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A Decent ProposalWedding Planning GuideCongratulations On your upcoming nuptials! I have come up with this handy little guide to help those of you out there who are much like me and have no idea where to start on this whole planning thing. I hope that this planning guide will help you not only plan the perfect wedding and reception but will also take some of the stress away so that you can better enjoy this process and time.Sixteen to Nine Months BeforePick your Date & Time – Pick a date and time that will work best for you. Consider that some of your family and friends may have other obligations for your day but with the proper amount of prior notice they can make arrangements if needed.Start a wedding folder or binder – Start looking through those wedding magazines and websites. Talk to your friends and start looking at the style and theme you want for your ceremony. Work out your budget – Determine just how much you want to spend. This can be a daunting task but it is vital to your planning. Consider the contributions that family members and friends may be making to your budget as well. There are lots of APPS out there that not only help with this but will also help with your guest list as well.Pick your wedding party – The first two things people are going to say is congratulations and who’s going to be in the bridal party. Remember every ceremony is unique to the couple so you can have as many members in your bridal party as you feel you want.Start the guest list – Write out a list of people you want to invite to you wedding. Remember to include data for RSVP’s, gifts, and other relevant information. Remember this is your “rough draft guest list”. We will filter it out later.Hire a Planner – Now is the time to hire an event planner. Planners will have relationships with vendors. Remember though, you don't HAVE TO hire a wedding planner. Ask your BFF to do the planning or to help. NOTE: Your wedding planner/day of coordinator and your Maid of honor/Bridesmaids should not be the same person. You want your MOH/Bridesmaids to be with you helping you get ready, not running around trying to make sure things get done.Reserve Your Date & Venues – This is where you decide where you would like to have your wedding, if you are going to have the reception in the same location or another, and make your deposits. NOTE: Make sure you get the name and contact information for your Venue Coordinator. Your other vendors may ask for it.Book Your Officiant – Officiants get booked up fast and let's face it, you can have everything else organized but if you don't have your officiant … You don't have your wedding.Research Your Other Vendors – Start looking at your other vendors. Decide if you need a DJ or a band. Research local florists, Photographers and Caterers.Throw A Party – Throw yourself and engagement party to announce your big day! This is a great time to ask your friends to be in your bridal party as well. NOTE: your Engagement party guests should also be on your wedding guest list as well.Eight Months To GoHire A Photographer/Videographer – Make sure that you find someone that is willing to take the shots that you want.Book the Entertainment – Interview wedding singers/musicians, Bands and DJs. Then choose your favorite and put down your deposit to book your favorite.Meet The Caterers – If your venue doesn’t offer their own centering service look now for a caterer and hire them this month or early next month.Purchase The Dress – You will want to purchase your dress now. You will need at least three fittings. Veil shopping can be put off for another month or two.Register – Register with at least three retailers. Be sure to find three that will fit the different economic statuses of all of your guests.Launch a Wedding Website – Create your personal page through a free provider such as or wedding . Note the date of the wedding, travel information and accommodations. Don't forget to send the link to your guests!Seven To Six Months To GoSelect & Purchase Invitations – Hire a calligrapher to address your envelopes if desired. Start Planning A Honeymoon – Plan your destination and make sure that lol of your passports and medical needs are tended to.Shop For Bridesmaids Dresses – You are going to want at least six months for the dresses to be ordered and sized.Meet With The Officiant – Map out the ceremony with your officiant. Review your desires for the ceremony.Send Save The Date CardsReserve Structural & Electrical Necessities – Book Portable Toilets for outdoor events, Chairs, tables and so on.Book A Florist – Florists can tend to many clients on any given day so make sure that you get the florist you want and the arrangements that you want by booking your florist now.Arrange Transportation – Consider limos, minibuses, and other forms of transportation for you, your wedding party and any out of town guests.Start Composing Day Of Timeline – Draw up a schedule of the event and slot in the components such as the cake cutting, first dance, and so on.Five to Four Months To GoBook The Rehearsal Venue & Rehearsal Dinner Venues – Negotiate the cost and the menu. If you are planning a day after brunch then book these as well.Check on the wedding Invitations – Ask the stationer for a sample of the finished invitations and make any reservations if you need to.Select and Order the cake – Some bakers require a long lead time. Attend several tastings before setting on any baker.Send the guest list to the host of your shower – Provided you AHEM, know about your shower.Purchase Wedding Shoes & Start fittings – You will want to bring the shoes you are going to wear to your fittings so that the seamstress can fit the dress accordingly.Schedule Hair & Makeup Artists – Schedule your hair and makeup trials with at least two to three vendors. Snap photos of before and after and then choose your favorite.Choose your music – Decide on what music should be playing when.Three Months To GoFinalize your Menu & Flowers – You want to wait till now to make sure you know what is in season and what is not.Order Favors – If you are planning to have favors for your guests or wedding party order those now.Toasters List – Make a list of the people making toasts and ask them to make a toast at your wedding.Schedule Your second Fitting Finalize the ceremony Order & Reception - finalize the order of your ceremony and reception. (A worksheet is included to help you with this process) **Don’t forget to turn the worksheet into your Officiant.**Print Menu Cards and Programs if you wish.Purchase the Rings – This will give you time for resizing and engraving.Send your event schedule to vendors – Giving them a first draft gives ample time to adjust things.Two Months To GoTouch Base with all vendors – Make sure any questions you or they have have been answered.Meet with the Photographer/Videographer – Discuss specific shots.Review the Playlist with the Band/DJ – Though you may not be able to dictate every single song played you can make request.Send out the invitations – RULE OF THUMB: Mail out invitations out 6-8 weeks before the ceremony. It is a good idea to set an RSVP cutoff at three weeks after the post mark.Submit a newspaper AnnouncementEnjoy a Bachelorette party – This is usually the duty of your MOH but if she has not mentioned one to you feel free to ask. One Month To GoEnter RSVP’s into Database – Phone those who have not responded.Get Your Marriage License. – Each county is different so check with your county clerks office to see what is needed to get your license.Mail Rehearsal Dinner InvitationsVisit the dress maker for your last fitting. (Cross your fingers)Stock The Bar – Now that you have a good head count you can now order accordingly.Confirm times for Vendors – Call all of your vendors and confirm the times and date. This is also a good time to confirm travel plans for your Honeymoon.Email/Print Driving Directions For Transportation Drivers.Assign Seating – Draw out table placements and decide who will sit where.Purchase Bridesmaids Gifts – You will present them to your Bridesmaids at rehearsal dinner.Write your vows – Write you vows and send your officiant a copy so that if you forget them your officiant can be standing by with a helping hand.Get your hair cut and colored if desired.Week Of The WeddingReconfirmed arrival times with vendors.Pick up your dressCheck in with your Photographer/Videographer – Give them a list of events you want photographed or video recorded.Set aside checks for the vendors – If you have not paid all the vendors this is a good time to square that all up.Send the final guest list to the caterer – Typically, companies close their lists 72hrs in advance.Break in your shoes – This is the time to play the part of June Cleaver. Clean the house in those heels or flats so that they don’t kill your feet on your wedding day.Pack for your honeymoon – Don’t forget the passports and other documents you may need.Congratulations! You made it!Luke & Renee Walls Events _____________________________Wedding Ceremony Plan Worksheet & Order of CeremonyPlease complete the following worksheets and order of ceremonypage. Return the completed forms (including this page)At least 24hrs prior to our meeting.Brides Name: __________________________________________________________________Grooms Name: ________________________________________________________________Address & Phone #: ____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________Wedding Location: _____________________________________________________________Wedding Date: __________________________________________________Time:__________Rehearsal Date: _________________________________________________Time:__________Additional Notes: ______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________AttireCasual: _____Dress: _____Semi-Formal:_____Formal: _____Ceremony PlanPrelude: The prelude is about 30 minutes before the wedding begins while the guests are arriving and being seated. The music played is usually instrumental background music. You can also have a musician playing music or bring CD’s of your own.For the prelude music we will: _____Provide our own CD_____Have Live Music Who will be doing your livemusic? _____________________________________________________________Tell me more about the musicians: _____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________Processional:The processional marks the beginning of the ceremony when the bridal party enters. Your wedding planner can help you with song suggestions if needed. Traditionally the bridesmaids enter alone, followed by the flower girl and ring bearer. The minister, groom and groomsmen will already have entered.For the processional music we would like: __________________________________________________Will the bridesmaids enter alone or with Groomsmen: ________________________________________Greeting:The minister will welcome your guests. We would like the following to be included in the greeting: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Presentation of the Bride:Your choice of wedding music can be played during the entrance of the bride. Your wedding Planner can help you with song suggestions if needed. The Bride may enter with her father, mother, both parents, another family member, her father in law to be, Mother in law to be or by herself.For the presentation of the Bride, the music we would like is ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Bride will enter with _____________________________________________________________________The ChargeThe charge is the Ministers encouragement for your marriage. At this point she will be speaking to the bride and Groom in their own words.We would like the following thoughts/Bible passages to be included in the charge _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Declarations (I Do)Here is where the bride and groom respond to the ministers with vocal affirmation. You may choose your own words for your declarations or the minister can write them for you. VowsIf writing your own vows, take care not to make them to long. A short paragraph is appropriate. It is also advisable not to try to memorize them. You can bring your vows on a small piece of paper with you or you can give it to the minister before the ceremony to have on hand. If writing your own vows please give them to the minister no less than three days prior to the ceremony.Exchange of RingsThe exchange of rings will be preceded with words from the minister. We suggest the following be recited by the bride and groom with the exchange of rings.__________, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love for you and my covenant to be your husband/wife, to honor and always be faithful to you.If writing your own recitation please write here_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Special CeremonyThis is is where you choose your choice of an added ceremony. For example Unity Candle, sand, Potion etcPronouncement of MarriageThis is where is pronounce you Husband and Wife. The following wording is suggested.Forasmuch as _____ & _____ have given themselves to each other by the promises they have exchanged before all of you that have gathered here as their witnesses, by the power vested in me I now pronounce you Husband & Wife. You may now kiss your bride.Presentation of the coupleWe would like to be introduced as: ____________________________________________________________RecessionalThe recessional is after the first kiss and the introduction of the newly married couple when the wedding party exits following the bride and groom. The music played here is usually very upbeat. Your wedding planner should have suggestions if needed.For the recessional music we would like _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________PostludeAfter the wedding party has exited the postlude music is played while guests are being dismissed or are waiting for the receiving line. For the postlude music e would like ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ReadingsReadings can include scriptures, poems or other meaningful words for the couple. They can be read anytime throughout the ceremony. Asking a loved one to do a reading is a great way to include someone special in your wedding ceremony. Following are some suggested scriptures.Genesis 2:18-24Song of Solomon 8:6-7Ephesians 5:21-33Psalms 90:17Matthew 5:13-16Colossians 3:12-17Ecclesiastes 4:9-12John 2:11 John 4:7-12We would like to include the following scripture readings:1) ___________________________________________________ Read By: _____________________________2) __________________________________________________ Read By: ______________________________Please attach any other readings to be included.SongsDuring your ceremony, you may wish to include a special song to be sung by a vocalist or yourself. We recommend not more than 1 song.We would like to include the following song ______________________________________________________Sung by ___________________________________________________________________________________Communion If you choose to take communion during your wedding ceremony, the minister will say a few words to describe the act of communion to your guests. You will need to bring your own bread, Juice and dishes for communion or receive permission from the church (if there is a church ceremony).Would you like to take communion during your ceremony? ________Music: _________________________________________________CD ______or live ______Unity CandleSpecial candles are used that have three candles. Usually, the two outside candles are lit before the ceremony begins leaving the center candle untouched. The two burning candles symbolize the separate lives of the bride and groom. During the ceremony the bride and groom each use an outside candle to light the center candle which symbolizes the joining together of their lives. You can either bring your own candles or order your candles through our provider.Would you like to include the unity candle in your ceremony? ________Music: ____________________________________________________CD ________or live __________Unity Sand CeremonyThe Unity sand ceremony, a celebration that is usually 2-3 minutes in length, is a meaningful joining of two lives. In this timeless ritual of marriage the couple ceremoniously pours two different colored sand from a container into one single joint container. The flowing sand and blending colors symbolize the bringing together of two lives into one.Would you like to include the Unity Sand Ceremony? _______________________Music: __________________________________________________________ CD ________or live ________ORDER OF CEREMONYAfter completing the Ceremony Plan Worksheet, Please finalize yourOrder of ceremony on this 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