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General
information
Many brides and grooms
write to A-wedding Day requesting information about planning their
weddings. The typical inquiry is as follows. " We just got engaged.
What do we do now? Where do we begin?"
We are up to the challenge and
are working new series;
"How to choose and work with wedding vendors, Professionals and
service providers."
The series includes information and tips about how to best work with
each of them, by category, as well as a comprehensive list of questions
you need to ask before deciding on the wedding vendors, Professionals
and service providers you feel most comfortable working with.
When you go to
http://www.2.a-weddingday.com/weddings/weddingplanningorganizer.html
You'll find links to the articles and questions geared for each
different category.
So, you got engaged and are
looking forward with anticipation, to your dream wedding but do not know
where to start and what to do. You are not alone! This article is
dedicated to the many engaged couples facing this dilemma and those who
want to be focused.
To be focused, you must be
organized. That is, you must have the things you need when you need
them. As you plan your wedding you will accumulate among other items,
brochures, phone numbers, vendor estimates and bids, song sheets,
contracts, receipts, pictures, contracts and receipts. You'll surely
collect pictures of wedding gowns, bridesmaids' gowns, flower
arrangements, centerpieces and bridal bouquets, jewelry, photo samples
given you by photographers, wedding accessories and other pictures that
will help you plan your dream wedding. You'll also need to schedule
appointments with different wedding vendors, professionals and service
providers.
To be organized you need tools.
All are easily accessible and inexpensive. You'll need: A large wall
calendar and attached pen and - or a computer or other device that is
easy for you to enter detailed information in To do lists (add the
information to your calendar). A 3 ring binder with dividers and sheet
protectors inserted in it.
THE CALENDAR
Actually your calendar and to do lists go hand in hand. Not only
your appointments but your to do lists are time sensitive and should
always be available to you. Whether you need to make a phone contact,
set an appointment or go to interview a potential vendor, professional
or service provider you need the information at your finger tips. It is
better to enter too much information than not enough. If you contacted a
vendor, write down your FIRST impression. This will help you later with
your selection. If you received recommendations enter them too and so
on. Do not forget to mark the calendar with the dates and times of
special celebrations honoring you and your upcoming wedding.
THE TO DO
LISTS
Planning a wedding is laden with details large and small. You
will need to check out many magazines and catalogues, visit wedding
related web sites, purchase items, contact a myriad of professionals,
set up meetings with your wedding attendants, just to name a few. Always
keep your to-do lists with you. Be ready to add your ideas for tasks you
need to accomplish and to mark the ones you completed.
THE 3 RING
WEDDING BINDER
Using a 3 ring binder for your wedding planning, affords you an
easy way to be organized keeping all your wedding information in one
place. It also saves you money, time and aggravation. 3 ring binders
come with various spine widths from ½ an inch to 3 inches. Choose the
one that is right for you.
Since it will eventually become a
keepsake, you may wish to purchase a 3 ring binder that has a top window
so you'll be able to enter a pretty cover or your wedding picture. In
the folder, place top insert plastic sheet protectors to serve as
pockets for all the wedding-related papers you've accumulated.
Additionally, insert dividers and
a 3 hole zippered pocket for pen, pencils, paper clips, etc...
Mark the dividers tabs with the wedding related category such as: Bridal
Gown, Ceremony Site, Reception Site, Catering, Photography etc… with
the most active or most current in front, so that each topic will have a
specific area in the binder allowing you quick referencing and
retrieval.
In addition to sections dedicated
to vendors, professionals and service providers, you need to allocate
sections to important aspects such as:
- Wedding planning time table,
- Favorite wedding web sites,
- Do it yourself - make your
own....,
- Tips and ideas,
- Recipes,
- Crafts and decorations,
- Guest lists,
- Guest replies,
- gift lists for pre wedding
gifts and for wedding gifts,
- E-mail address and phone
numbers of all your bridal attendants,
- Seating charts,
- A print-out of your registry,
- Lists of thank you notes you
need to send - sent,
- Lists if gifts you want to
give family, attendants and other important people,
- And even fabric swatches for
wedding attire and or decorations.
To benefit from your 3 ring
binder be sure to:
- label each category and each
section
- Place new papers or new
information in the correct pocket of the correct section of
your binder as soon as you receive them.
- Clean your binder once a
month. Toss any information that is no longer relevant.
Keeping it will clutter your binder and
cause unnecessary confusion.
Do not take your main binder
with you to interviews. Use a separate binder divided into
categories, in which you place all the information, including our
articles and most importantly the questions to pose to each vendor,
professional and service provider. Keep all the information you
collected in any category, so you can make educated decisions based
on a comparison of the available packages, prices and services.
What to
carry to the Interview
Always carry a note pad and pen to write down important
information and questions that may arise during your interview. Have
your list of questions to pose to the wedding vendor, professional
or service provider with whom you meet.
In order to comparison shop
and select wisely, interview at least 3 wedding vendors,
professionals or service providers in each category before you
choose the one you feel will accommodate you best.
After each interview, insert
your notes and answer sheets in your 3 ring binder so they are
available to you when you need them.
Copyrights ©
2004 All Rights Reserved A-wedding Day
Nily
Glaser
is the founder of A-wedding
Day.
a very popular Wedding Resource and Information Center, and a
discount shopping mall for gifts, wedding supplies and bridal
accessories.
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