ My dress ordered
♦ MOG dress ordered & ready for fittings
♦ Ceremony readers chosen
♦ Invitations: came, assembled & mailed
♦ Spotlight Songs chosen
♦ Toasting flutes purchased
♦ Cake Cutting Set purchased
♦ Pew decorations purchased
♦ Finalize bridal registries
♦ Bachelorette party planned
♦ Attended Pre-Cana classes
♦ Bridal shower location booked
♦ DIY- Sweetheart table sign completed
♦ DIY– Ceremony Ribbon Wands completed
♦ DIY– Personalized Dinner Menus completed
♦ Found and purchased wedding bands
♦ Finalized dinner menu
♦ Engagement Picture Session completed
♦ Set rehearsal date (Nov. 8th @ 7pm)
♦ Purchased flower girl dresses & coats
♦ Purchased cake topper and card box
♦ Purchased my garter

To Do List
♦ Purchase MOB dress order
♦ Do-It-Yourself Projects - Personalized aisle runner (in process); flower girl pomanders; Favors (in process); Ceremony programs (in process); Unity Candle (in process)
♦ Purchase bridal party, parents and readers thank you gifts (in process)
♦ Purchase my accessories: veil, shoes, undergarments, etc.
♦ Finalize music selections
♦ Set rehearsal dinner location
♦ Mail rehearsal dinner invitations
♦ Trial hair & makeup
♦ Pick & rent groomsmen tuxedos
♦ Marriage license
♦ Create seating plan
♦ Assemble my “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a sixpence in my shoe”
♦ Prepare emergency kit
♦ Distribute copies of timelines, vendor contact numbers and copies of readings to Maid-of-Honor, Best Man & Day of Coordinator.
♦ Provide tip and final payment envelopes to Best Man to distribute.

And a bunch more…

"The Binder"

Everyone knows the key to successfully planning is organization. If you’ve ever planned anything with me or have been to something I’ve planned, you know how I am - no detail is too small and I try to think of everything. Planning our wedding is no different than planning a dinner party, except it’s on a much grander scale, so instead of a notepad, I have a binder.

Three of my bridesmaids, Madeline, Tania and Christina, can attest to the wonder of my wedding binder. It is divided by the various aspects of the wedding such as ceremony, music, transportation, honeymoon, etc. Within each section I have contact sheets, package summaries, questions I had and any answers I've gotten. I also have tips and tricks as well as checklists and worksheets.

I used pocket dividers, so any samples I receive or examples I find are all neat and in one place. I don't like clutter so having all the wedding stuff in one remote area was very important to me. Each divider is a different color with typed tabs, which are very easy to read. I even put binder card holder pages so that all the business cards we get are all in one place too. It's been very helpful when it comes to suggesting our vendors to others.

It has officially become a second bible for us. Thomas laughed and rolled his eyes as I assembled it, mostly because I was getting pure enjoyment out of it. To explain it as a labor of love would be a huge understatement. The only down side of my work of art is it's a bit on the heavy side. =)