Victoria Hayes - Wedding Planning: Planning a Wedding for Your Perfect Wedding Night

Wedding Planning

Planning a Wedding for Your Perfect Wedding Night

Victoria Hayes

Copyright 2013 Victoria Hayes

All rights reserved.

Congratulations! If you are reading this book then it must mean either you are about to become engaged or you are newly engaged. You are about to embark on an exciting journey towards a new life. However, while basking in the newness of your status change, you do have a daunting and long road ahead of you if you are planning a traditional or semi-traditional wedding. It is not that bad, really, but there are a lot of steps to take to get there.

This book details most of those steps, from helping you to announce your engagement with flair to getting down to the nitty gritty of the details involved in the wedding day. Do not skip a beat, let this book help to guide and direct you on this fun and exciting journey. Each chapter details another step, offering simple advice and direction to help you along the way.

In order to use this book effectively you should keep a small notebook for notes, and later it will be used to record important dates, things you need to know like fees, and it will help you to keep up with all you have to do. You can record this on your phone or your tablet if you are opposed to using a notebook and pen, but it can be mighty handy to have this little notebook with you wherever you go. Keep your scheduler busy and keep it as a reminder of the next steps you need to take.

The goal here is to help you plan the perfect day, the perfect wedding. Even if you want a formal wedding complete with a wedding gown train and a 4 course meal at the reception, or if you want to wear a simple dress and have a casual barbeque at the reception. This book works as a guide. Read through the book, take notes, and keep up with the dates. You can plan ahead to whatever time frame you set for your wedding date. Adjust the suggested times to fit within your personal schedule.

One last piece of advice before you start on this exciting journey. Relax, breathe, and enjoy the process. A wise man once said "half the fun of arriving is the journey of getting there." So enjoy the journey, plan your perfect day, and live each moment to its fullest. Take your love by the hand, get your notebook and pen ready, and start now...

So he has proposed and the two of you are ready to announce to the world that you are engaged. How you do it is basically up to you, but aside from standing on a rooftop and shouting to the world, you want to be thoughtful and plan the announcement in a way that brings meaning and includes those you know and love.

One of the most fun ways of announcing the engagement is with a big party. Here you will gather all of the family and friends that mean the most to you. If there are those who cannot be available, be sure to record the big moment, so they too can experience it. Nothing makes it more fun than to gather around good food and music with the people who mean the most. The people you invite to the engagement announcement party should also be the first on the wedding invitation list.

Other ways to announce an engagement are through social media and the internet. You can set up a website, with photos of the two of you and be sure to have "comments" enabled. You can keep in touch with the family and friends this way; keep them abreast of wedding news.

You can always go with the old-fashioned way by mailing (yes, go to the post office, buy a stamp type of mail) an engagement announcement. You can purchase engagement announcements through the same companies that print wedding invitations.

If you cannot do a party and do not care for a website with social media or snail mail, you can opt to tell people in person as you see them. Be sure to include your family first, then close friends, then acquaintances. Make a list of those you feel should know and make it a point to seek them out and share the news.

After the announcement of the engagement is out of the way and before you even set a date you need to set the budget. Determining the budget will determine how you set the rest of the wedding day and the honeymoon. The first decision to be made is "who will pay for the wedding."

Traditionally the bride's parents pays for the wedding and reception, while the groom and groom's parents pays for the rehearsal dinner and the honeymoon. However, with today's life, it may be the bride and groom themselves will pay for the whole thing. This happens when children get married after they are grown and established in their careers and lives.

Sit down with the parents and find out who can and who is willing to help out, even in some small way, or for the whole thing. A popular thing these days is the even split of the entire - rehearsal dinner, wedding day, reception and honeymoon bill. Whether it is divided between the parents or between the bride and groom.

No matter who pays for the wedding, you need to think about the amount of money you will have available for the whole then, then plan accordingly. A good rule of thumb if you wish to have a big wedding, with dancing, dinner, etc. is to budget $100 per guest.

Other things to consider are how formal the ceremony, will you rent a dress and the tux, buy one, or have one made, or borrow one? Perhaps you are of a faith that does not believe in dancing and serving alcohol, you can subtract funds for that. Or perhaps you want the whole thing, including a limo. Make a list of everything and consider the costs of each thing. Here is an impromptu list, but you can also read through this book and come up with a comprehensive list.

• Wedding attire for the couple and the wedding party

• Facility rental

• Bridal shower

• Rehearsal dinner

• Gifts for the wedding party

• Flowers - decor and wedding party

• Decor

• DJ and music

• Food for the reception

• Cake(s)

• Hair and make-up

• Photographer and video

• There are also tips, and more, just keep reading...

When setting a date for the wedding you need to consider several options. First, where do you want to get married? If it is in a different location from where you live you need to check on availability of both the facility to hold the wedding and accommodations for you and the guests.

Even if you stay "local" to have the wedding, you need to decide where. At home? In a church? At a hall? Outside? You need to check on availability of the facility for the dates you are considering. Often the date is set according to the availability of the chosen facility. If you cannot get your choice facility on your chosen date, you need to be flexible. Are you willing to change the date? Are you willing to change the location?

Some places are booked up for up to two years in advance. That makes for a long engagement, but again, if you have your heart set on a particular spot, you may have to wait.

Some weddings are planned around other significant dates, such as a birthday or a holiday. This is nice; however, it can be tricky reserving a facility for a holiday.

Other things to consider are the jobs of each of you. You will probably want a honeymoon, so you need to plan around allowed vacation time. Also, be mindful of your choice guests and do not plan during an important time for them such as religious holidays, births, other weddings, etc.

Plan for the season too. It is a gorgeous thought to walk down a path surrounded by beautiful blooming plants in April. However, there is a distinct possibility the day could be rained out. The same thing applies for a fun outdoor wedding in July. The area may be in a drought and the temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Be mindful of the season when choosing a day; perhaps make a "Plan B" in case the weather trumps your Plan A.