Hawaii

What are your wedding planning essentials?

So, yesterday I was going through the boards and I found an interesting thread about what essentials helped us get through college. So now, I've been thinking- what have been your wedding planning essentials?

Here are some of mine:
1. My iphone- I swear I don't work for apple, but seriously- I couldn't have gotten as far as I have without it! I use it for numbers, quick reviews of things, reading and writing emails to vendors, texting my bms, tracking my runs for my pre-wedding weightloss, my to-dos, my vendor numbers, calling my vendors. I swear- this has been my biggest resource.

2.The Knot Destination Wedding Book- It's helped guide me on what questions to ask the vendors, and what things to consider before contracting.

3. The Knot Forum- You girls have been the most helpful- when I'm on the internet I'm usually on the Knot! I look forward to reading reviews and hearing about all of your experiences!!


I'm only in the beginning stages with my coordinator and my photographer booked so far, so I still have a ways to go. Considering that I may still need more essentials along the way.

Would you recommend anymore to help me along? Do you guys use planners or other things I haven't considered? Maybe certain magazines or books?

Re: What are your wedding planning essentials?

  • edited December 2011
    If you travel a lot, GOGO Inflight Wireless.  6 hours across the country is plenty of time to respond to every vendor :D

    A binder.  As you sign contracts, print them, punch a hole, and add it to the binder.  If you do this periodically over a few months, you have something to grab and look at throughout the process, and it's ready when you get on the plane.  Putting it together the night before is a nightmare, but you will be glad you have it on the day of if anything happens.  Put your guest list, seating chart, timeline, and everything in here as well.  Also, print out a page that lists every vendor and their phone numbers.

    If you're writing your own ceremony, check out this book which covers many of the key parts of the ceremony itself:
    http://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Ceremony-Planner-Essential-Important/dp/1402203438/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309547905&sr=8-1

    Google Image Search.  'nuff said.

    Etsy: for everything your heart could desire

    Ebay: bought my chair ties for far cheaper than it was to rent

    For the day of: program all of your vendors into your phone.  Name them  1 - photog, 1 - WC, etc so they are all at the top of the list.  ANYONE can call any of them for you.  This is especially handy if your trusty binder is not near.  Ask FI and MOH to do the same.
    image
  • edited December 2011
    I really liked my real simple weddings booklet! It has a pull out packet that you can write in. Im so thankful for my iphone too! Im Alwaaaays on it!
  • FSForeverFSForever member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    @Tanq, Thanks for the binder idea. I bought one at the start of our engagment when we were going to have the wedding on the home front and I was thinking do I really need this now, but I see that I might.  I have been printing contracts and ideas and still keeping them in it but I never thought to actually bring it with us.  Oh wait til I tell FH that I am now bringing the binder, along with all of the other stuff I have been buying.  LOL
  • edited December 2011
    These boards, a binder for contracts, a well organized spreadsheet for payments, and a mood board.

    Also, a sense of humour and the ability to remember that it's just one day. Don't break the bank, don't freak out on people, and remember, no one cares as much about your wedding as you do. Don't make 'em jump through hoops. =)
  • edited December 2011
    Ooh, yes, Alyson reminded me of spreadsheets.  Google Documents are your friend.  Seriously.  Song list.  Guest list.  Vendor payments.  Make a spreadsheet for each and share them with your FI so both of you can edit & review even if you're not in the same place (eg, from work).

    Our guest list spreadsheet is MANIACAL and tracked everything from address to RSVP status to whether a gift was received and the date the thank you was sent.  Lifesaver.

    Same for vendor payments.  Name, role, phone number, total charge, and then every payment, by whom, and date.  Eg - $500 deposit - paid by T&T - virtual CC #

    And, virtual CC numbers.  I know Citi does this, not sure who else.  This prevents you from having to share your real cc # with vendors, and then you can give a different number to each vendor to prevent ANY type of fraud and be able to contain it.  The other bonus is that it expires in 2 months, so they can't charge you after that without getting back in touch.

    Gosh I love technology :)

    [QUOTE]Also, a sense of humour and the ability to remember that it's just one day . Don't break the bank, don't freak out on people, and remember, no one cares as much about your wedding as you do. Don't make 'em jump through hoops. =)
    Posted by kaesha[/QUOTE]
    TRUTH.
    image
  • fabutanfabutan member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Great suggestions on here!  :)  Some redundant answers from above, but my most frequented/bookmarked websites during the planning process were:

    - This board!  LOVE!
    - Google docs - uploaded every document imaginable on there.  We shared it with our coordinator before the wedding (including moodboard, invoices, guest list, seating chart, etc.) and it was super helpful
    - Weddingmapper's vendor manager (also budget manager) was a godsend!  Kept our finances organized and accessible on-line from anywhere
    - Google Reader - Followed all of our vendors' blogs like a hawk to keep updated with their latest work  Especially important when it came to vendor selection.
    - Style Me Pretty - the best wedding inspiration blog ever!  Had a few other wedding blogs subscribed with RSS feeds too
    - Vendor review websites (i.e. Wedding Channel, Project Wedding, yelp)
    - Weebly - free website design tool - it was great for developing our wedding website for guests

    Like others, one of the first things I did was purchase a binder for organizing paperwork.  However, I ended up not using it.  I  found it much easier to keep everything electronic instead.  It was easier to organize, file, and retrieve.  Kept all the files neatly in folders on my computer and uploaded copies onto Google Docs as back-up.  I didn't print out anything until the last week before leaving to bring as reference.

    I bought a few reference books and magazines at the beginning.  BUT most of these turned into secondary resources, since I could find virtually anything I needed on-line.

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