Aaaaaaaaaaand the panic sets in....

bsn1752

83 days to my wedding and the checks officially have sent me into panic mode...

I'm missing:

Officiant
Groomsmen (to be done on the 15th)
Flower Girl dress
Gifts for mothers, fathers, BM and GM
Ceremony music
Finalized guest list

... and I'm sure there's tons more I'm missing.  GREAT!  Is there anything you can see or words of wisdom here?!?!!

fallbride1109

Wow, I can't believe you are at just over 2 months!  Are you having programs? 
You'll be fine!  I do suggest you make your officiate your top priority.  What are you thinking of doing for music--is the DJ doing it?  Do you have any idea what kind you want? 

The  guest list--yeah, that one I worked on right up until the night before I left for the hotel.  I suggest doing it in Word and just keep reworking it as the RSVPs keep coming in, people cancel, etc. (I'm assuming you are assigning tables.)

Gifts--I just did hankies and pocket squares so I have no real suggestions there.  But the moms and dads did like them.  Took my BMs for a spa day (also got them towel wraps to get ready in) and we all know Ben didn't get the GMs anything!  (Are you getting your FI anything?)

shortgirltx

Breathe.  Prioritize.  Make a list.

For me, I would work on the guest list.  I don't know when you plan on sending invites out but that would be the biggie for me.  If you are waiting on addresses and all that stuff from various family members, give a firm deadline that they have to have it to you by.  And stick to it.  I know it sounds mean but you don't have all day to wait on everyone else. 

We did presents towards the end.  Do you have any ideas of what you want to get them?  I know if it was me, I would leave DH to his family and GM gifts if you just can't do it all yourself.

Your DJ should be a big help with the ceremony music.  Are you just having trouble choosing what to play where?

We had this dandy little check list and then had our own list on a white board that we went down, one by one, checking things off.  It's very cathartic for me to draw a line through something and think "I'm done with you!!" 

fallbride1109

Oh yeah guest list--you haven't sent the invites yet have you?  Well, that will be a big one off the list soon!  I kept track of the RSVPs (again in Word) and started my table assignments in a separate document--but then that is what I had to keep reworking up until the wedding.

mseale

Officiant - you still have time to find one.  Also, is there a family member that has a way with words?  Have them get ordained and use them.

Flower Girl Dress - is your daughter the flower girl?  Make it a mommy & me day and go shopping, have lunch.  Just a fun afternoon.

Gifts - Don't stress!  This does not need to be extravagant.  I got a necklace for my mom that matched her dress.  Mike got engraved cuff links for his GM's at Things Remembered, and threw in a bottle of their favorite wiskey.  For the BM's, I got a cute canvas bag with their initial embroidered on it.  I put their favorite bottle of wine, a cute necklace, and something personal (cookbook, perfume, etc)

Music - I didn't have musicians or music picked out until 10 days before the wedding.  If you have the musicians, maybe they can make some recomendations?

Guest list - sorry, no advice but to Get R done. 

bsn1752

Yes, the invites are going out in 2 weeks.  I was thinking of hiring a calligrapher to write the envelopes out but I think I'm just going to print them instead.

Did I mention that my child is turning 4 next Monday with a birthday party to follow... so needless to say I am STRESSSED!

mandaroo7

Phew girl, breathe in and out!  I've got 3 months and soooo much to do too.  You can do it!

bsn1752

No, my MOH's daughter is my flower girl.  My daughter is walking my FI down the aisle.  I actually have been scouring ebay for a few weeks and I think that I am ordering these dresses today.

for my daughter




for my flower girl

fallbride1109

Oooh, I love those!

I used Calligraphy by Angela and she did my envelopes (180) in about 2 days.

bobbileighb

I am right there with you we are less than 100 days out!  I love those dresses and the idea of your daughter walking FI down the aisle!

I would definately work on an officiant and guest list first.  Arent you using Melody?  Is she not doing ceremony or are you wanting something other than a DJ?

A big stress for me that I didnt see on your list is the timeline and who should be where and when.

I have a ridiculous list of stuff I need to do on excel going and I just add to it as I think of new stuff and highlight it green when its done.

bsn1752

Yes, I'm using Melody.  I have an idea of what I want, but I can't make an official decision.

And the day-of timeline is kind of off my mind right now... my MOH is awesome and handling that.

Programs, I have a BM also handling.  She's a stay at home mom and LOVING designing them... thank goodness.  But those are on hold until I can find the officiant. 

danac2010

The guest list needs to finalized.  Like PP said give them a firm date to give you whatever info you are missing.  Like Michelle said do you have someone that you can get ordained?

The dress you found are cute.  My FG dress looked very similar to the for your daughter but with a red sash.   What size do you need?

Gifts worry about after you get the invites done.  I ordered 99% of our gifts on etsy and got them back in a week or 2.  Do you know what you want to get the girls?  Let FI worry about his GM and his parents gifts and only give input if he asks.  Thats what I did and DH surprised me with what he found!

serlace

You already know Etsy is your friend! 

Gifts:
BM - I got mine cute little coin purses from the Coach outlet store.  I also had a 20% off coupon.
GM - I got them ties from thetiebar.com
MOB/MOG - I got them embroidered hankerchiefs from etsy (see stephie's bio) - they both cried their eyes out they loved them so much
FOB/FOG - I got them engraved pocket knives from TK store.
FG - a tiara from Claire's
RB - a stuffed animal from build-a-bear that he also carried down the aisle

*And by I, I mean we (DH and I) - but who am I kidding, I really mean I. 

Also - love the dresses for your FG and daughter.

juliebug1997

I did my guest list in Excel.  I had a column for yes/no and the number coming off of each invitation. 

How many invitations are you sending out?  My MOH, mom and I had my 60ish done in a couple of hours on a rainy Saturday in January. 

Make a list.  I will agree that your first priority needs to be your guest list.  A very close second is an officiant.  Not able to find any one while I was gone?  Gosh.

Gifts: we got the moms jewelry since it was also Mother's Day weekend.  We got my dad a small kitchen appliance that he wanted and his dad golf balls.  We got his BM a gift card to a nice restaurant where he could take his wife.  I got my MOH a Coach wristlet that she loved (she took it to NYC with us last week).  I also got her sister (house party) a gift card to B&N since she loves to read.  We got a nice bottle of scotch/whiskey for the two GM's (our brothers).  I went for something a little more practical with my gifts. 

BanannaP

If it makes you feel any better, I didn't finalize our music decisions till a week or less before the wedding. You can just put that one off to the side for now

serlace

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_aaaaaaaaaaand-panic-sets?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:0b1d949a-5bc1-45c0-b989-a9e7cd2b1a46Post:00d18dcc-b3e5-4948-bc6f-7b03cdb9e528">Re: Aaaaaaaaaaand the panic sets in....</a>:
[QUOTE]If it makes you feel any better, I didn't finalize our music decisions till a week or less before the wedding. You can just put that one off to the side for now :)
Posted by BanannaP[/QUOTE]

Or delegate that to your FI.  That's what I did.