Two professional wedding consultants give their hints (for free!) on how to save yourself precious time while planning your wedding. We've got great advice from the pros right here!
According to Linda Stallings of Aunt Linda's Weddings & Events, and Angie Carlevato of Rocky Mountain Celebrations, the most important tip in saving yourself a ton of time is to hire a wedding consultant. Of course this is number one, they're both wedding consultants! Whether or not you hire a planner, here's twelve more helpful hints.
Here are the Top Twelve Time Saving Tips
Use a checklist.
If it's not in your budget to hire a wedding planner, use our handy print-out checklist to keep yourself on a schedule as far as fittings, bookings, and sending out invitations.
Buy a planner/organizer.
Angie Carlevato at Rocky Mountain Celebrations suggests, "An organizer is vital to the planning process."
Send Announcements.
Angie at Rocky Mountain Celebrations also recommends that if you're having a destination wedding, send announcements way in advance regarding the location, date,and so on.
Book your reception site.
Linda Stallings at Aunt Linda's Weddings & Events in Cincinnati, Ohio, suggests looking for your reception site right away, because in larger cities and towns, reception spots get booked up fast.
Have a garden reception.
Aunt Linda also suggests looking for a great outdoor reception site with lots of greenery or a garden, and then you don't have to spend as much time (or money) decorating for the reception.
Keep in contact.
The closer you get to the Big Day, make weekly or bi-weekly phone calls to your professionals. This way, if important information changes, you'll be the first to know and have time to adjust your heart's desire.
Look for hotel packages.
Aunt Linda's Weddings & Events gives another great tip: "Find a nice ballroom within a hotel. They will usually give you wedding packages that can include discounted room rates for guests, a honeymoon suite for your wedding night, and more." This saves a lot of time. It's like one-stop shopping.
Thank in advance.
To avoid thank-you card gridlock when you return from your honeymoon, send thank-you notes as you receive gifts before the wedding. One less thing for you to do once you're home.
Be decisive.
When you and your fiancZ are making those big decisions about which color napkins you wish to have, or what song you'll dance to, do your research, make a decision, and stick to it. Don't waste extra time wavering or changing your mind a million times.
Don't be afraid to delegate.
Ask for help from your mom or a close friend to address invitations, assemble favors, or other tasks that will have a tendency to overwhelm you.
Photograph early.
Lots of couples take the bulk of their photographs before the actual ceremony, to save time for guests waiting at the reception.
Details, details, details.
Plan your day like a well-oiled machine, and go over the order of the day with all your professionals and bridesmaids. That way there are no (or very few) surprises on the wedding day, and you can enjoy getting hitched without a hitch.
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