Wedding planning

[ZTABullwinkle]

I am newly engaged. I have seen the threads on wedding dresses and engagement rings. I am stuck as to where to start with my wedding planning. My thoughts are so scattered and overwhelming that the thought is pretty daunting.

We have yet to set a date, since there seems to be many things to take into account...such as:

• my best friend is my maid of honor, and I am in her wedding on June 28, 2008. So how far apart do you plan your weddings so you don't go nutso with both weddings?
• getting married during September or October here in Virginia Beach means that an univited hurricane may be coming
• getting married in late July or August is going to be HOT!!!

So, any advice would be extremely helpful!! Thanks!

[AlphaFrog]

Just elope and get it over with.

/What? You knew someone was going to say it.

[ZTABullwinkle]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Just elope and get it over with.

/What? You knew someone was going to say it.

That thought has crossed my mind on a few occassions.

[RitaMae1908]

First thing you'll probably want to decide is your budget, who's paying for what, and how many people you'll want to invite (whether it's 50 or 450!!)

The two most crucial things to consider are the coordination of dates that are available at the church and any potential reception venues. That ultimately will determine what date you and your future "honey" will choose. If you're not getting married in a church then you'll have it a little easier time.

Take your Mother and/or FMIL or one of your close G/Fs and check out a reception venues. Most will want you to call ahead and make an appt to view the facility.

After I booked the date at my church and my reception everything else pretty much fell into place. I highly recommend signing up on TheKnot.com. You can track your guestlist there and they'll give month-to-month to do list so you can keep track of things!!!

Hope that helps. Congratulations!!!

[KSigkid]

Congratulations on the engagement. Honestly, I'd advise not getting help on Greekchat or message boards. Talk to friends, your fiancee, and just figure out what works best for you.

For what its worth I was married on the hottest days of the year in Boston, and it all worked out ok (although my groomsmen hit the open bar with some gusto when we were done; they probably would have done that anyway, though).

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Congratulations on the engagement. Honestly, I'd advise not getting help on Greekchat or message boards. Talk to friends, your fiancee, and just figure out what works best for you.

Word to this. Do not ask for advice here. Also do not ask for advice on theknot.com. From what I've heard, bridezillas abound.

[RitaMae1908]

Originally Posted by centaur532

Word to this. Do not ask for advice here. Also do not ask for advice on theknot.com. From what I've heard, bridezillas abound.

I did not say that she should get "advice" on TheKnot.com. I was advising that she use their wedding tracker as a means of keeping track of her wedding planning. This information is not shared with other members of TheKnot.com and is password protected so that the bride or groom or wedding planner can have access... not just any random Bridezilla. Just for clarification.

[ZTABullwinkle]

Why can't I ask the many GC members who are recently engaged, recently married, etc for advice? I don't have to take all of it. But it is nice to know what others have learned during wedding planning.

Thanks Rita. I am on theknot.com, but am always looking for advice where I can get it.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by RitaMae1908

I did not say that she should get "advice" on TheKnot.com. I was advising that she use their wedding tracker as a means of keeping track of her wedding planning. This information is not shared with other members of TheKnot.com and is password protected so that the bride or groom or wedding planner can have access... not just any random Bridezilla. Just for clarification.

For clarification, I didn't read your post and had no idea you told her to go there. So unknot your panties please.

[ISUKappa]

I think you *can* get some very good ideas and/or feedback from wedding-related message boards (and, to some extent, GC, but don't expect much). I got a lot of good advice/ideas from the message boards at weddingchannel.com and for the most part, everyone was very respectful. When weddingchannel.com changed their board format, about 75% of the posters moved to www.constantchatter.com and there is still a fairly large wedding section over there. Although, as a whole, CC is not as wedding-centered as WC was.

But in the end, it's your wedding and you have to make the decisions that are best for you and your fiance.

[RitaMae1908]

Originally Posted by centaur532

For clarification, I didn't read your post and had no idea you told her to go there. So unknot your panties please.

I guess I shouldn't assume that people read the prior postings before making a comment themselves... panties not in a knot... Check!

[PhoenixAzul]

I hear your pain! I've got to do most of the major planning before I leave for Scotland in September. We've set a november 08 wedding date as well b/c of my master's program.

My best advice is to BUY A PLANNING BOOK. My brother's fiance gave me a planner from Target that is 3 ring, is already separated into things like "Guest List", "vendors" "calendar" "seating chart", etc. I'm trying to use that to plan the big stuff out of the way before I leave.

You've mentioned the bad months, but what about an April wedding, or a November wedding? My SO and I first had our hearts set on a summer wedding, but we began to realize that we'd have more to choose from if we did a wedding "out of season". There's just not as many girls getting married in November in Pittsburgh, so we've got our pick of venues, photographers, etc. Bonus: Things are also significantly less expensive b/c we're doing it out of season.

Good luck, I'm beginning to realize more and more how stressful it is! I keep thinking that it's not about the wedding, it's about the marriage

[RitaMae1908]

Originally Posted by ZTABullwinkle

Why can't I ask the many GC members who are recently engaged, recently married, etc for advice? I don't have to take all of it. But it is nice to know what others have learned during wedding planning.

Thanks Rita. I am on theknot.com, but am always looking for advice where I can get it.

Goodie. It is a life saver for me!!! But beware of posting specific info on any of the public forums. Some devious brides or wanna-be-brides have started trouble by contacting another bride's vendor(s) and cancelling contracts, making unauthorized changes, etc... not meant to scare you away... but anything you save under your "MyKnot" section cannot be viewed by the public so it's safe there. But as an additional precautionary measure I established a secret password with all my vendors for any business I do by phone (so they know it's really me calling)... that way evil ex-girlfriends or troblesome hateful FMILs can't spoil your Big Day!!!
Again many congratulations to you and your fiance!!! This is such and exciting time. Make the most of it. You can still get everything you want at an affordable price, so shop around. Most vendors are willing to make a deal with you. And nice goes a long way. Most of my vendors have given me extras and freebies because I was always pleasant and not acting like a maniac whenever I had to contact them. (Apparently unlike many of their other clients!)

Happy Planning!!!

PM me if you want to view me and my Honey's TheKnot Wedding Webpage!!!!

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by RitaMae1908

I guess I shouldn't assume that people read the prior postings before making a comment themselves... panties not in a knot... Check!

I am a lazy mofo and I like to scan a lot of posts in threads. Unless it's a giant dramabomb. That's the only time I read meticulously.

[SHEETCAKE]

Serving me can save money but many people consider it very tacky. Some prefer that fondant-covered hussy, TIER CAKE.