I have my dress, but honestly, that's about it. We've looked at venues, but wanted to wait til after the holidays to do too much (honestly, there was too much family stuff happening).
I have my dress, but honestly, that's about it. We've looked at venues, but wanted to wait til after the holidays to do too much (honestly, there was too much family stuff happening).
Am I nuts?
LOL! No you are not nuts. This time of the year is hectic to say the least but now that the bulk of the holiday season is over I'd get on the planning wagon as soon as possible with your venue being the very first thing I'd do. What area are you getting married in?
I can now add to my done list having booked the following:
videographer
makeup artist
cake baker
transportation
hotel room blocks
Question for you ladies:
I talked to my regular hair stylist and she seems to be on board but is being a bit non-committal. When I asked her about doing my hair at our last appointment she said sure if she is alive. Huh??? She typically does not work on Saturdays for religious purposes so I asked her if she would be willing to do my hair for the wedding. I showed her the styles I am considering. She discussed options for my styles and my prewedding hair regimen. It sounds like she is planning to do my hair but that "sure if I am alive" comment makes me leery. My wedding planner says don't count on her and to book someone else. I just hate to book someone and they lose the deposit if my regular hair stylist does come through.
Should I just book someone else and tell my regular hair stylist not to worry about my hair since it will be a long day for her and I know she doesn't work on Saturdays normally? It will give me peace of mind but probably upset her if she really does want to do my wedding hair. She is super sensitive. UGH!
@island07b2b Haha, thanks. I'm in the Philly suburbs area, so certain things definitely book up fast - especially September!!
As for your hairstylist issue, I also have someone I definitely prefer, but who might not be available on my date, considering when she usually works and her own personal stuff. I would just say that asking her honestly (even jokingly), and saying that you totally get where she's coming from and if she isn't up for it if she has any other recommendations. That at least gives her an out if she's really overwhelmed, and it gives YOU some good insight into the local industry (hopefully!).
Venue, Photographer, Dj/Photobooth, Ceremony Site, Officiant, Bridal Suite, Food, Bus Service, hotel block, the DRESS , Bridesmaids dresses, Save the Date/Invites...
Just barely set the date for September 12th! I have nothing planned and these comments are scaring me! Haha. Should I feel super behind!?
***stuck in a box***
Date twins! Depends on your location! My little sister got engaged and married in under 8 months. It's totally do-able. Where I am getting married there are only 2 venues so that was one of the main reasons I started early. (and that I am planning from 8 hours away). I would get on the big vendors immediately. Venue, Caterer, Officiant. With those three things you have a wedding. Then look at photographers and DJs as they book up in advance. And make sure you look into the bridal stores ordering policies. Some places you can get your dress in with 2 months, others it can take 6 months and then need 2 months altering.
For those of you who feel behind, don't! I just got engaged at the end of December and I'm getting married September 12, 2015. I picked the date because that's when my venue (a restaurant) was available. I'm having a wedding of less than 40 people, though, and having the ceremony in the garden of the restaurant so mine was fairly easy.
I was able to do the following within one week:
-Booked Venue (which does the catering, it's a restaurant, and has ceremony space)
-Booked DJ (which is really a friend of my fiance's)
-Booked a Photographer (this was the hardest, finding someone with that date free that wasn't willing to upsell me for engagement photos, which we don't want, etc.)
-Blocked hotel rooms at a hotel less than a half mile away
-Asked my bridesmaids, FI asked his groomsmen
-Bought my wedding dress (at a Brides Against Breast Cancer trunk show)
-Emailed my officiant (which is a friend of mine)
And I made an appt for a place that does both flowers and cake! I also got on Pinterest, found a bridesmaid dress I liked, and emailed it around.
I did all of this on my lunchbreaks (I get an hour for lunch from work). I'm fairly decisive though. Last weekend I took a trip to Homegoods and Ikea and got my favors (Ikea photo frames that will double as placecards) and candlestick centerpieces and candles.
Wedding date is 9/27...have all the vendors and venue booked.
I am working on entering addresses for my Save the Dates cards right now (since the spreadsheet will not upload). Have a meeting my the invitation designer the 1st of March (what she recommended).
Hotels are being "interviewed" by my mom.
Bridesmaids dress are about 95% decided on...keeping going back and forth with the color
Have to find a hair dresser, cake (doing just a cutting cake...but the dessert bar has been ordered) and SHOES
Going to a Bridal fair this Sunday to just look at the small stuff.
I work in the tax industry and I am so worried that I am going to forget something once things get busy in a few weeks.
We are having an 'OOT' wedding. Kind of. It's out of town for us, but in town for 60% of our guests, haha. We moved 7 hours away from our hometown just over a year ago so we decided that it made more sense to have the wedding back home than where we are currently living.
FI drove down last night and him and my mum are going to meet with the caterer and finalize menu options and pay the deposit. Then go do some research into how much booze will cost. Our venue lets us provide our own alcohol so we need to figure out cheapest way to buy it as well as how much we will need.
We'll be looking at suits in March, FI and I are buying the guys their suits instead of having them pay for a rental. So we're going to go get sized and choose the suit, and then wait for a 2 for 1 sale to come on to buy them.
Besides those things we're getting pretty close to being done the 'choosing' things part. And mainly just down to execution. We need to get a cake, we need to rent wine glasses, we need to get liquour and event license. Need to make the favour boxes, write the ceremony and get my dress fitted. Thats pretty much it! yay!
we chose some of our songs the other weekend too. Which is exciting. to know what songs are going to be playing at important moments
Ceremony/reception venue: Booked (same location for both)
DJ: Booked
Justice of the Peace: Booked
Caterer: Booked
Cake: Planned out but not booked yet (cake will be done by a family friend, so she doesn't require a deposit until way closer to the date)
Guest list: Mainly done
Flowers: Planned but still need to order (only bouquets will be done by a florist, I'll be DIYing the minimal flowers we're having for our centerpieces)
My dress: Bought!
Still have lots to do..
Fiance is going to start looking at suits within a few weeks with his groomsmen.
Bridesmaid dresses are up to the bridesmaids (they just have a color and length to follow).
Photography will more then likely be done by a family friend, just have to meet with her in person.
Still have to decide on STD and invite designs and gather up a list of all guest addresses.
We've started to buy a lot of our decorations and centerpiece items, but still have lots more to get and plan out.
Still have to decide on what I want to do hair and makeup wise. I don't have a regular hairdresser so I have no idea where to even start.
Having trouble deciding on whether or not to have a hair trial done, and debating on bridesmaid's flowers. But other wise most everything is booked and done, and I need to find my shoes!
Also debating Save-The-Date's versus just sending invites out three months ahead; we don't have a lot of out-of-town guests.
We're meeting the priest tomorrow, very exciting! (Although this will be complicated. I'm just glad we're getting the ball rolling. There will be paperwork. Out my ears, I'm sure!)
As I stated earlier, I have my dress, and I just booked the appt for my BMs to start looking at dresses (at which time I will pick up my dress for alterations!)
Ah. now I feel better. In March/April I plan to talk to a DJ, prep/order invites, and...do some other stuff. I don't know, haha.
Booked:
Ceremony space + rentals
Ceremony musician
Flowers
Day-of coordinator
Reception space (restaurant so food+bar)
Cake
DJ
Officiant
My dress
FI suit
Bridesmaids dresses
Hotel
Photographer
To be done soon:
Transportation
Guys suits
Shoes
Finalize guest list and order invitations
Bridal party gifts
Order favours
I'm finally feeling like I've got a handle of everything.
Am I missing anything?
Booked:
Ceremony space + rentals
Ceremony musician
Flowers
Day-of coordinator
Reception space (restaurant so food+bar)
Cake
DJ
Officiant
My dress
FI suit
Bridesmaids dresses
Hotel
Photographer
To be done soon:
Transportation
Guys suits
Shoes
Finalize guest list and order invitations
Bridal party gifts
Order favours
I'm finally feeling like I've got a handle of everything.
Am I missing anything?
Room blocks maybe? Otherwise, you look good to go as far as I can tell. :-)
@DaniBites - Hawaii sounds great! I've never been but my FH has and says it is amazing.
Quick planning update:
Put down deposit for my invitations - YAY! I spent two good months researching vendors, styles, etc. and finally pulled the trigger. Now on to the design phase which will probably take me forever as picky as I am. LOL!
Hi ladies I'm new here... Congrats 2 all my fellow Sept brides! My date is 9.19 and I've got alot done so far but I haven't gotten marriage license, done a makeup and hair trial, or ordered BM or FG dresses but I have researched and decided on them and will order March 14... same thing with GM attire, will do that Sunday coming...I have decided on my DYI invitation design and will work on those in April so their ready 2 go out in May, stds are going out next week...All vendors are booked and partially paid off, along with honeymoon... I have my dress and all accessories but I'm ordering a separate dress for & shoes for my reception... I've ordered everything I need from the equipment rental company for the ceremony but I still need 2 order flowers, the reception hall will be decorated by the owner...I DIY'd my centrepieces, bouquets, bouts and corsages, and card box... I've ordered all the little extra odds and ends I need (FG wagon, towels pitcher and basin for our foot washing, FG baskets, guest book and pin, anniversary piñata, etc.)...I still need 2 do all my signage... I've got my MOH,BM,BstM and GM gifts... gifts for my special speakers... still need 2 get gifts 4 FG, RB, BB & ushers... I think I'm at a pretty good point in planning!
We just got engaged on Feb 4th. Our wedding is Sept 12th. So far I have:
Venue booked (it's a DIY venue, all that's included is tables and chairs). Ceremony will be at the same site, not sure where on the site yet, as different spots cost different amounts.
Dress and veil ordered
Guest list spreadsheet complete with addresses
I've been talking to a caterer and have a meeting with a photographer on Sunday. My aunt, who lives out of town but is a florist, is here in town this weekend so we are meeting to talk flowers. She's doing them for free as her gift to me, I just have to provide the flowers for her.
I feel like I haven't gotten much done but my MOH, who is also my volunteer planner (she used to do it for a living and is almost more excited about my wedding than I am), said I'm in good shape.
Re: So Where is Everyone with their Planning?
We are slowly but surely getting there:
Church/officiant - booked
Venue- booked
Photographer - booked
Engagement Photos- done
Cake- included with venue
DJ- included with venue
Hair & Makeup- booked
Transportation (trolley) - booked
Honeymoon - booked
Save the dates - designed and ordered, sending in Jan.
Dress- ordered
Website- done
Next up on my to-do list is bridesmaid dresses and florist.
For those of you who feel behind, don't! I just got engaged at the end of December and I'm getting married September 12, 2015. I picked the date because that's when my venue (a restaurant) was available. I'm having a wedding of less than 40 people, though, and having the ceremony in the garden of the restaurant so mine was fairly easy.
I was able to do the following within one week:
-Booked Venue (which does the catering, it's a restaurant, and has ceremony space)
-Booked DJ (which is really a friend of my fiance's)
-Booked a Photographer (this was the hardest, finding someone with that date free that wasn't willing to upsell me for engagement photos, which we don't want, etc.)
-Blocked hotel rooms at a hotel less than a half mile away
-Asked my bridesmaids, FI asked his groomsmen
-Bought my wedding dress (at a Brides Against Breast Cancer trunk show)
-Emailed my officiant (which is a friend of mine)
And I made an appt for a place that does both flowers and cake! I also got on Pinterest, found a bridesmaid dress I liked, and emailed it around.
I did all of this on my lunchbreaks (I get an hour for lunch from work). I'm fairly decisive though. Last weekend I took a trip to Homegoods and Ikea and got my favors (Ikea photo frames that will double as placecards) and candlestick centerpieces and candles.
hey ladies:) my wedding date September 7th and we are slowly but surely getting there...
venue- booked
photographer -booked
videographer-booked
wedding planner-booked
officiant-booked
dj-booked
florist-booked
dress- bought
bridesmaid dresses- purchased
engagement photos- done
block of rooms- blocked
make up artist- booked
hair stylist- booked
still to do ----- save the dates , research honeymoon destination,
@lfbrowne sorry for stealing your form lol
my wedding date September 19th...
venue- booked
photographer -booked
videographer-booked
wedding planner-up in the air hubby wants it I dont
officiant-booked
dj-booked
florist-family friend (so basically booked lol
dress- bought
bridesmaid dresses- looking at now ....
engagement photos- umm maybe
block of rooms- suppose to go but getting hit with snowstorm tomorrow (NYC)
make up artist- booked
hair stylist- booked
save the dates- sent
research honeymoon destination
Besides those things we're getting pretty close to being done the 'choosing' things part. And mainly just down to execution. We need to get a cake, we need to rent wine glasses, we need to get liquour and event license. Need to make the favour boxes, write the ceremony and get my dress fitted. Thats pretty much it! yay!
we chose some of our songs the other weekend too. Which is exciting. to know what songs are going to be playing at important moments
I have about 24 save the dates to send yet and those are finally done
.