Wedding Planning Advice and Tips
When do you start planning your wedding?
You start planning your wedding as soon as you announce your engagement.
Is it possible to prepare for a wedding in four months? Yes, it is, but everything will be a bit, "Rush, rush."
Use a Wedding Planner
Buy one or make one yourself to keep track of your ideas as well as your contracts. Include timelines and deadlines and stick to them. There are also computer programs available to ease the record-keeping part of your wedding plans. They can help you track everything from guest lists to thank-you notes.
Establish a File Card System.
To begin with, buy a recipe
card holder and ruled note cards to fit inside. For each invitation sent, write
out a note card complete with the guest's name, address, and 
phone
number. Include spaces for noting their regret or acceptance of your invitation,
as well as the number planning to attend. Also leave room to make notations on
gifts received and thanks sent.
Make Checklists
During your planning process, checklists will become essential. If you will be honeymooning immediately after your wedding festivities, remember to leave a postwedding list with a close relative or friend. Include items such as where to store your gifts and who will return the tuxedos.
Determine Your Wedding Style
Nothing will influence
your wedding plans more than the time of day that you set for both your ceremony
and reception. That time will determine the basic content of your reception as
well as appropriate attire.
Generally speaking, the earlier in the day that
your reception is held, the lighter the fare that accompanies it.
Any celebration
staged after a morning wedding or before 1 PM. is considered a breakfast rather
than a reception, even though lunch is often served.
The midday wedding
is generally more like a brunch or tea.
A late afternoon reception may serve
light hors d'oeuvres and have a string quartet.
A evening reception provides
either a sit-down dinner, or buffet and usually a dance.
Cake and champagne
are included with most celebrations.
Just Remember - "Inch by inch, it's
a cinch, mile by mile it takes awhile." So don't try to do too much at once.