Need to get rid of...

lindsaynewbride10

WEDDING BRAIN! Is anyone else totally overwhelmed with wedding planning right now? I'm not even into the thick of it yet and I'm feeling overwhelmed already- maybe too much at once in goin on in my mind. Anyone have any ideas for me and other wedding-brained-brides to do to get the wedding planning off our minds?!? Please help! lol

shaydenise

Lists and excel spreadsheets.  You can't get much done if you don't have a firm grasp on what has to be done.  Good luck!

Beachy730

Write ideas down.  I had a binder that I kept with different ideas and such.  I had tabs in it to keep organized by fowers, reception, etc.  I also kept my contracts in it when I started signing them.  It helped to be able to keep them organized and know that they are there when you want them. 

Once I started booking things though it definitely got better.  I didn't have to compare venues in my head or flower ideas.  Once it was booked I stopped thinking about it. 

ichellemay1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_need-rid-of?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:d48b258d-7b78-49ce-807c-1c20b398e58dPost:65c35204-35f9-44ed-b457-423c4506eebc">Re: Need to get rid of...</a>:
[QUOTE]Write ideas down.  I had a binder that I kept with different ideas and such.  I had tabs in it to keep organized by fowers, reception, etc.  I also kept my contracts in it when I started signing them.  It helped to be able to keep them organized and know that they are there when you want them.  <strong>Once I started booking things though it definitely got better.  I didn't have to compare venues in my head or flower ideas.  Once it was booked I stopped thinking about it. 
</strong>Posted by dnbeach12[/QUOTE]

This helped a lot.  Even though we're not getting married until next November - we have booked the location, the photog, and officiant.  Having those major things taken care of help lighten the load on the "wedding brain".  GL!

kellya01

I have a little journal I keep in my purse and when I have an idea I'll jot it down and immediately put the journal away, so I don't come back to it until I'm ready to get in "wedding planning mode."  It's keeping me from over-planning and second-guessing my decisions.  Unfortunately, I can't get my gift registry off my mind, specifically my china pattern.  I've changed the china pattern selection about 3 times and I'm going to delete what's on there until I've made up my mind.  Fiancee laughs at me!! :-) 

hparker3

I kept an Excel spreadsheet. I started with a page for the "phases", my first phase -  I had a caterer, DJ, minister and photographer that were on my "had to have" list, so I found a date that was suitable for all of them (it was my first choice for a date), then I had a second phase of things that had to be done - church, hall, decorator, limo, dresses, things that didn't matter so much as to which church I used, or so on, there's lots of choice for that.. and a third phase of all odds and ends stuff - favours, wedding rings, attendants gifts, etc. 

I had one page with everything listed that I had to spend money on, and a column for projected and actual costs, to keep things in perspective. 

Another page has the payment schedule some vendors want a deposit, so I've kept track of when I've sent cheques and so on.. 

Another page had a guest list, which I added a column so I could put a number beside their name and keep track of that. 

We're having a stag and doe so I have a page for that. 

If I hadn't had this list to start I would have likely gone crazy! I also got a wedding planning book... which in hindsight I probably didn't need but it had some good questions to ask different vendors and it helped me organize phone calls, and I've kept the hard copies of the contracts and receipts in it... 

I know.. I'm terribly an "A" type personality.. but it has helped keep everything together and sorted out.  good luck and have fun planning!