Hey everyone!
Welcome to my very first post on my very first series, Wedding Wednesdays!
Today I'm going to get the ball rolling by discussing my tips for beginning to plan your wedding.
(Photo credit goes to my lovely friend Nichole!)
So he finally did it...he got down on one knee and popped the question! You knew it was coming but nothing can stop those tears. You can't stop smiling or looking at that rock. You start to tell all of your family and friends and are greeted with squeals, congratulations, and then the questions begin...
"When's the big day?"
"Where will the wedding be?"
"Can I be one of your bridesmaids?"
"What will your colors be?"
"Ball gown or mermaid?"
"Are you going to have a band or a DJ?"
"Is Great Uncle Oscar going to officiate the wedding?"
Uh oh.
But noo, that's not good enough for Aunt Sally! You'd better make a plan...and quick!
So, where do you begin???
Register with TheKnot.com
Seriously. Do it right now. Even if you're not engaged yet. TheKnot has a mind blowing number of resources, blogs, articles, tips, tricks, lists and so much more. And no they're not paying me to say this! They're just seriously so awesome for the newly engaged! And once you get married you can keep your account and move over to TheNest.com! By the way, I just signed in to my account and TheKnot is telling me that it is 526 days since my wedding! They're always there with more information than you can imagine! It's a fantastic resource. Use it!
Research
Do as much research as you can. Buy books and magazines, enlist the help of friends and family who've been there, and remember, Google is your friend. Personally I found a couple of great books that helped me SO much. They gave me a place to begin and a to-do list to focus on. Check bargain bins and Craigslist for used wedding books for cheap! That's how I got mine!
A few of my favorites were:
1001 Ways To Save Money . . . and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding
- Perfect for anyone on a budget! There are so many great ideas to try throughout your wedding planning experience!How to Plan an Elegant Wedding in 6 Months or Less: Achieving Your Dream Wedding When Time Is of the Essence
- Don't let the title turn you away. Whether you've got 6 months or 2 years to plan, this book is great!The Everything Green Wedding Book: Plan an elegant, affordable, earth-friendly wedding (Everything (Weddings)) - This one is fantastic for anyone who wants to be eco-friendly throughout their wedding. It's got tons of great tips for how to "green" your wedding from the dress to the favors!
Go Ahead...Pin Away
Use Pinterest to your advantage! Just don't pin 300 dresses all at once. Pick ones you'd actually like to try on and write what you like/don't like in the caption. Pinterest can be great but also overwhelming! I can't imagine what it would have been like if I had Pinterest when I started planning my wedding! Use it wisely, don't just pin till all your single friends unfollow you. Be realistic and pin things that show what you'd actually like your wedding to be like.
Be Excited and Spread the News!
This is some of the most exciting news you'll ever get to share! Announce it to family and friends first, social media LAST. I think it's so much better to hear the excitement and congratulations in person rather than through a bunch of "likes." Plus, it's just that much more personal. Your friends and especially your family will appreciate hearing it from you. An engagement party is a fun way to formally announce it too!
Pick a Date
But remember, things can (and will) change on you. So maybe pick a couple of alternate dates in case your dream venue is booked or your in-laws are going to be on a tropical vacation. Brian and I originally wanted a fall wedding (we wanted November 12, 2011 so it would be 11/12/11) but circumstances changed and we got married on March 24, 2012 instead. It got pushed back a few months but it was still an amazing day. I was resistant to change it at first because I had my heart set on November 12, 2011. If I had been more open to different dates it wouldn't have been such a hard thing to deal with.
If you start here you'll be set to go. There is so much involved in planning a wedding! I hope over the next few weeks/months I can help you get through it smoothly!
And hey...congratulations!
How did you begin planning your own wedding? Books, magazines, blogs, Pinterest?
Be sure to check back next Wednesday for another Wedding Wednesday!
Till next time,
Catherine
If you're a fellow blogger and are interested in guest posting for this series, shoot me an e-mail at CatherinePageWood@gmail.com! Or, even if you're not a blogger and would like to share your wedding story or advice, send me an e-mail! I would LOVE to share your stories!
If you liked this post, be sure to check out the other editions of Wedding Wednesday!
- Getting Started on Wedding Planning
- My Tips for Less Stressful Wedding Planning
- Choosing a Photographer
- How to Survive a Wedding Expo
- Mirror, Mirror - Why Big Mirrors Are a Must!
I've linked up to Blog Hop Blitz Week #4 with Gladiator In Heels, Easy Life Meal and Party Planning Services, and Losing my Gut While Gaining My Insanity!
Congrats to you. The ring is gorgeous. how fun to plan away your wedding. There are many ideas out there. I created a candy bar for my cousin's daughter last year. It was called Love is Sweet! You can go to my blog to see it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lifeandlinda.com/2012/04/love-is-sweet.html
I also planned the wedding.
Thanks, Linda! I've actually been married now about a year and a half. Just now getting around to posting a wedding series like I've wanted to, though! Your cousin's daughter's wedding was beautiful! Love the colors, I had a green/orange theme as well! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteHere is a great website that I used for my wedding! Great for ideas for how to decorate yourself, do your own invites, etc... http://www.diywedding.org
ReplyDeleteThanks for that site! It looks awesome! Wish I had found it a couple years ago!
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DeleteGreat advice! I got married last year and at that time, I was not interested in Pinterest. And that's probably a good thing. Thanks for linking up with us at the Blog Hop Blitz, hope to see you back this weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks! And congrats! I feel like Pinterest CAN be a good resource but man it can be overwhelming and crazy if you're not careful! I'm kind of glad I didn't have it either! Thanks for hosting!
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