well in order to get my mind off of some of the stuff going on in my life right now I have decided to turn my focus to more happier things: planning my wedding.

well this lead to me freaking out because i have no idea what to do!!!!!!!!


anyone got advice??

this is what i've got done: we've set a date. we've got hte wedding party selected. and we've got wedding songs picked out. and location picked and reserved.

How about guests? The meal, bridesmaids...

when's an appropriate time to start seriously planning this stuff?

a year? 6 months? 3 months? 2 weeks?

You say you've got the location - are you getting married where the reception is or in a church or other location? You should get BOTH booked asap. You may find you might not be able to match up dates so make sure you can change!

I bought a Bride's Magazine (I think you can even get them free at dress boutiques, shows, etc.) They give you checklists for EVERYTHING!! They also should give you different traditions for the ceramony, etc. I found mine really helpful. You can also get some ideas of course for table settings, centerpieces, all that stuff. Make your bridesmaids do some of the work for you - mine were totally useless and I ended up doing ALL, and I mean ALL of the work (my hubby works two full-time jobs so he barely had time to meet with the minister and checkout the hall and church with me).

Good luck!! Its exhausting but fun!

when's an appropriate time to start seriously planning this stuff?

a year? 6 months? 3 months? 2 weeks?
Well, its never too early to start. I mean, you can always just brainstorm now, and when the time for certain things comes to finalize, youll already have a general idea so itll help take some of the stress off. Good luck and congrats!

Definitely book the hall and church about a year ahead. If its not going to be that long - then tomorrow!!! Seriously - they are the most important to get confirmed. Dress can be 6 mos to a year also. Invitations are to be mailed 8 weeks in advance of the date, so you may want to get looking at some thermographer's books and decide how you want the invitations to read - the bridal book can also help you with ettiquite (sorry 'bout the spelling).
After that, everything else can fall into place. Depending on the deal you make with the hall, they can help you with table decor, the menu, even cake, DJ, limo or you can go a la carte on that stuff (but it does add up).
Get your total budget together first too and try to stick to it as much as possible - its amazing how easily it can get out of control! Think of friends who've already been there that you might be able to borrow decorations they used to save money (tulle, arbors, candleabras, etc.)

Hope I'm not freaking you out now and overwhelming you with stuff!! :lol:

Hope I'm not freaking you out now and overwhelming you with stuff!! :lol:

:stressed:

well, we are getting married in our church and the reception will be in the gym... the wedding is in under 11 months. i guess we should talk to the preacher and make sure he's availble too... book him lol

:stressed:

well, we are getting married in our church and the reception will be in the gym... the wedding is in under 11 months. i guess we should talk to the preacher and make sure he's availble too... book him lol

I like that little purple guy!! :D

Yeah, you want to make sure you get the guy you want - or you could end up with Joey Tribiani!!! :lol:


Its going to be a big help having the reception in the gym at the same location.

If you're going somewhere else for pictures, you can even rent a nice stretch van or something to take the whole wedding party, parents, etc.. It may save you some $$$ and be fun to go all together. Be creative and make it your own - put your personal stamp on as much as you can - doesn't even have to be fancy. I wanted our dogs as ring bearer and flower girl (but they took off in rehearsals!!!)

No, I haven't planned any, but who knows? I just may plan this one. :happyface :dance:

Or this one... :D ;)

In your dreams Fleet. :lol: Kidding.

I got married at a function hall where they specialized in weddings. They had a great package that included everything except music. For so much $$ per person, it was all inclusive. The place contracted with certain businesses, so I had to go to the invitation place and choose my invitations. Same for my flowers, I went to a florist. I didn't pay for them....the function place did.

It included a photographer where I received a wedding album and two smaller ones for our parents. Additional pictures, we had to pay for ourselves. We picked our menu from their catering list.

All we had to do was find a great band which we did, and hire a DJ. I preferred the package deal. It made it very easy. I could still pick out color schemes, linens, food, flowers, and invitations, but it was very structured.

I wouldn't want the hassle of having to coordinate everything separately.

Good luck Ms.Orange. Half the battle is over. You've got your man. ;)