Wedding Types

Picking the type of wedding you want from the beginning will help with the planning throughout it.  The following are the three types of weddings.  However remember you can take elements of each to make it your own style.  Use the following as a guideline to figure out what type of wedding you want.

Formal Wedding

• Ceremony performed at a church
• Usually an evening event
• Formal Invitations with formal responses
• Large wedding party
• Large guest list (200+)
• Sit down dinner with many courses
• Live entertainment

Semi-Formal Wedding

• Ceremony performed anywhere (Church, Park, Hall etc.)
• Formal invitations with formal responses
• Guest list of 75 – 200 People
• Catered sit down dinner or catered buffet
• DJ for reception

Informal Wedding

• Ceremony performed at chapel, courthouse or at home
• Invitations handmade or by calling guests
• Fewer then 75 guests

• Food catered or prepared by friends and family

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What To Do When

12 Months Before Wedding

• Announce engagement
• Set a date for the wedding
• Make a budget
• Decide formality of wedding
• Compile a Guest List
• Reserve officiate
• Reserve reception site
• Select Bridal Gown
• Determine colour scheme for wedding

9 – 12 Months Before Wedding

• Book caterer
• Book florist
• Book photographer
• Book transportation services
• Order Wedding Cake
• Book Reception DJ
• Wedding Dress Delivery Confirmation

6 – 9 Months Before Wedding

• Finalize Guest List
• Select menu
• Order invitations
• Create a registry
• Order rings
• Book hairdresser
• Order bombonieres for the wedding guest
• Book hotel room for wedding night
• Select bridesmaids dresses
• Book Honeymoon
• Look into marriage licence requirements

3 – 6 Months Before Wedding

• Meet with officiate
• Finalize Menu
• Finalize florist order
• Select music for ceremony
• Engagement photos taken
• Schedule rehearsal dinner
• Select and book outfits for groom, groomsmen and father of the bride

2 Months Before

• Mail invitations
• Write vows
• Purchase wedding party gifts
• Pick up wedding bands
• Select song list for your DJ
• Purchase guest book and pen
• Schedule final dress fitting
• Create and print wedding program

1 Month Before

• Apply for marriage licence
• Create seating arrangements
• Plan the rehearsal dinner
• Run through with  hairdresser and makeup artist on what is to be done on the wedding day
• Rehearse the vows
• Arrange any final fittings for wedding party
• Finalize with all vendors

1 – 2 Weeks Before

• Pick up grooms and groomsmen’s attire
• Finalize seating plan
• Confirm final guest count with reception and caterer
• Confirm hotel accommodations
• Confirm honeymoon
• Confirm ceremony details
• Confirm reception details
• Confirm florist details
• Confirm with photographer and give list of special pictures you want taken the day of the wedding
• Confirm all music
• Confirm transportation
• Creating place cards and seating plan for reception
• Write speeches
• Determine procession
• Have rehearsal dinner
• Contact guests you have not RSVP’d
• Pack for honeymoon
• Arrange final payments with vendors
• Arrange hand out of wedding programs
• Arrange hand out of bombonieres

Wedding Day

• Give rings to best man
• Ensure everything is on schedule

Post Wedding

• Pick out thank you cards
• Send out thank you cards
• Order pictures form photographer

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Wedding Costs

If you are needing a guideline on what you should be looking at money wise for having a wedding, you will be looking at around $20,000 CDN.  However if this number freaks you out, look at what you want and what you are able to do to cut back on expenses.  Once you have selected the budget you want to go with, below you will find guidelines on budgeting each item you will need for your big day.  Remember that it is a guideline and adjust where needed.

	Percentage Of Budget	Cost based on $20,000 Budget
Reception Site/Food & Drinks	50%	$10,000
Photography	10%	$2,000
Attire & Accessories For Couple	10%	$2,000
Videography	5%	$1,000
Disc Jockey	5%	$1,000
Flowers	5%	$1,000
Transportation	5%	$1,000
Gifts As Favours	3%	$600
Wedding Cake	2%	$400
Officiant	2%	$400
Invitations	2%	$400
Hair & Makeup	1%	$200

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Wedding Mistakes To Avoid

Since most people have not planned a wedding before it is very easy to miss something or get overly stressed.  The following are some common mistakes made when planning a wedding.  Read the following and adjust your wedding planning accordingly as it will definitely decrease the stress of planning a wedding.

Budget

• Once you make a budget stick with it.  It will be very easy to get all caught up in the excitement and go way above your budget.  Use your budget as a guideline and stick to it as it this will save you from embarrassing moments like not being able to pay for certain services you have booked.

Marriage Licence

• Find out where and what you will need for your marriage licence.  Do it as a couple so you ensure all the paper work that is needed is filled out on time and correctly. Ensure you budget for the cost of this as well as that is is given on time to your minister.  This will help ensure that the license is not forgotten and the wedding can go on as planned.

Ordering Gown To Late

• Give enough time to put in your dress order as you will also need to allow time for alternations.  Some dresses take quite a few months to get in so make sure you are leaving enough time before your wedding.  Also however, ensure you are not ordering your dress to early as trends and your taste may change and you have bought a dress you are no longer in love with.

Hotel Room Booking

• Book hotel rooms well in advance especially if your wedding is during the busy season.  Book a block of room for families and guests and give them the booking information in the the cards.  Remember it is easier to cancel a room then it is to find a last minute room.

Inviting Too Many Guest

• Based on your budget figure out how many guests you are wanting to invite.  Remember that this number is going to influence your hall that you book at your caterer figure.  You may feel like you need to invite everyone and their cousins, but remember you don’t want to get carried away.  Leave enough room for dancing and comfortable walking space in the hall the you book, no one wants to be at a cramped reception.

Crash Dieting and Last Minute Beauty Treatments

• If you want to loose weight try to do the majority of it before your alternations on your wedding dress.  You want to make sure that the dress fits you the day of the wedding and crash dieting will not help this once the dress has already been altered.  Also if there are some beauty treatments you want to have done try them well in advance to ensure you have no allergic reactions or breakouts.  You want to look beautiful on your wedding day, not looking like you are some latest science experiment.

Postage

• Since invitations are becoming more custom and in every shape and size possible check to see that you are putting enough postage on them.  The post office will be able to help you with that so you don’t have invitations not being delivered or getting lost.

Not Accepting Help

• Where there is room for people to help, accept people offers to help.  There are some parts of the planning that you are not going to be able to get much help but the places where you can accept help do it.  This will save time and decrease stress.

Forgetting The Meaning Of The Day

• With all the craziness of planning and stressing over money don’t forget the true meaning as to why this is all being planned.  Embrace your fiancée and do as much together as you can.  Remember this day is to symbolize your love for one another and the beginning of a new life together.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Brides-To-Be-Top-Ten-Pre-Wedding-Mistakes&id=529294

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The Wedding Party

Your wedding party is going to consist of people who are the biggest part of your life.  When picking your party make sure you include the appropriate family members and try to avoid people who you will regret having.  You don’t want to look at picture 10 years from now and hate those people.  Select carefully and make a cut-off point or your wedding party will be huge.

Maid of Honour

• The bride’s single sister or the closest single girlfriend. If they are not single they are considered to be the Matron of Honour.
• Support the bride through the wedding process and be there when needed
• Plans the bridal shower, bachelorette party and purchases the gift for the bride on behalf of the bridal party.
• Ensures on the wedding day that the bride is on time and helping throughout the day with adjusting the dress, makeup and hair.
• During the ceremony stands right beside the bride and takes the brides bouquet when needed. 
• Sign the marriage license as a witness.

Best Man

• The groom’s father, brother or close friend
• Support the groom during the wedding day to ensure the groom is dressed and on time.
• Plans a bachelor party as well as purchases the gift for the groom on behalf of groomsmen.
• During the ceremony  walks down the isle with the groom and stands beside the him. 
• Carrier of the rings and will present them to the groom during the ceremony. 
• Sign marriage license with the maid of honour as a witness.

Bridesmaids

• Cousins, friends or the groom’s sister are normally picked for bridesmaids.
• Form the processional at the ceremony.
• Mingling with the guests and ensuring they are having a good time.
• Assist the bride the day of the wedding and the days leading up to wedding.
• Help the Maid of Honour plan the bridal shower and bachelorette party.
• Normally expected to cover the cost of the dress, hair and makeup.

Groomsmen

• Cousins, close friends or the bride’s brother.
• Help Plan the Bachelor party.
• See that all guests are seated
• Escort the bridesmaids down the isle at the end of the ceremony.

Flower Girl

• Young relative of the bride.
• Walks down the isle with the Ring Bearer.
• Poses for pictures with the wedding party.

Ring Bearer

• Young relative of the bride or groom.
• Often carries the rings down the isle.
• Poses for pictures with the wedding party

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Who Pays For What Traditionally

When working out your budget for your wedding here is a list of traditionally who pays for what.  However with the change in time, it is not uncommon for the Bride and Groom to pay for everything.  Use this list to help you budget what you are going to have to pay for and if your parents have offered to help out, use this as a guideline.  Remember everyone's budget and circumstances are different.

Bride’s Expenses

• Groom’s Ring
• Gift For Groom
• Gifts For Attendants
• Accommodations For Bride’s out of town family

Groom’s Expenses

• Bride’s Ring
• Gift For Bride
• Gifts For Attendants
• Marriage Licence
• Corsages for mothers
• Boutonnieres for Best Man and Ushers
• Accommodations for Groom’s out of town family
• Honeymoon

Bride’s Parent’s Expenses

• Invitations
• Wedding Planner
• Church and Ceremony Flowers
• Music for ceremony
• Church Fee
• Bouquet’s for Bride and Bridesmaids
• Wedding Party transportation from ceremony and reception
• Reception DJ
• Reception Dinner

Groom’s Parent’s Expenses

• Reception Beverages & Hors d’oeuvres
• Rehearsal Dinner
• Gift for Bride and Groom

Bridesmaid’s Expenses

• Dress and Accessories
• Bridal Shower
• Gift for Bride and Groom

Groomsmen’s Expenses

• Wedding Attire Rental
• Bachelor Party
• Gift for Bride and Groom

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“I Do” In The Spring

With spring currently in full swing it is a very popular time for weddings.  Spring is the beginning of new live and many couples decide to say their “I Do” around this time of year.  Use a butterfly theme for invitations to symbolize beauty and transformation. If you are planning a spring wedding browse the following information to help you get ideas for your wedding.

Spring Colours

       

• Light colours in Pinks, Blues, Yellows and Purples

Spring Flowers

• Tulips, Calla Lily, Iris, Daisy, Orchids and Pussy Willows
• Use flowers in colours like Yellow, Pink, Purple and White

Decorations

 

• Dusk Ceremony done in a garden with candles and paper lanterns
• Lantern Tea light Holder on the tables
• Butterfly and Dragonfly decor

Bridesmaid Dresses

 

• Tea length and strapless
• Colours in light yellows, purples and pinks

Favors

 

• Personalized Seed Packets
• Miniature Watering Cans
• Butterfly Cookie Cutter

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Stag & Doe Tips

Budget

- Write down what you are expecting in ticket sales (Assume around 60% of the tickets you sell are people that will show up, the other sales will be people just buying a ticket to support the bride and groom). For alcohol assume an average of 4 drinks per person and price accordingly. Finally add another 10% onto your total of ticket and alcohol sales to account for money collected from games/raffles.

Location

- Select a hall that will comfortably hold the amount of people you are expecting as well as leave room for games/dancing and food. Check prices of halls for a Friday night and a Saturday night, a Friday night is typically cheaper however don't compromise attendance. Check with the hall to see if you can do your own bar as this will be beneficial money wise. Also if you are planning to have games and raffles ensure that gambling is allowed in the hall, some halls do not allow it.

Involve Wedding Party

- Traditionally it was the wedding party that threw a stag and doe for the bride and groom however it is now more common to see the bride and groom now helping because of distance of party members. Divvy up responsibilities so that everyone has something to do and ensures that all tasks are being taken care of. Make sure that the wedding party knows what needs to be be done and who is doing what so there is no confusion.

Sell Tickets

- Since most of your money will come from ticket sales, sell tickets like crazy. The more that are sold the better. Make tickets prices reasonable ($10-$15) so it will encourage more people to buy, especially the ones that won't be able to make it, a better price may get those people to buy them to support the bride and groom. Give out tickets to all wedding party members and parents and get them to sell them as well as having the bride and groom sell them.

Alcohol

- If you are going to do your own bar ensure you have all important permits in order to do so. An important one that some people may over look is getting insurance. This is the best option as if someone gets in an accident after being at your party you are insured and not liable. Price drinks accordingly and check to ensure you are pricing them according to liquor re-sake laws.

Draws/Door Prizes

- Have a variety of prizes that guests can choose to buy tickets for. You may need to invest a little for better prizes as you will sell more tickets on better prizes. Ensure you will make your money back and some.

Games

- Run games that will make you the most profit. Make sure you have variety so that everyone will find something they will be interested in playing. Do however ensure that you don't have too many games, and guests may tend to feel overwhelmed and not be willing to spend any more money.

Food

- Food needs to be served anywhere there is alcohol being served. It cannot just be snacks so ensure you provide enough food for your guests. Sandwiches are always a good option, or anything hot that you can make lots of like lasagne.

• Remember that where you can cut some costs will be beneficial for the bride and groom since this party is to help them out with covering some costs of their wedding.
• Look into donations as much as you can to help cover and save money on prizes. Some wedding parties have each member donate an item.
• Whatever the wedding party and bride and groom decide to so ensure that it is fun for all and do it as a team. The stag & doe is to be held to get people together to celebrate the occasion and everyone to enjoy themselves.
• When planning take notes from other stag & does that you attend to help out the one that you are working on.

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Tips For Buying Your Wedding Dress

Give Yourself Enough Time - You should be looking at the latest 6 months before your wedding. Wedding dresses generally take a couple of months to come in and you have to leave time for alterations. Start looking at least nine months in advance. If you do not have time make sure you check with the dress store as to getting a rush on the dress and what rush charges they charge .

Plan - Look on the Internet to see what styles you like and what style with fit your body type. Get an idea of what you like before going into a store as the store can be overwhelming and appointments may only be a certain length of time.

Feel Good - Make sure you pick a dress that is comfortable and makes you feel good on your wedding day. The way you feel in your dress can be reflected in pictures, so the better you feel in the dress the better your pictures will be. Remember that you will be in your dress all day so you want to make sure that there is good air flow and that it suits your wedding style.

Body Type - Look into what style of dress with flatter your body. Not all styles suit every body type and may highlight a part of your body you are not happy with. Consult with the dress store associate for their opinion as they do this for a profession.

Budget - Ensure that you are looking at dresses that are in your price range. It is very easy to go over your budget as you start trying on the more expensive dresses. If money is tight look at sales racks at wedding dress stores for discounted prices. Stick with your budget as costs will start adding up with everything you need to purchase for your wedding.

Enjoy - Remember that this is your wedding day and ensure you pick a dress you are going to enjoy. Your wedding day is a big day for you, enjoy it!

 

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A Place You Can Enjoy

With Currently Planning My Big Day I found I was all over the internet looking for an assortment of ideas. I am looking to make this blog a place to go where it is kind of like a one stop shop eventually. Check back soon for updated posts to help you with your big day.