Posts Tagged ‘Wedding Planning’

So I do not know the first thing about planning a wedding. I do not have close friends as they have all shifted away over the years and we have lost contact. Im a full time Mum and have trouble making friends so I dont have any brides maids or anything. I am not close with my family and they arnt interested in my wedding (my mothers more of the boozing type then the mothering type) and my fiance is a typical man who isnt interested in the planning….. so that leaves me all on my own to plan a low budget wedding and I am so overwhelmed by it all I dont even no where to start! it will be tiny, just us and the kides pretty much but I still want it to be nice. Any advice on wedding planning is appreciated, or any info on costs, what I will and wont need, how to find a dress etc etc.

I live in New Zealand

First of, ignore all the marketing. I don’t know about New Zealand but here in the US the marketing, the whole wedding industry, is just outrageous. If you don’t have this dress, you are a failure. If you don’t have 20 attendants, you are a failure. If you don’t buy this invitation and match it with this silverware and the flowers at the wedding, you will jinx your marriage. It is just a bunch of nonsense.

Since it is just you, your fiancee, the kids and a few friends, you don’t really need to rent a church or a banquet hall for a reception. Have something small and intimate at a park or on the beach at sunset. If your oldest child is a girl, have her be your maid of honor. Depending on how many kids you have, a son can be the best man or he can give you away. A younger daughter, if she can walk, can be a flower girl. If you have a dog, bring him also. He can carry the rings around his neck.

As for the dress, look around at consignment shops or second hand stores or in the classifieds. You would be suprised how many people sell their wedding dresses. And I bet you can find a really nice suit and dresse from your kids there.Your fiance doesn’t have to buy a tux. He can rent it.

So, first thing first, pick a date. Second thing, sit your fiance down, and tell him, that if he doesn’t talk to you about the wedding, then if he is left wearing pink, it is his own fault. He doesn’t have to plan every detail with you, just ask him what kind of place he would like to be married in ie a Church, park, beach etc. Then when you know, pick and book your venue. If it is a church or a hall, you might have to book it months in advance. If it is outside, call the parks department and ask if there is a permit you have to get. There is a park nearby here that has a gazebo and people get married there all the time. And if it is a park, you can have a picnic/reception right there.

Then find your minister or official who can marry you. You don’t always have to be married in an actual church to have a minister marry you. There may or may not be a charge. It will depend on the Church but it is customary to give a donation.

Go get your marriage license. This is one of those things your fiance will have to do with you.

Really, other than the assorted fees, there isn’t a lot to pay for and you can get married on a tight budget. I don’t know how to convert this into your currency but if I had to take a guess in US dollars, I would guess that you can do it in less than 500 dollars.

Dena

P.S. If you live by a university, look there for an art student who might want to do your invitations in calligraphy or an aspiring florist or photographer. Trust me, they will be a lot cheaper than a professional plus they will jump at the chance to have a real job on their resume.

Hope you have a wonderful wedding and an even more beautiful marriage!

Technorati Tags: Banquet Hall, Best Man, Brides Maids, Budget Wedding, Close Friends, Consignment Shops, Dresse, Fiance, Fiancee, Flower Girl, Jinx, Kides, Low Budget, Maid Of Honor, Planning A Wedding, Typical Man, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Industry, Wedding Planning, Younger Daughter

i am looking for any online wedding planner/coordinator courses that you can take for free. if you know of some please let me know. also i would like to know if anyone knows what the demand is for wedding planners/coordinators in omaha nebraska?? it would be very helpful. thanks so much

Hi… I know of no free wedding-planner courses, although I may be wrong.

It took me years to write the AAWP course, based on my years of research on the wedding industry and my experience. It also takes a lot of time to keep the course updated and current so that all the information is the best it can be for our members. We also support our members in their businesses, which is critical for their success. It’s a lot of time and effort, but it’s so worth it!

When looking for courses (free or not), ask these questions before proceeding:

1. Is the organization that offers the course an organization of wedding planners and wedding professionals? If not, don’t consider it.

2. Is wedding planning their only focus, or do they offer other, diverse courses? Wedding planning should be their ONLY focus.

3. Who wrote the course? This is critical. The person who is teaching you should be an expert with lots of experience in the field.

4. Does the course offer "Business Development Services"? If not, look elsewhere. What’s the point of learning how to plan a wedding, if you don’t know how to develop and grow your business?

5. Does the course offer ongoing, professional support once you complete it? You will need help as you start and grow your business. Having a professional organization to call or email for support, answers, and information may be the difference between success and failure.

Make sure the course you select offers you all it can in the way of education and the necessary tools you’ll need to build and grow a wedding planning business.

* P.S. To find the demand for wedding planners in Omaha, do an online search for planners. If lots of names come up, there’s lots of demand. On the other hand, Omaha is a big city. If there aren’t lots of names, it may be a good market to break into! Good luck!

Technorati Tags: Business Development Services, Education, Free Online Wedding Planner, free wedding planner, Necessary Tools, Omaha Nebraska, Online Courses, Online Wedding Planner, Proceeding, Professional Organization, Professional Support, Success And Failure, Support Answers, Wedding Coordinator, Wedding Coordinators, Wedding Industry, Wedding Planners, Wedding Planning, Wedding Professionals

I’m a bride-to-be and I have just been exploring wedding planning websites on the web, I was just wondering if any recently married brides who used online wedding planning sites could let me know what online wedding planning tools (like checklists, inspiration boards, budget planners, seating plans…) they found most useful? Thanks!

Hi I’m not married but personally for me I think the checklist/timeline and the budget planner (theknot) are the most helpful. I don’t think online seating plans are particularly helpful lol I find it much more helpful to write/draw it all out. Inspiration boards are fun Without a doubt, most helpful website regarding tools is the knot. I also love wednet and yourwedding101 for articles and ettiquete. Those are my top 3 Congrats and best wishes!! x

Technorati Tags: Best Wishes, Brides, Budget Planner, Budget Planners, Congrats, Doubt, Ettiquete, Fun, Inspiration, knot, Lol, Online Tools, Planning Tools, Theknot, timeline, Website Tools, Wedding Planning, Wedding Sites, Wedding Websites, Wednet

I recently got engaged and I am starting to plan my engagement party. I’ve been looking at Wedding planning books and such but I would prefer to make my own. I’ve been googling "free wedding planner templates" and stuff like that but I haven’t really found anything worth using. Any ideas?

Thanks, MJ

Hey I know few links which help you alot in this situation:

Technorati Tags: Engagement Party, Free Stuff, Free Templates, free wedding planner, Planner Templates, Planning Books, Wedding Books, Wedding Planning, Wedding Stuff, Wedding Templates

For some people, planning of a wedding is a complicated and daunting process but it doesn’t have to be. One way to help simplify the wedding planning process is to attend a bridal show. Attending bridal shows is one of the best ways to get ideas and locate vendors for your wedding because they put you in touch with a variety of potential vendors under one roof, allowing you to compare products, services and prices. Florists, photographers, decorators, caterers, bridal salons and more are available to you to offer their services and expert advice. Another advantage of attending bridal shows is that many vendors offer “show only” discounts or special prices for a limited time. There are several things to do and not to do when it comes to bridal show shopping. These tips are designed to help you save time and money by making the most of the bridal show “one-stop shopping” opportunity.

 
1. Register Before the Show
Admission is discounted or free if you register prior to the show.
If you are getting married in the Greater Toronto Area, visit http://www.torontobride.com/bshows.html for the show discount coupons.

2. Wear Comfortable Shoes
A show can last several hours, so dress comfortably and a wear great-fitting pair of shoes. You WILL be doing a lot of walking!

3. Return Address Labels
Bring address labels to use when signing up for vendor mailing lists or prizes. Use the stickers rather than filling out the entry forms.

4. Pick up a wedding planner
Most bridal shows offer a variety of wedding books and planners. For the Greater Toronto Area, Wedding Resources Planner and Guide (http://www.torontobride.com) is an excellent choice. Keep the planner in hand for reference and recording notes on the vendors as you make your way through the show.

5. Get organized
Make a list of vendors you still need beforehand. Once you arrive at the show, visit those vendors first.

6. Ask Questions
Bring a list of questions to ask the bridal vendors. They are there to help you. Jot down any price quotes or tips they may have to offer.

7. Act decisively.
An advantage of attending bridal shows is that many vendors offer “show only” discounts or special prices for a limited time. Bring your checkbook, you may want to book a service or give a deposit to hold a date.

Don’t wait any longer than two or three days following the show to sort through and organize all vendor materials accumulated from the event. Nothing is worse than assuming you can take your time and discovering what you want is no longer available because you procrastinated. Many vendors become completely booked within two weeks following the show, so make contact as soon as possible.

Kathy T.
http://www.articlesbase.com/weddings-articles/tips-for-brides-attending-bridal-shows-690339.html

Technorati Tags: Bridal Salons, Bridal Show, Bridal Shows, Brides, Comfortable Shoes, Decorators, Discount Coupons, Expert Advice, Fitting Pair, Greater Toronto Area, Limited Time, Photographers, Planners, Return Address Labels, Stickers, Time And Money, Wedding Books, Wedding Planner, Wedding Planning, Wedding Resources