Recently, I came across my wedding binder while looking through my memorabilia. Page after page of information, it was fantastic that we were able to get it all done in time. I couldn't believe it. It was super organized. And, at that point, I just started organizing and didn't know what I was doing. But looking back now, I realized that it was super helpful for me, my mom, and everyone involved. You see, I had several relatives coming from other countries, like Australia, Italy, Canada. The house was bursting at the seams. While it was exciting, it also was stressful having everyone nearby. But, I realized it was important to be organized, or it could have been a lot worse.
To help you get ready for your big day, I have put together these tips.
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Take your time and pick the right place. The place is important and will help you determine what you want to do with the details. One of my clients got married in the woods because they had a King Arthur themed wedding.
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Set up a binder to hold all your papers - Print Out All The Agreements. Digital copies of contracts are great to have on hand, but paper is always better. You can quickly lose emails or forget you even got the email.
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Spreadsheets seem to work best. Things like what to do, where to go, what's the itinerary, etc... is better put in a list.
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Use an app if you feel it works for you. It's ideal for reminders on what needs to be done next. There are lots of apps out there, here are the most popular from the App store. Wedding Happy - Wedding Planner from WeddingHappy Inc.
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After you have decided on a venue, be sure to get a copy of their floor plan from the owner. This task will help you visualize how they will be laying out the hall for reception or the wedding.
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If you have several cars transporting people, like I did, make a drawing or list of every individual and their vehicle assignment. It helps immensely on the day of the wedding.
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If you are buying a new home and need stuff for it, make sure you make a list before going to set up the registry. This helped us a lot because we needed so much and having a list, helped us know what to look for and add.
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If you plan on having a few different registries, be sure you log in online to make sure the information is correct. Check all the information, like what you picked and what the address is and spelling is on the account. This way, you can make sure nothing gets lost or sent to the wrong address.
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If you have many people who can't make it, have someone video it during the ceremony so they can watch it online. This is great, and I wish I was able to do this when I got married. My grandmother from Europe couldn't come, but it would have been wonderful to have her at least watch it.
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If you have stylists coming over to do people's hair and nails, write up what time each individual has their appointment, so they know when to arrive. This tip will help if you have more than a few people getting their hair or nails done.
I hope this helps you make your wedding a memorable one and a stress-free one. Now, it's your turn, what is your favorite tip to reduce stress? Please leave a comment below.
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Cindy
Love these ideas! My niece's wedding is next summer and I'm getting to help with it. 🙂
Sabrina Quairoli
That sounds like fun! I love to organize large parties. =)
Janet Barclay
My mom wasn't well enough to attend our wedding, so my sister-in-law made a video. It was great. More recently, I know of someone who set up Skype at their wedding so that a relative with cancer could watch it live.
Sabrina
That's a great idea, Janet. Thanks for sharing.
Liana George
Great tips Sabrina! I've also heard of people hiring a day-of (the wedding) coordinator to help manage and oversee all the final details of the day so that the bride, her mother, or any other important party members can focus on the day and the memories rather than the details. I can definitely see how that would be a huge stress relief (and wish I had that on my wedding day!).
Sabrina
Thanks interesting, Liana. I love that idea. Thanks for sharing.