Organizational Tips

k3wilson

Hi ladies,I apologize if this question has already been asked.  My wedding is 16 months away and I have the church and reception venue booked, however, I’m having a tough time deciding how I should organize my lists, thoughts, vendor choices, ideas, etc into a 3 ring binder or other tool.  Any suggestions?  How did you organize your information and what would you do differently if you could start over? Thanks and Happy New Year!

spuccio

Most of my ideas ended up being things I found or saw online, so I made a bookmark page in IE and just bookmarked the things I liked.

You will also find that there is a natural progression in the order by which you plan. Right now its the church, the venue, later on it will be catering, dress, maybe photogs, after that it will be smaller details like invitations and flowers, and finally you will dissolve into a fituful state where you find yourself hole punching escort cards and tying ribbons onto tiny containers of bubble solution.

If I could do it over again, I would start 16 months before my wedding date. And I would have been on the Knot then. You're already doing a good job. :-)

EKobrenski

Ditto spucc about most stuff being found online.  I have a "Wedding" folder under My Pictures on my computer, then there are sub-folders such as "Paper", "Flowers", "Other Decor", "Dresses", etc.  I title the pictures with a little note so I know why I like them. 

Shazzie116

In Response to <a href="http://forums.weddings.com/Sites/Weddings/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_massachusetts-boston_organizational-tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:89Discussion:6d2828e2-8b75-4dda-9e18-f0cd5f34def6Post:eb6ed666-0221-4319-b787-87885e27bd39">Re: Organizational Tips</a>:
[QUOTE]and finally you will dissolve into a fituful state where you find yourself hole punching escort cards and tying ribbons onto tiny containers of bubble solution.
Posted by spuccio[/QUOTE]

<div>Spooch, it's like you're a fly on my wall. A cute fly. </div><div>
</div><div>My venue came with an organizational binder that was very helpful towards the beginning. I also found the Knot checklist to be helpful, since once you plug in your wedding date it tells you how far out to get things booked and done. </div><div>
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MeaghanandMichael

I would have found the knot sooner These ladies have great ideas that never ever even occured to me until the tail end of my planning when I jumped on here.

Excell spreadsheets our your friend, but definitely keep all paper materials in one place.

two other pieces of advice: You get what you pay for and let your priorities dictate what you spend your money on, not some made up check list online about what percentage you should spend on what.

Shazzie116

I also saved wedding pictures in a folder on my desktop of ideas I saw that I liked. You might want to create a bookmarks folder in your web browser of links that you see along the way of ideas, planning sites, vendor websites, and all things wedding. 

MeaghanandMichael

oh, and stalk people's fb pics and wedding bios here on the knot

you can look in magazines all day long, but to see what real brides are doing is very helpful!

clbartnicki

I agree with what pp's have said. I got a notebook and started to write lists, I'm totally OCD when it comes to To-Do lists so having something tangible was helpful. I then put everything in an excel spreadsheet with different tabs and such for different categories. Be sure to keep all contracts, receipts, etc. in one place.

You're in good shape!

deborah2121

The ideas in PP to save pics, etc. on your computer are fantastic--I'm now backtracking. 

I made a big binder with pocket dividers that work for all the planning aspects I need to focus on for my wedding weekend.  I've actually made two more for friends.  It has been so helpful for me.  I like having hard copies of things, and the area where I am getting married is not so digital. 

Let me know if you want me to send the labels--there were so many things I didn't think about in the beginning!

LoveAdopted

I also made a wedding folder on my comp. with folders for dresses, cakes, reception, ceremony, flowers, and paper/stationary. When I want to save a picture I add it to one of those folders. I also have a wedding folder in my bookmarks, also divided into categories to make it easier to find what I'm looking for later on.

Also, I have a binder where I keep magazine clippings, written notes and checklists, and most importantly the info and contracts from vendors. Just make sure whatever you pick, it's something that will work for you and what you will be able to keep up with throughout your planning.

k3wilson

Thanks for all the great ideas and reassuring comments.  I have a notebook were all my questions are written and have started subfolders with ideas on my desktop.  I also have a bunch of spreadhseets so far comparing venues and vendors.  I think the next step is starting that 3 ring binder because I like to have the paper copies in front of me.