I Can Do It All By Myself
I receive a lot of calls from brides who don't know where to start in planning their wedding or commitment ceremony. So I decided to share a few tips from my experience as a minister.
Planning a wedding takes a lot of time, attention to details, organizational skills, and patience.
If you are missing one or more of the above attributes, then putting your wedding together yourself will be a very frustrating task. You will be stressed out, unorganized, late, inconsiderate of others, drained, and angry.
So, I suggest that you delegate this task to an experience wedding planner. But if you are adamant about not hiring a planner, then get ready for Stress Management 101, Dealing with Difficult People 102, and Learning from Your Mistakes 103.
It is my belief that wedding planning is team work, and sometimes the players will be the event coordinators at the venue; members of your bridal party, family, or friends.
However, you will need to select one person to pass the baton of leadership to, and that person should be:
someone who is capable of thinking fast and making decisions,
ability to take charge,
organized (this person can only be as organized as you are),
great attention to details,
care about you and your partner,
time conscious,
not easily offended,
can deal with quick changes,
have your best interest at heart,
and care about what she is creating,
If such a person does not exist amongst your friends and family, then you might want to reconsider hiring an event coordinator.
Your wedding day should be a day of relaxation, not stress and anxiety.
________________________________________
Planning Suggestions:
Purchase a wedding planning book (very important),
Create a budget,
Get your marriage license (notice if there is a deadline for use),
Get vendor recommendations from friends or family members who recently got married and get signed contracts from vendors,
Create an itinerary that contains the time lines and details for all vendors (including the minister), bridal party (shower, dress, makeup, hair), decorator (setting up and taking down) and anyone who has a role in the ceremony. Remember that your interim planner will only be as informed and organized as you are.
Buy bridal magazines or use wedding directory sites for:
Venue
Florist
Baker
Makeup artist
Apparel and Accessories
Caterer
Disc Jockey
Photographer
Videographer
Limousine Service
Ice-Carver
Vocalist
Dancers
Musicians
Day-Of Wedding Coordinator
Decorator
Balloon Artist
Invitations
Rings
Programs
Create a webpage for your special day announcing all the necessary information for your guests and participants,
such as:
Wedding Location,
Gift Registry,
Directions,
Nearby Hotels,
Sightseeing information,
Rehearsal details for the bridal party,
Wedding Day Itinerary,
Reception Itinerary,
Age restriction for small guests (with the exception of bridal party participants),
Attire (some people need to be told how to dress),
The above is just a rough sketch with many missing pieces. Remember that I am a minister, on the outside looking in; sharing with you what I have seen from that position.
Hiring an experience wedding planner for this job will be an investment that can prove to be worthwhile. Try to remember that you are not the only one involved. Your future spouse just wants to see the happiness of your face continue from the day of engagement right up to the wedding day.
Faces of stress and temperaments of anger can really challenge a relationship before the marriage gets started. So you decide what’s more important saving your relationship or money?
____________________________________________
Reverend Starlene Joyner Burns
202.253.3629
mailto:revsjb@comcast.net
http://www.startum.com/weddings.htm
©2009 All Rights Reserved
Was this article helpful? If so kindly leave me your comments.
I receive a lot of calls from brides who don't know where to start in planning their wedding or commitment ceremony. So I decided to share a few tips from my experience as a minister.
Planning a wedding takes a lot of time, attention to details, organizational skills, and patience.
If you are missing one or more of the above attributes, then putting your wedding together yourself will be a very frustrating task. You will be stressed out, unorganized, late, inconsiderate of others, drained, and angry.
So, I suggest that you delegate this task to an experience wedding planner. But if you are adamant about not hiring a planner, then get ready for Stress Management 101, Dealing with Difficult People 102, and Learning from Your Mistakes 103.
It is my belief that wedding planning is team work, and sometimes the players will be the event coordinators at the venue; members of your bridal party, family, or friends.
However, you will need to select one person to pass the baton of leadership to, and that person should be:
someone who is capable of thinking fast and making decisions,
ability to take charge,
organized (this person can only be as organized as you are),
great attention to details,
care about you and your partner,
time conscious,
not easily offended,
can deal with quick changes,
have your best interest at heart,
and care about what she is creating,
If such a person does not exist amongst your friends and family, then you might want to reconsider hiring an event coordinator.
Your wedding day should be a day of relaxation, not stress and anxiety.
________________________________________
Planning Suggestions:
Purchase a wedding planning book (very important),
Create a budget,
Get your marriage license (notice if there is a deadline for use),
Get vendor recommendations from friends or family members who recently got married and get signed contracts from vendors,
Create an itinerary that contains the time lines and details for all vendors (including the minister), bridal party (shower, dress, makeup, hair), decorator (setting up and taking down) and anyone who has a role in the ceremony. Remember that your interim planner will only be as informed and organized as you are.
Buy bridal magazines or use wedding directory sites for:
Venue
Florist
Baker
Makeup artist
Apparel and Accessories
Caterer
Disc Jockey
Photographer
Videographer
Limousine Service
Ice-Carver
Vocalist
Dancers
Musicians
Day-Of Wedding Coordinator
Decorator
Balloon Artist
Invitations
Rings
Programs
Create a webpage for your special day announcing all the necessary information for your guests and participants,
such as:
Wedding Location,
Gift Registry,
Directions,
Nearby Hotels,
Sightseeing information,
Rehearsal details for the bridal party,
Wedding Day Itinerary,
Reception Itinerary,
Age restriction for small guests (with the exception of bridal party participants),
Attire (some people need to be told how to dress),
The above is just a rough sketch with many missing pieces. Remember that I am a minister, on the outside looking in; sharing with you what I have seen from that position.
Hiring an experience wedding planner for this job will be an investment that can prove to be worthwhile. Try to remember that you are not the only one involved. Your future spouse just wants to see the happiness of your face continue from the day of engagement right up to the wedding day.
Faces of stress and temperaments of anger can really challenge a relationship before the marriage gets started. So you decide what’s more important saving your relationship or money?
____________________________________________
Reverend Starlene Joyner Burns
202.253.3629
mailto:revsjb@comcast.net
http://www.startum.com/weddings.htm
©2009 All Rights Reserved
Was this article helpful? If so kindly leave me your comments.
