Planning will be lots of fun, especially as you explore green friendly
options. But you may soon discover that the number of details to be
worked out seems endless - wedding date and location, style or theme,
invitations, apparel, vows, music, decorations, photographer, flowers,
favors, menu, travel, honeymoon plans…the list goes on! You may begin to
feel overwhelmed and nervous about getting it all done.
By establishing a
timeline, you'll find the journey to your special day more relaxed and
enjoyable, and you’ll experience a better sense of control over the
planning process. Refer to our wedding planner timetable to help
organize your tasks. If your simplified style doesn’t require all of the
activities listed, feel free to modify the schedule according to your
personal plan.
Even with a timeline to guide you through, it will still get a bit
hectic at times. When this happens, try to relax and keep things in
perspective. Remember that it’s not just about the wedding details. It’s
ultimately about sharing your lives together beyond the wedding day, so
reflect upon the deeper meaning of the occasion that you’re planning.
Also, be aware that this may be a very emotional time for you as well as
for your family and friends. It is not unusual for a myriad of emotions
(the good, the bad, and the ugly!) to come to the surface during this
time. For an excellent guide to understanding and dealing with what’s
beneath these emotions, take a look at counselor Sheryl Paul’s
Conscious
Weddings web site.
Congratulations! You are now ready to get started. Best wishes to you
for smooth planning, and for a joyful celebration and wonderful life
together!
|
|
| 6 to 12 Months Ahead |
 |
Think about the style and size of
wedding you'd like to have - formal or informal, large or small,
daytime or evening - as well as location and time of year. All of these factors
will have an impact upon the cost of your celebration. |
|
|
Set the budget. Include
everyone in the discussion who will be helping to pay for any part
of the event. Decide on a budget that is comfortable for all, and be
careful not to buy into the wedding industry's push for excessive
consumption. Elegance isn't about spending money - it's about
tasteful beauty that is often found in natural simplicity. For help
in keeping track of your wedding budget and actual costs, check out
the
wedding budget worksheet provided by the
Women's Institute for Financial Education. |
|
|
Finalize the wedding date.
Check the calendar for holidays and other big events that might
affect availability of guests and vendors. |
|
|
Hire a wedding coordinator if you plan to work with
one. |
|
|
Begin compiling your guest list to get a rough head
count and organize addresses. |
|
|
Reserve ceremony and reception
sites. Consider holding both events at the same location to save
money, time, and stress. |
|
|
Choose your wedding party from
your special friends and family members. |
|
|
Shop for your gown and accessories.
If your gown will be handmade, shop for fabric and contact a
dressmaker if needed. Check out our Wedding
Apparel page for advice on making earth-friendly fabric choices. |
|
|
Book a florist or
investigate eco-friendly options for bouquets and decorations if
local and/or organic flowers will not be available. |
|
|
Book an officiant. |
|
|
Reserve a caterer if you plan
to hire one, or begin investigating menus and recipes for
self-catering. |
|
|
Book photographers,
videographers, and musicians or disk jockeys if you plan
to use them, or ask talented folks you know if they would consider
helping out at your wedding. Friends may be happy to volunteer their
services, or if you compensate them it will generally be at a lower
rate than wedding professionals. |
|
|
Plan and book your honeymoon.
See our Honeymoon page for
information on ecotourism, green hotels and transportation. |
|
|
|
|
4 to 6 Months Ahead |
|
|
Order your organic wedding cake. |
|
|
Order wedding stationery,
including invitations and thank-you notes. Our
Invitations page offers
advice on making green choices for paper, printing, and mailing. |
|
|
Register for gifts with a
registry such as the
I Do Foundation
that donates a percentage of each sale to charity. |
|
|
Complete the guest list and
confirm addresses. |
|
|
Purchase wedding rings -
consider socially and environmentally responsible options. |
|
|
Purchase or reserve groom's attire. |
|
|
Discuss attendants' attire with
wedding party, and make final choices. |
|
|
Buy hosiery and any special
lingerie that your gown requires - and finalize your
accessories including veil or headpiece, shoes, and jewelry. |
|
|
Choose favors or plan for
handmade favors. |
|
|
Arrange transportation for
wedding day. |
|
|
Reserve accommodations for
out-of-town guests if needed. |
|
|
Book a room for your wedding
night at a green hotel or inn. |
|
|
Make decisions on flowers or silk
arrangements and bouquets. |
|
|
Confirm all arrangements with
vendors. |
|
|
Reserve rental equipment such
as tables, chairs, and linens, if necessary. |
|
|
Finalize honeymoon plans. |
|
|
|
|
2 to 4 Months Ahead |
|
|
Discuss details of menu
with caterer, or finalize self-catered menu. |
|
|
Communicate with officiant
regarding ceremony details - readings, vows, and music. |
|
|
Create a schedule of events for the
ceremony. If you are printing programs, keep in mind the same
earth-friendly options that you considered for your invitations. |
|
|
Create a schedule for the
reception. Give a copy to the caterer, photographer,
videographer, and DJ or musical director to make sure that everyone
is on the same page. |
|
|
Send a playlist to DJ
or discuss your musical selections with the leader of your live
music group. |
|
|
Schedule rehearsal time and
rehearsal dinner. |
|
|
Practice your first dance -
take lessons if needed. |
|
|
|
|
1 to 2 Months Ahead |
|
|
Buy a guest book - look for
handmade paper options. |
|
|
Book hair and manicure
appointments. |
|
|
Confirm all transportation
arrangements. |
|
|
Take care of paperwork |
|
|
- Obtain marriage license.
- Prepare name change documents if needed.
- Send change-of-address information to post office.
- Look over insurance policies (car, life, medical, and home)
to see if any changes will be necessary.
- Make appointments for blood tests if required.
- Contact local newspapers about publishing your wedding
announcement.
|
|
2 to 4 Weeks Ahead |
|
|
Have a final dress fitting,
complete with all accessories. |
|
|
Catch up on guest replies. |
|
|
Notify caterer of guest count
or take note of numbers if self-catering. |
|
|
Begin seating plan for reception
and make placecards. |
|
|
|
|
1 Week Ahead |
|
|
Finalize seating plan. |
|
|
Assign responsibilities to
attendants, friends and families for the ceremony and reception. |
|
|
Confirm final headcount
with caterer - or if self-catering, compile shopping list for
food and drinks. |
|
|
Reconfirm honeymoon details,
and provide travel itinerary to family member or friend in the event
of an emergency. |
|
|
Pack for honeymoon. |
|
|
Make sure that groom and wedding
party are on track with their attire and have plans to pick up
rented formalwear. |
|
|
|
|
1 Day Ahead |
|
|
Reconfirm transportation
arrangements for ceremony and reception. |
|
|
Have your manicure and any
other pampering you desire. |
|
|
Rehearse the ceremony, have
rehearsal dinner and run-through of responsibilities. |
|
|
Prepare tip and payment envelopes
for officiant and vendors, and arrange for someone to distribute
them. |
|
|
Arrange for the return of rentals
after the wedding, and plan for delivery of flowers to hospitals
or nursing homes and leftover food to homeless shelters. |
|
|
|
|
Wedding Day |
|
|
Bring payment and tip envelopes
for your trusted designee to distribute. |
|
|
Give rings to best man if you
want him to carry them. |
|
|
Enjoy your celebration! |
|
|
©2009 Green Elegance Weddings
|
