| Planning a wedding is a difficult task for both the | | | | allotted budget. Alcohol is optional, and if many of |
| families of the bride and groom and the bride and | | | | the guests are underage, you may wish to |
| groom individually. There are so many | | | | eliminate it, except for the wedding toast. If costs |
| preparations that must be made, and in many | | | | are a factor, a cash bar is an alternative. 5. Once |
| cases, not enough time to do it. It's little wonder | | | | you have booked the reception hall and the |
| that many resort to paying professional wedding | | | | church, many of the other preparations can go in |
| planners to do the job for them. However, for | | | | any order you choose, since they all need to be |
| many, that is an added expense they can't afford | | | | started at about the same time. However, most |
| or, takes away from the fun of planning the | | | | brides like to begin by choosing a wedding gown |
| wedding. For those who need guidance concerning | | | | and dresses for the bridal party. Both of these |
| planning the wedding, here are some steps you | | | | require one to two months' preparation in case |
| will find helpful. 1. One of the most important | | | | alterations may be necessary and in case any of |
| things to do, as soon as you set the date, is to | | | | the styles are sizes need to be ordered by the |
| decide where you want to hold the reception. This | | | | bridal shop. Allow enough time to ensure your final |
| may seem like a backward way of doing things, | | | | fitting and any additional alterations will be ready |
| but the reasoning is that reception halls tend to | | | | several days before your wedding. 6. You should |
| book quickly, especially in the summer or during | | | | order the flowers approximately two weeks in |
| certain holiday seasons, such as Christmas. In | | | | advance to allow the florist time to put the order |
| order to assure you will be able to have the | | | | together appropriately and have time to schedule |
| reception at the place of your choice, book well in | | | | delivery to the church and reception hall on the |
| advance - sometimes you may have to plan as | | | | day of the wedding. 7. You also want to order |
| much as a year in advance. Of course, you will | | | | your cake a couple of weeks before the big day |
| need to have a general idea of the number of | | | | - preferably even one month, depending on the |
| guests you plan to invite, just to be certain your | | | | policy of the bakery. In fact, some may only |
| venue of choice is big enough. 2. If you plan to | | | | want a week's notice, but check with your |
| have a church wedding, your next step is to | | | | bakery first. 8. Finally, a few days before the |
| make plans for the use of the church, minister, | | | | wedding, confirm that everything is in place - all |
| organist, and any other church facilities you need. | | | | guests have responded, names have been |
| If you already belong to a church, this process is | | | | provided to whomever is going to make up the |
| much easier than for those who don't have a | | | | place cards (if you plan to have reserved seating), |
| home church. In fact, this should probably go hand | | | | the caterer is clear on the menu and whether it's |
| in hand with booking the reception hall, since you | | | | sit down or buffet style, the wedding party (male |
| have to make sure the church is available at the | | | | and female) has picked up their attire, and the |
| date and time you desire. This is especially | | | | cake will be delivered by the bakery to the venue. |
| important if you are planning your wedding around | | | | Of course, your wedding trip is already planned, |
| a holiday season or on a Sunday afternoon. 3. | | | | and though that is part of the wedding, it is not |
| Whether you're having a band or just a disc | | | | included in the wedding checklist here since many |
| jockey, you want to book several months in | | | | people choose to do that at a later date or it is |
| advance. Again, this will depend on the season, but | | | | booked separate from wedding preparations. The |
| during Christmas with many parties going on, they | | | | same holds true for house hunting, especially since |
| will book quickly. 4. Unless you have booked a | | | | many couples today either live together or |
| venue that provides catering, such as a fire hall or | | | | already have a place of their own before the |
| banquet hall of a restaurant or hotel, you will also | | | | wedding. |
| need to contract with a catering company. Even if | | | | The Perfect Wedding Guide is a useful resource |
| your parents are paying for the wedding, you and | | | | that offers wedding tips, wedding checklist and |
| your fiancé should have a say in picking the | | | | everything related to weddings for you to plan a |
| menu items as long as your choices fall within the | | | | memorable celebration. |