Finally set a date- Aug 25! I guess I should start planning...

rojacobs · February 2012

Hi August brides!

Found out today that I got a date at my venue- August 25th! The wedding will be mid-mountain in Oregon, and it's BEAUTIFUL! So beautiful that I don't think I will do anything other than flower centerpieces and maybe some candles. The venue is all-inclusive with set up, tear down, catering, bar, dance floor, tent, draped lights, linens, etc. So yay, got the date and venue, other than that I have NOTHING planned except a draft budget...

I have looked at the knot checklist and it's just overwhelming... What do I need to do first? Here's what I'm thinking- STDs (planning to use Vistaprint, I have a groupon), dress shopping (found great Maggie Sottero dresses online, nobody in the state has them in shop, but going to a trunk show next weekend to find something similar), then think about invitations? Oh my gosh, so much to do like BM dresses, cake, flowers (will do wholesale myself probably), have no idea who will officiate the wedding, guest list is half done, hair, make up, not planning on doing favors, registry, make a website... A couple nice things-bridesmaids parents are professional photographers, and fiance's coworker is a DJ, so I'm hoping we are set with those things!

I'm going to drive myself crazy, any advice that won't be completely overwhelming?? Is there something that I really have to get done now that I could easily forget? Should I suck it up and go through the knot's huge checklist that totally stresses me out?

Also, Maggie dress brides, how long have you been told it takes to order and get your dress in? I'm afraid they're going to say 6 months because it's wedding season!

Thanks ladies, and happy planning!!!

katehar01 · February 2012

Congrats! August Brides are the best:)

Take a deep breath. The knot checklist is a little nuts, and you don't even have to do all of it. However, since you're less than 7 months away, there are a few things you should really get to ASAP (in my opinion):

1) I'm assuming the venue has catering? If not, get that booked next.

2) This may depend on the region, but I know around her, photographers book Saturday weddings way far out. I would get on that soon, especially if photos are important to you, or the good ones will be taken.

3) I would go dress shopping soon - it does take a while for them to come in, and I've heard up to 6 mos (although I think they may say that to scare you.) Mine's taking 4 mos, but it's not your designer. I'd start soon so that you don't feel pressured in case you want to make a second appt somewhere else or mull it over. Oh and side note - take pics! Looking back on pics later gave me a different perspective on how I felt about the dresses.

4) DJ next probably. But around here there's a lot of DJs and they don't book up as quick as the photogs.

5) Are you doing STDs? If so, get that going soon - vistaprint has nice ones, I got mine from minted.com and they were a little bit more money but really nice quality and came in literally 2 days. It's nice to be able to put your web address on there so that people can see it for more info, but that means getting that done, obviously. You probably can wait a bit on invites (and BTW, I've discovered that some local businesses have just as good/better prices than websites on invitations! Who knew?)

Sry this was probably overwhelming but I hope it helps! There's obviously a million other things but I think they can wait. I felt like I can't focus on more than 2-3 things or I feel overwhelmed haha.

Congrats!

mercy4 · February 2012

Congratulations! It sounds like your ideas are coming together. My suggestion is that if you find The Knot checklist overwhelming, try checking things off. I found a lot of it to repeat or be irrelevant to me and then the list got shorter (ex: do you need the list to tell you to send thank-you's or relax and get sleep before the big day?). Good luck!

jennc82512 · February 2012

Welcome and Congrats Date Twin!

You want to get the Big things out of the way first Such as photographer and DJ, which hopefully you already have that set since you have close friends that work in both areas, other then that i would work on finding a dress! I am a Maggie Bride, I ordered my dress mid january and they told me it would be in at the end of june. Now They may have to tell me that just because but since you are cutting it close to the 6 month mark i would DEF get looking at dresses. Besides that just relax, i know it seems overwhelming at first but once you start knocking things of your list you will see its not that bad! Good Luck and Happy Planning!!

LittleMissCutiePie · February 2012

Congrats Date Twin! Just breathe and take it as it comes! Don't worry, it'll be awesome!

JoelandLeann · February 2012

Congrats, I am another one of your date twins! Six months is plenty of time, you will get through it!

JoelandLeann · February 2012

Congrats, I am another one of your date twins! Six months is plenty of time, you will get through it!

hmbennett318 · February 2012

I'm just chiming in b/c I'm a date twin, too! There is definitely a lot to do, but if you break it down into importance, it won't be so overwhelming.

Congrats!!

i2012do · February 2012

Congrats I'm a date twin too!!

I know it seems hectic, but it can be done. I am helping my friend plan a June wedding now. At first it seemed insane to me ,afterall I've been engaged 2 years and been planning the entire time, but it is feasible you just have to make some consessions. Also, you have to remember that while the knot says to do certain things at certain times it depends on the region. We live in a summer tourist area so venues book up out to 3 years before for specific dates, esp holidays etc, but that isnt the same everywhere.

Please GET YOU OFFICIANT FIRST. If you don't have someone to marry you, you won't have a marriage. Everything else is just "Wedding stuff"

Next up, get a photographer.

Book a DJ or band

Do the Save the dates. Those should go out no later than the first week or 2nd week of March- so I'd get those picked by this weekend or next weekend and you will be good.

these other items i would plan to have done by end of April:

Florist

Cake

Invites

Don't forget florists do more than one wedding a day and so do bakeries so you should be ok with that.

You need to get on a dress, if you are buying off teh rack you have sometime. It dpeneds again on your region here. I would call around to Maggie vendors and ask how long the order time is now, and also if there is a rush charge. Some maggie dresses can be rushed (they are indcated online), some can't.

Check out Davids immediately to get an idea on the style you are looking for.

Bridesmaids can probably get their dresses sometime between now and May but I wouldnt wait if you are getting them from a bridal shop (they need to be done in the same Dye lot) if you are byuing off the rack , or you are buying from a chain (Like JCrew) you have more flexibility.

frogger6673 · February 2012

Date twin! 8/25 is a great date!

carlysimpson · February 2012

date twin as well!

mfarl007 · February 2012

Heyy I'm really late with this post but.. i'm a maggie bride and they told me about 6 months but I got mine in 4!

Finally set a date- Aug 25! I guess I should start planning...

Re: Finally set a date- Aug 25! I guess I should start planning...

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