Wedding Diet Plan
Lose The Weight Before Your Big Day

Wedding Planning Books

Engagement Party Games
Engagement party games is a great opportunity for both families to get together. In some cases, this might be the first mee 00004000 ting between the two families or groups of friends and any icebreaker activity will be a welcome event.

In that light, whoever plans the engagement party (likely the bride's family, but it can be the engaged couple or anyone else who wants to plan the party) should plan a few games and activities designed to help everyone get to know everyone else .

First up is a trivia game. Create a "Trivial Pursuit" type game with questions about the bride and groom's lives. You might contain the questions to just facts and events relating to both the bride and groom (such as how long did it take her to say "yes" when he asked, where did he propose, where did they meet, etc), or you can include questions pertaining to their lives outside of each other and before they met each other. Not only can this be fun, but also it's an entertaining way for people to get to know each other and the engaged couple better.

One popular icebreaker that's used at corporate functions and company parties can also work really well at engagement parties. Tape a card to each person's back and encourage him or her to work the room , shuffle with everyone and particularly try to get to know someone they have never met before. Before moving on to someone else, remember to write something about the person on the card or paper on the other person's back . Partiers write an impression of that person, such as "she seems sweet" or "he knows a lot about the weather".

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    Where can I get wedding planning books?
    Where can I order wedding planning books like the kind to be a wedding planner? Not too expensive though and maybe they come with a movie or something but ones that have good training in them.

    • ANSWER:
      Amazon.com has a number of wedding planning books that you can check out

      FabJob Guide to Become a Wedding Planner http://www.amazon.com/FabJob-Become-Wedding-Planner-Guides/dp/1894638379/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228059377&sr=1-10
      Start Your Own Wedding Consultant Business: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Success http://www.amazon.com/Start-Wedding-Consultant-Business-Step/dp/1891984748/ref=pd_sim_b_1
      Wedding Directing: How to Be a Professional Wedding Director http://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Directing-How-Professional-Director/dp/0759695784/ref=pd_sim_b_5

      Or if you want wedding planners

      The Complete Wedding Planner & Organizer http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Wedding-Planner-Organizer/dp/1887169660/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228059541&sr=1-1
      The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner: Worksheets, Checklists, Etiquette, Calendars, and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions http://www.amazon.com/Knot-Ultimate-Wedding-Planner-Worksheets/dp/0767902475/ref=pd_sim_b_2

      These books are less than . Or borrow them from your library

  2. QUESTION:
    What are some really good wedding planning books?
    I'm having a really big wedding and need to start reading in on the wedding planning experience. And can you give me the approximate price of the book that you suggest? Thanks! :)

    • ANSWER:
      I use a lot of books and ebooks. My very favorite is Erica Yoon's Amazing Wedding Planning. It's complete and goes through a lot of planning ideas as well as money saving ideas.

      Second would be the Knot's Ultimate Wedding Planner. It has a lot of checklists so you can get the big picture up front and then go into the details.

  3. QUESTION:
    Can anyone suggest any good wedding planning books?
    I am recently engaged and I am starting to plan my wedding but I am unable to find any really good wedding planning books... any suggestions?

    • ANSWER:
      Ya A Brides Book i bought mine at Barnes and Nobles and its been i life saver but you may also want to buy bridal magazines if they have any cool ideas that you re thinking about using for yourself. I also use weddingchannel.com and theknot.com to help me along the way

  4. QUESTION:
    What is the most useful wedding (planning) books?
    What do you find the most useful wedding book?
    My fav is The DIY Wedding: Celebrate Your Day Your Way by Kelly Bare, what about yours?

    • ANSWER:
      I'm a big fan of The DIY Bride: 40 Fun Projects for Your Ultimate One-of-a-Kind Wedding by Khris Cochran. It has some excellent information in it, and you can find it at Amazon.

      Also, if you're looking for something new and fun, Susan Southerland, a wedding planner from the Central Florida area, has a great wedding planning DVD that provides great tips for planning your wedding: http://www.perfectweddingguide.com/dvd.

      You can search for the DIY book as well as the DVD (and other wedding planning books) at Amazon (but I bet you already knew that!) ;)

      Happy Planning!

  5. QUESTION:
    Recenty engaged . . Any suggestion on wedding planning books?
    I recently became engaged to the love of my life; however, I need help planning my wedding. If anyone has any suggestions for a good wedding planning book, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      I bought the "Dummies Guide to Weddings." It was the best investment that I made. It answered a lot of questions.

  6. QUESTION:
    I am overwhelmed by all the wedding planning books out there. I want to get one though. Any suggestions?
    I would like one that is very thorough, and that I can write in. I also want it to look nice so that I can keep it as a keepsake.

    • ANSWER:
      Just a suggestion, but here is a book you can print, punch and insert into a binder of your choice.

      You don't have to print the pages you don't want, can add other pages, and truly customize it how you want. There is a ton of helpful information on this website.

      http://www.pashweddings.com/library/weddingchecklists.php

      Another version is available at:
      http://www.bridesclub.com/bridesclub-wedding-planner.cfm

  7. QUESTION:
    Ever read/used these wedding planning books?
    The Bride's Essential Wedding Planner-Deluxe Edition by Amy Nebens
    and The Engaged Groom by Doug Gordon...
    If so what did you think of them?
    Also, how do you feel/what do you think about planning a wedding with a date range of 6-9 months?

    If you have any other suggestions on planning books (along with a "critique") they would be very much appreciated.
    I haven't purchased these books yet but they got great reviews on Barnes and Noble..... they are at the top of the bestsellers list for wedding planning.

    • ANSWER:
      Books become dated quickly. Use wedding websites like The Knot. It has more info than you can imagine.

  8. QUESTION:
    What are some websites or books on planning a wedding?
    My best friend is getting married and I purchased her one book called The Wedding book. She wants to find websites or books on the time line to do everything like send out save-the-date, invitations, looking for place, etc. Thank you

    • ANSWER:
      I love www.weddingwire.com it's a great wedding planning site. You can even seat your guests at the reception! :)

  9. QUESTION:
    Suggested books for wedding planning?
    I am recently engaged and feel ready to start planning the wedding. However, going into the bookstore to find a book sounds completely daunting! If anyone has any suggestions, or books to avoid, I'd appreciate it! Thank you!

    • ANSWER:
      I suggest before you actually take the plunge is to read Monica Mendez Leahy's "1001 Questions To Ask Before You Get Married". Then the two of you should have an open forum about it. That way you two won't have any surprises when you're actually already in the stage of "married life."

  10. QUESTION:
    wedding planning?
    Any suggestions on a really good wedding planning book? I need one that tells me what i should be doing in order from the day i get engaged to the day i get married.

    • ANSWER:
      I don't know about any wedding planning books, but I am currently using: http://www.theknot.com as my resource. You can plan everything on there. You can create your guest list, and store all the addresses. Plan your budget. They have checklists of what you should be doing each month leading up to the wedding, etc. Congratulations, and good luck with the planning!!

  11. QUESTION:
    Wedding planning books?
    My boyfriend proposed to me about a month ago, and we are starting to get serious about planning the wedding since we finally have the time and money to do so. I know there are a LOT of books about this for straight people, I was wondering if there was a wedding planning book for gay people? We are pretty clueless as to what goes into a wedding, and how to plan it. And we don't have parental support to rely on, so we are kind of on our own with this. Any, and all help will be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!!!

    • ANSWER:
      Gay and Lesbian Weddings: Planning the Perfect Same-Sex Ceremony (Paperback)
      by David Toussaint (Author)
      Amazon.com

  12. QUESTION:
    What is a good wedding planning book?
    I am getting married and I want to do all the planning by myself, I mean me, my fiance, friends and parents. I want to know what is a good wedding planning book?

    • ANSWER:
      You don't need to buy a planning book, there is so much information available for free on the web, have a look at http://www.theknot.com and also http://www.cheap-wedding-solutions.com for ways to plan your wedding

  13. QUESTION:
    I want to start a wedding consulting/event planning business.?
    Can anyone recommend good books and/or trade publications for me? Not looking for wedding planning books, looking for how to books. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.

      I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.

      Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.

      Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

      * How To Start A Wedding Planning Business by Cho Phillips, Sherrie Wilkolaski
      * Start Your Own Wedding Consultant Business: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Success by Eileen Figure Sandlin
      * FabJob Guide to Become a Wedding Planner by Catherine Goulet
      * How to Start a Home-Based Event Planning Business by Jill Moran
      * Start Your Own Event Planning Business: Your Step by Step Guide to Success by Krista Turner

      I also posted links to some free articles in the source box.

      Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

  14. QUESTION:
    Any suggestions for a wedding planning book?
    I just got engaged and I'm CLUELESS!! I was wondering if anyone has suggestions of a good wedding planning book.....THANK YOU

    • ANSWER:
      I have this wedding planner from Wedding Solutions
      http://store.weddingsolutions.com/product_info.php/cPath/79_44/products_id/98241.

      I think it is a great planner. I was in the same boat not knowing anything about what I should be doing but this helps out alot. It has pictures and step-by-step things you should do and ask. I keep all my receipts in here too.

      I also use the knot.com because they have some checklists that the planner doesn't. It has help me so far and I still have 9 months to go.

      Congratulations!!!

  15. QUESTION:
    Recently engaged . . Any suggestions for a wedding planning book?
    I recently became engaged to the love of my life; however, I need help with planning my wedding. If anyone has any suggestions for a good wedding planning book, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      I would avoid the books personally, go online to websites like theknot.com and weddingchannel.com (my personal fave b/c they have more variety in pics of things to get ideas from) and flip through bridal magazines to get an idea of what all you will need, and create a wedding binder filled with all your ideas and pics. You can keep all your wedding contracts and receips in their also so you will be organized! Also, Its a good place to keep your guest list and registry stuff, It has really helped me to have it! congrats and good luck!

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  16. QUESTION:
    what is the best online wedding planning source or wedding planning book you can buy?
    My best friend & i are planning our wedding. its going to be black, turquoise & white colors. if you have any ideas for favors or wedding places it would be a great help. this is our first wedding & we are totally confused.

    • ANSWER:
      This was an awesome planner for me in planning my wedding and I bought it full price at the time. I'll leave the link at the bottom. Also, the Knott.com is a great place to gather ideas. Get a binder together of everything you like from flowers to centerpieces, bouquets etc. And perhaps hire a wedding planner. They can help you put your ideas in action and usually will find you a good deal. Congrats!

      http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ultimate-Wedding-Planner-and-Organizer/Elizabeth-Lluch/e/9781934386408/?itm=18&USRI=wedding+planner

  17. QUESTION:
    I need help finding the best wedding planning book?
    I'm looking for a recommendation from someone who has used a wedding planning book that they LOVED. I am getting married in about 1.5 - 2 years, and I want to use the perfect wedding planning book. Possibly something geared toward average-sized weddings in small towns.

    Thank you!
    Also, I want this to be a book that I can write in, save receipts, etc. A hands-on, organizational book. Not just a book on tips.

    • ANSWER:
      The Ultimate Wedding Planner & Organizer (Ring-bound)
      by Elizabeth Lluch

      ^^Thats what i used. It was a binder with pocketed tabs. I bought it "used" on Amazon, even though it was new. Then i went to Office Max and bought a whole bunch of zippered pouches, clear sleeves, clear business card sleeves and photo album pages (all with the 3-holes punched in). After I added to it, it was the perfect organizer.

  18. QUESTION:
    Wedding planning books, handbooks, or catalogs!?
    Does anyone know if any really good books like these with really helpful info?

    • ANSWER:
      State Farm Insurance has an AMAZING wedding planning book, and it's free. It's a huge book, with lots of ideas, places for writing things, and pockets to keep stuff in.

  19. QUESTION:
    Brides- What wedding planning book/organizer did you find the most helpful?
    I am planning my wedding for next September
    P.S. I am on a strict budget of 00 for everything!

    • ANSWER:
      If you are on a strict budget and have ,000 for everything, I would seriously recommend a wedding planner. They have been thru this several times, know which vendors will do the best job for the money and will keep you on tract so you don't have to worry about anything. Use some of that money for you by hiring someone to do your worrying for you! A good wedding planner will be able to save you the money you paid for their services by doing their job. Check references - and I mean check them - ask for contact names and numbers and call brides she has worked with in the past. Make sure there is a good chemistry between the two of you and tell her all your wedding dreams. Be smart.

      If you insist on doing it yourself, go to the bookstore and look thru wedding planners. Everyone is very different - some people want step by step details and other people just want general basics. You're going to have to spend a few hours looking thru all of your options. And be sure to check out Martha Stewart's - it may or may not be at your local bookstore.

  20. QUESTION:
    What it the best wedding planning workbook/guide?
    I just got engaged and I'm getting married in October. I will be planning the wedding by myself. I have no idea what I'm doing and was wondering if anyone could tell me a good wedding planning book/guide that would be suitable for someone like me. Thank you very much!

    • ANSWER:
      The Knot's site helped me plan my wedding.

      There are lots of wedding planning books available on Amazon - check the reviews to see which one will suit your needs.

      Don't let the planning stress you out - this is supposed to be a happy time. Just keep yourself organized (I kept a notebook with me at all times) and remember that it's only a party. It's not worth going crazy over.

  21. QUESTION:
    wedding planning books?
    ok im getting married may 2009 but i have no idea what to do is there any good books out there that will help me out? cuz im all on my own on this so i really need the help, i have a subcription to some bridal magazines but they wont be coming in till febuary
    oh and we will be haveing a some what traditional jewish wedding

    • ANSWER:
      Save your money! Check out your library! Thats what i did! i was able to use the money on mags and other stuff instead of the books that are overpriced!

  22. QUESTION:
    Does anyone know of any good books for a couple to read while preparing for a wedding?
    I don't need a wedding planning book but a book that helps when coupled with pre marital counseling. Thanks in advance.

    • ANSWER:
      I agree with "The Five Love Languages." That's a great book! Also, a book that a friend gave me when I started to think that my husband might be "the one" back when we were dating - "Fit to be Tied" by Gary & Lynn Hybles. (I may have spelled their name wrong.) Very good, very realistic view of what to expect.

  23. QUESTION:
    Where can I buy Indian/Pakistani wedding planning books? I'm from Toronto...?

    • ANSWER:
      http://www.culturalwedding.com/

      http://www.weddingsutra.com/

  24. QUESTION:
    Best book for planning wedding (destination/eloping)?
    Any recommendations on wedding planning books for non-traditional weddings/eloping? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      BRIDE magizine is good but i would go to the library and check out books its easier and you can find more stuff. good luck :)

  25. QUESTION:
    Wedding Planning Book?
    I am planning my wedding - what books have people used and do you recommend them? Any great ones??

    • ANSWER:
      I'm a wedding coordinator, but I like "The Everything Wedding Organizer" . I also like "The Everything Wedding Checklist". You can find them at a Barnes & Noble

      They also make one for outdoor weddings, weddings on a budget, and books for specific members of the bridal party respectively.

  26. QUESTION:
    What is the most comprehensive wedding planning book?
    I need to know so I can get it. Also, what makes it the best?

    • ANSWER:
      I have a book called "the ultimate wedding planning guide" I found it at Barnes and Noble and it is wonderful. It keeps me organized, has checklists, tells me when to have things done by, tips on how to save money for the wedding, style ideas, and even places to compare vendors. Its like having a wedding planner but not paying for one. I love it. I looked through about a dozen planning books and this one has everything. Hope this helps. :0)

  27. QUESTION:
    What are some great wedding books / materials?
    It will be my best friend's birthday soon an she's currently in the midst of planning for a wedding next year. I thought I'd get her something about weddings for her birthday. Do you know any must-have books on weddings or wedding planning?

    • ANSWER:
      Pick up the magazines at the various bridal stores.

      If your friend is in the market for wedding accessories have her go to http://sensibleweddings.com. There are great jewelry gift ideas and personalized gifts. There are also some great articles.

  28. QUESTION:
    How long after getting engaged should you start planning the wedding?
    LIke how long should you wait before you hire a wedding planning and book a venue and all that?

    • ANSWER:
      Depend on conveniences of both parties. I think 3 months are enough.

  29. QUESTION:
    What is the BEST Wedding planning book?
    I am looking into purchasing a Wedding Planner. But there are SO many! If anyone has had experience with any certain one, or can just recommend one for me, that'd be great. Links are appreciated as well (preferably to the certain one on amazon.com)

    • ANSWER:
      I have three suggestions, that I've personally used before. (as a maid of honour each time) I liked them all, they each offered their own pros and cons.

      http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Wedding-Organizer-Checklists-Worksheets/dp/1593376405/ref=pd_sim_b_42

      http://www.amazon.com/Bridal-Bargains-Wedding-Planner-Planning/dp/1889392308/ref=pd_sim_b_2

      http://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Small-Budget-Planner-Organizer/dp/0898795303/ref=sr_1_52?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1281751017&sr=1-52

      Each of them proved to be really useful in keeping track of things and keeping things on budget, and on time.

  30. QUESTION:
    I'm planning an inexpensive wedding: Can you recommend any good sites or books as resources?
    My boyfriend and I are trying to plan an inexpensive wedding because we don't have really a lot of support from our families.

    We don't know much about weddings but can't afford a wedding planner. Can you all recommend any good books or websites that we can check out to figure out how to do this?

    I know there are a ton of resources out there but I'm looking to avoid the crap and just look at the ones that people have found helpful in planning their own weddings.

    THANKS!!!

    • ANSWER:
      weddingplanningonabudget.com
      www.big-wedding-tiny-budget.com
      www.shopwiki.com.au/weddings
      is a few sites hope they help!!!

  31. QUESTION:
    where can i get a wedding planning book?
    one i can actually write stuff down and stuff not an actuall book i have to read and they give you advice

    • ANSWER:

  32. QUESTION:
    Best Wedding Planning Book & website?
    There are so many books out what would be the best Wedding planning book & website

    Thank You

    • ANSWER:
      http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ultimate-Wedding-Workbook-Organizer-2nd-Edition/Elizabeth-Lluch/e/9781887169691/?itm=3&USRI=wedding+organizer

      http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Complete-Wedding-Planner-Organizer/Elizabeth-Lluch/e/9781887169660/?itm=1&USRI=wedding+organizer

      http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Everything-Wedding-Organizer/Shelly-Hagen/e/9781593376406/?itm=2&USRI=wedding+organizer

      http://gifts.barnesandnoble.com/Home-gift/Tying-the-Knot-The-Complete-Wedding-Organizer/e/9781593599782/?itm=6&USRI=wedding+organizer

  33. QUESTION:
    wedding planning book?
    does anyone know a good wedding planning book for 16 year olds who just really want to plan their dream wedding? i'm not actually getting married obviously, but i've been thinking about it since i was five and i want it to be organized!!!!!

    Professional Wedding Photo Albums and Photo Books

    Professional wedding photo albums are created from high grade materials. The tough but stunning satin cover is chosen because it is durable and will last for many years but also because it offers exceptional photo printing standards. The pages of the photo album are made from ivory coloured Italian 230gsm paper and there are parchment tissue interleaves that give the album a traditional look and help protect photos from scratching and rubbing against one another.

    Customising Your Wedding Album

    The cover is the customisable section of a wedding photo album. Choose a single photo and have this printed on the front and...

    Continue...

    • ANSWER:
      Hi. Your question is a good one. I am organized too so I can appreciate that you are already thinking ahead! You should, however, not be looking at wedding planning books. You need to focus on high school. You should be looking at college catalogs and fun girl stuff. Don't focus on a wedding at such a young age. By the time you do get married, many things will have changed. Possibly what you think is your "dream wedding" will not be that when you are engaged. Once you are engaged there is plenty of time to plan. Enjoy your teen years and your college years!

  34. QUESTION:
    Do i need to be a certified (as in have a certificate from a course) to start my own wedding planning business
    PLEASE HELP!! DESPERATE . So instead of having completed a course learn by reading books on planning a wedding- being a wedding planner, internet etc - no certificate

    • ANSWER:
      Hi There,

      It really depends where you are and how the market perception is towards wedding planners in your area. I seriously doubt that many potential customer would even bother to know what the qualifications are.

      What is more important is the track record and your credibility. Wedding is not something that you can redo if you find the experience unsatisfactory.

      To start up it is best to build your support network and marketing channel. Collect testimonials and build the reputation. market it well and do not over strech your resources. Wedding planning business is more like a relationship referral business and usually people take it once and all those that attend the function will be a good marketing agents. Make sure that all the guest have a good time and know who helped them have a good time.

      Another advise is, please differenciate yourself. Be noticably different from the others in a good way.

      Good luck.

  35. QUESTION:
    Wedding Planning Book Needed?
    Does anyone know the best wedding planning book out there and maybe a link to it? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have no idea where to begin!!

    • ANSWER:
      There's an entire section of wedding planning books at Barnes & Noble that you can check out-- that way you can browse through all of them and see which one suits you best! Plus you don't have to pay shipping!

  36. QUESTION:
    Does anyone know where i can get a good wedding planners planning book?
    I am new to the business and am working on my first wedding :) i need a good organizer. Experienced wedding planners out there, can you recomend an organizer that has the tools i need?

    • ANSWER:
      I think that any bride's planner would work for you just fine. In the searching that I have done I haven't seen any specifically for wedding planners even though those may be available from the wedding planners association. I personally chose this planner but something else might work best for you.

      http://www.amazon.com/Emily-Posts-Wedding-Planner-4e/dp/0060745037/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-7788937-1559147?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187459471&sr=8-2

      wedding planners groups
      http://www.nawp.com/
      http://afwpi.com/
      http://www.weddingsbeautiful.com/
      http://www.aa-wp.com/?rext=2092

  37. QUESTION:
    Do I need to buy a wedding planning book or can I do it all online?
    If I should buy a book as well, which book should I buy?

    • ANSWER:
      i wouldn't waste the money on a book! that was the first thing that all of my newly married friends told me when i first got engaged! no reason to! if you don't do it online, then find a wedding magazine that comes with the wedding planning/timeline insert, there always seems to be one of those in some wedding magazine!

      best of luck and congrats!

  38. QUESTION:
    i'm in need of a good wedding planning book?
    I'm looking for a book that has a checklist of everything that needs to be done to plan a wedding as well as timeframes as to when these things need to be finished for a stress free wedding. Any suggestions?

    • ANSWER:
      www.theknot.com

      I never spent a cent on "wedding planning books". I did research online (I used google and TheKnot a lot). I bought a binder and dividers to help me keep track of everything.

      *Put These Items On Your Calendar First *
      •Wedding Date
      •Rehearsal Date
      •Invitations should be mailed 6 weeks before the wedding
      •Wedding dress should be ordered at least 6 months before the wedding
      •Bridesmaids' dresses should be ordered at least 6 months before the wedding
      •Bride's hair should be cut and colored approximately 15-20 days before the wedding
      •Groom's hair should be cut 2 weeks before the wedding
      •Blood tests generally must be taken within 30 days of the wedding

      *Twelve to Six Months Before the Wedding*
      •Purchase engagement and wedding rings; arrange for engraving
      •Select a wedding date and time
      •Announce your engagement and wedding date
      •Discuss and create a preliminary budget with all involved
      •Determine your wedding theme or style
      •Reserve your ceremony location
      •Determine who will officiate the ceremony
      •Reserve your reception location
      •If you plan to have your reception outdoors, make alternate plans for bad weather
      •Decide in your color scheme
      •Determine the size of the guest list
      •Start compiling names and addresses of guests
      •Select bridal attendants
      •Obtain bridal attendants measurements and sizes
      •Select groomsmen
      •Obtain groomsmen's measurements and shoe sizes
      •Plan reception
      •Select a caterer
      •Select a photographer
      •Select a florist
      •Select a band or DJ
      •Select soloists, organists, musicians for ceremony
      •Select your dress and order if necessary
      •Select your headpiece
      •Select bridesmaids' dresses and order if necessary
      •Select and order invitations, matches, napkins, thank-you notes and programs
      •Start addressing invitations and announcements when they arrive
      •Pre-address than-you note envelopes while addressing invitations and announcements. (This saves a great deal of time later.)
      •Prepare maps and directions to include with your invitations.
      •Check with the post office for the amount of postage needed to mail the invitations when all the pieces are included in the envelope.
      •Register with bridal registries
      •Reserve the rehearsal dinner location
      •Select a baker for the cake

      *6-4 Months Before the Wedding*
      •Check with your local newspaper for the form and timing of your wedding announcement submission.
      •Have mothers select their dresses
      •Select the men's formal wear
      •Choose songs that you would like for the band or DJ to play at your wedding
      •Keep gift checklist up to date and write thank-you notes daily
      •Arrange accommodations for attendants who do not live in town
      •Reserve a block of rooms for out-of-town guests
      •Hire limousines and/or other transportation
      •Make appointments for physicals and update your immunization shots and records
      •Shop for wedding rings
      •Start planning the honeymoon
      •Begin shopping for trousseau
      •Begin addressing invitations and announcements. (They should be sent 4-6 weeks before he wedding.)

      *Two Months Before the Wedding*
      •Finish addressing invitations and send them out.
      •Finalize all details with the caterer, photographer, florist, reception coordinator, musicians, etc.
      •Order the wedding cake if it is not supplied by the caterer.
      •Finalize the ceremony details with the officiant.
      •Make rehearsal and rehearsal dinner arrangements.
      •Plan the bridesmaids' luncheon.
      •Make appointments with your hairdresser and mark-up artist.
      •Finalize honeymoon plans.
      One Month Before
      •Have a final fitting of the wedding dress and bridesmaids' dresses.
      •Have a formal bridal portrait done.
      •Complete all physical and dental appointments.
      •Get blood test and marriage license.
      •Make transportation arrangements for the wedding day.
      •Purchase gifts for all of the attendants and particpants.
      •Purchase gift for your fiance
      •Keep careful records of the gifts you receive and write thank-you notes as you receive them.
      •Select responsible person to handle the guest book.
      •Make sure that all of the men's attire has been ordered.
      •Pick up wedding rings and make sure they fit.
      •Take care of legal affairs such as changing the names on insurance policies, etc.
      •Reconfirm the accommodations for out-of-town guests.
      •Prepare wedding announcements to be sent to the newspaper.

      *Two Weeks Before*
      •Arrange to have wedding gifts moved to your new home.
      •Turn in a change of address card to the post office if necessary.
      •Finish addressing announcements to be mailed on the wedding day.
      •The groom should have his hair cut.
      •The bride should have her hair colored if necessary.

      *One Week Before*
      •Contact guests who have not responded.
      •Give the final count to the caterer and review the details.
      •Go over any final details with all wedding professionals you have hired.
      •Give the photographer a list of pictures you would like.
      •Give the videographer a list of shots you would like included in the video.
      •Give all musicians the lists of music for the ceremony and reception.
      •Plan the seating arrangements.
      •Continue to write thank-you notes.
      •Pack your suitcases for the honeymoon.
      •Make sure you have the marriage license.
      •Make sure that you have the wedding rings and they fit.
      •Make sure that all wedding attire is picked up and it fits.
      •Reconfirm all honeymoon reservations.
      •Make sure that you have your plane tickets.

      *The Day Before*
      •Have the bridesmaids luncheon if you are not having it the day of the wedding and you haven't already had it.
      •The bride should have her nails done.
      •Have rehearsal with all participants, reviewing their duties at least twice.
      •Go over special seating or pew cards with the ushers.
      •Give any instructions about on the wedding day such as what time everyone should be at the church for pictures, what type of transportation is provided, where the reception is, etc.

      *The Wedding Day*
      •Have the bridesmaids' luncheon if you have not already had it.
      •The bride should have her hair and makeup done.
      •Make sure that each of you have the rings.
      •Make sure that you have the marriage license.
      •Place the officiant's fee in an envelope and give it to the best man so he may resent it after the ceremony.

  39. QUESTION:
    Where can I find a wedding planning book?
    so i went to a wedding on Sunday and I'm officially obsessed with having my own. i did the city hall thing so now i wanna go a bit big but not trying to break the bank. So i wont mind paying for it but i would like for the book to be at least updated to this century...lol. If it matters, I live in NY.
    I'm also 23 btw

    • ANSWER:
      You can go to walmart and get one. They have them online & in stores. I just went about a week ago to get mine! It only cost me about .00

      Target also has them.

  40. QUESTION:
    I am looking for a wedding planning book to buy? Any suggestions of a good one?

    • ANSWER:
      I know a planning book called: The Ultimate Wedding Planning Kit by Wedding Experts Elizabeth & Alex Lluch, Founder of WeddingSolutions.com. I have it, and it is pretty good. Hope that helped!

  41. QUESTION:
    can anyone help me design the cover page of my wedding planning book?
    i need to design the cover page of my book A-Z OF WEDDING PLANNING & ORGANIZATION. i need someone to assist me please and forward the design to my email

    • ANSWER:
      Yes I can if you're going to pay me for doing it

  42. QUESTION:
    Does anyone know of a good reference, book, or website for wedding planning?
    I'm in the very early stages of planning our wedding but I have no idea where to even start. Does anyone know of a good reference, book, or website? Any thoughts?

    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      theknot.com is a really great website, but there are a LOT of really great websites out there. The thing that helped me the most was going to bridal shows in my area and organizing all the information in a big binder. Then I knew that all my stuff came from local vendors!! I also found it helpful to join an online community of people who were also planning weddings at the time (none of my friends are married and I'm the oldest, so I've never had any kind of experience with it) - usually you'll find them at wedding websites or on journal websites like livejournal or opendiary.

      Good luck!!

  43. QUESTION:
    Is there a complete guide to Wedding and event planning book?
    Is there an industrial book to weddings and events that show you how to set the table, make favors, invitations, fold napkins etc?

    • ANSWER:
      There are many different ways to do all that stuff. You can find great ways to do that stuff if you google wedding DIY (do it yourself) or anything in particular that you want.

      You could also hire a wedding planner if you don't want to do it all yourself. This person would have great ideas for you to use.

  44. QUESTION:
    Wedding Planning book.... what do you think?
    Ok so i know this is a long shot, BUT...... i have to tell you the whole story.

    Ok so i am currently planning my wedding, and well my partner and i are working our bums off and no matter how much we try to save money on our wedding costs its just not working, so i have found other ways to make the wedding more affordable.
    eg online!! i have found ebay.com and ebay.com.au GREAT!! online honeymoon travel and also online sites for weddng dresses.
    so far the costs for our wedding have skyrocket-ed for our reception and ceremoney but we cut costs on everything else, decorations etc.

    I am wanting to make a book on wedding planning the cheap way, well not cheap and nasty way but cheaper way.
    If you are planning your own wedding and wanted help and well didnt want to spend a fortune but still wanted the wedding of your dreams would you buy something like that?

    If you have thought of this or think its a good idea id love your comments?
    Or if you have had your wedding and wish there was a book like this out there comments please!!!

    thanks in advanced
    opps, geez sorry about the few spelling mistakes, it was a very fast typing mode.

    • ANSWER:
      no. i looked at a few books like low cost wedding or something like that. but i didn't want to read a book. i did a few searches on line. and with a diy wedding it is cheaper anyway.

      my mom did get a mother of the bride book, that she read and helped her out.

  45. QUESTION:
    Wedding Planning: Is this location too far?
    I am from Seattle and my fiance is from Portland (4-5 hours apart driving). We both would love to have a wedding in northeastern Oregon (6 hours from Seattle, 5 hours from Portland).

    Most of his guests are from Portland, most of mine are from Seattle.

    None of our guests are too old or ill to travel that far. But it may be inconvenient for those with demanding jobs (my 60-hour-a-week cousins or my on-call doctor relatives). The location is beautiful, will save us a lot of money, and accomodations for those who need to stay over are fairly economical.

    My questions:
    Is the location too inconvenient for our guests?
    Are we perhaps overestimating our ability to plan a wedding/reception that will take place in a different city? (I know that limits our contact/previewing of certain things/etc.)
    Is it asking too much of our guests?
    Perhaps a dumb question: To what extent do we pay for travel/accomodations for traveling guests? My understanding is that we pay for the wedding party and their travel needs. (Is that always the case?) But not necessarily for other guests.

    I don't know if this makes a difference: About 20% of our guests will have to travel (by plane) no matter where we have our wedding.

    Logistically (last question, I promise!) how do we get to the wedding? I assume that my fiance and I go there at least a day ahead of time (his family has a house there), but what about the bridal party? Is it more appropriate for me to ride with them down there, or with my future hubby?

    Sorry for the complicated question - but any advice would help. I've pretty much had it with the wedding planning books/websites because they all say the same thing and none of them have answered any of these questions.

    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Ok. so my husband and i planned our wedding long distance.....we were living an 8 hour car ride away from where the wedding was. We got married in my home town, so it was convienent for my family to get there. My husband's family and friends needed to travel. His family all came to the wedding and stayed the whole weekend. Most of his friends were unable to come due the the travel/expense/etc. We did not pay for any travel expenses, even for those in our wedding party...we had not heard that it was expected and nobody seemed to grumble. We did work with the hotel that the wedding was in to secure a block of rooms at a discounted price. We also put together our own "gift basket" that each of the overnight guests would receive when they checked into the hotel....(snack, drinks, etc).

      Our wedding was on a saturday. we arrived in town the wednesday night before the wedding. We had thurs and friday to finish up the last minute things.....putting gift baskets together, getting favors ready, etc. We had our rehearsal dinner on the friday before the wedding. some people were unable to attend that b/c they didn't get into the town until sat morning.

      it wasn't too bad planning long distance. We choose to get married in the same hotel that we had our reception in for several reasons....mostly b/c my husband and i are different religions (jewish and christian), so church/temple was out of questions. But also, it was easier for our guests who were traveling....able to stay put once they got into town. We made it into town to meet with the hotel caterer and sample the menu so we could choose what to serve. The hotel also provided a coordinator who helped coordinate with the cake delivery, flowers, guests, etc. My bridesmaids all lived in different cities, so we chose a dress from david's bridal....they could all go in to get sized and pick up the dress at their local store. My husband had all the tux's rented from a shop local to the wedding. He picked them up the day before the wedding and had them waiting for the groomsmen when they got into town. The guests and bridal party did not arrive until the day before the wedding....they all had jobs!

      Anyway, planning a wedding long-distance is not bad. Just understand that you will have more guests declining to attend than you would have had if it was local. We did. But we still had a ball. Good luck!

  46. QUESTION:
    Which wedding planning book/mag is a must for a scared newbie?
    Hi Yahooers,

    My guy is starting to speak details on the Big Step and seems ready to propose shortly. I am creative but have no clue where to start; I am not one of those women who has been planning my wedding since I was 12 (no offense lol).

    But, this is the situation- my fam is small and mainly in the South, his family is huge, as in Dugger huge, and they're in Virginia.

    I want it to be classy and romantic but we can't afford some tens of thousands of dollars wedding. I don't want to go "cheap" either w folding chairs. An in between, you know?

    I'm thinking Vegas. Not cheesy, but we love Vegas.

    Around to my question- what book and/or magazine did you get that really cut to the chase and helped you plan practically? I don't want a wedding planner. And don't hold back girls, I want the one that you wrinkled and found really really handy.

    Thanks so much!!!

    PS I already know about The Knot :)
    BTW I do see a church or traditional wedding. Nothing like Elvis or Michael officiating. Thanx!

    • ANSWER:
      I know you already know about the knot, but honestly, that was my lifesaver! I don't think I could have planned my wedding the way I wanted with out it.

      Another thing I found useful was Brides Magazine. All the bridal mags are mostly ads, but Brides seemed to have more helpful content than the rest.

      Another site that helped me with DIY stuff was cheapchicweddings.com

      I used weddingwire.com to help pick out songs

      Something else you should do, is get on the mailing list for Nevada/Las Vegas brides. Most states have a bridal magazine that is very helpful for finding the best local vendors.

      I bought a notebook and that became my planning bible. I cut out pictures and pasted them in there, hairstyles, cakes, dresses, I wrote all of my ideas down in there, all of my vendor contact info, everything. You name it, the info I needed was put in it. My husband got so sick of seeing me carry it around that he would start telling me not to bring it places because he said I didn't need it where we were going, but you never know when an idea will hit you, so I carried it everywhere! It was a diary sized notebook, so it fit in my purse.

  47. QUESTION:
    please help with wedding planning...i dont know where to start?
    ok so i got engaged jan 31st and the wedding isn't till aug 25 2012 so i know i have plenty of time but i am one that likes everything to be just about done way before hand. i am wondering where is a good place to get wedding ideas, any wedding planning books recommended, colors for an august wedding, what types of gifts to give, food ideas. were not going to have much money because were paying for it ourselves and were a young couple with a 2 year old right now. that's the other reason why im starting early please help, i am open for any ideas.

    • ANSWER:
      One of the best places to go is "The Knot" www.theknot.com, that is the site that my wife and I used, and it sorta helped putting things into perspective.

      Starting early is an awesome idea by the way. It is so much easier to space things out over a large period of time.

      In the meantime, here is what I would do...

      Make a list of the things that ARE and ARE NOT important to you. Seriously, you can cut thousands of dollars from your wedding budget by eliminating things that are not essential to you.

      For example, my wife and I saved A LOAD of money on our wedding because we decided not to get married in a church, and just used on venue for the ceremony and reception. By the way, our ceremony was beautiful and nobody had anything but positive things to say about it. (It's also super convenient). We also eliminated the wedding party, as the occasion was about us not our friends and family. So seriously, go take a look at the checklist they have on TheKnot.com, and just start taking out anything that isn't essential.

      Once you have a list of the things that are essential, start looking for things that you can do yourself. (there are lots of DIY Wedding sites with advice and ideas) Again, we saved a ton of money doing our own save the dates and invitations. And since we started so far in advance, we had plenty of time to find to get the most out of our money. Seriously, we paid next to nothing on our save the dates and they're seriously the coolest ones anybody has ever seen.

      In the end, we ended up saving so much money by skipping stuff we didn't need, that we were able to bring hire a company to bring a Photobooth to our wedding (which was pretty much the hit of the night!)

      So you're totally on the right track. The more time you have, the more fun the whole thing ends up being, and the less stressful it is. I'm a guy, and I had a BLAST working on planning our wedding. Having so much time on our hands, and our desire to do as much as possible ourselves made the planning process a joint effort.

      Honestly, nearly a year later there isn't a single thing I would change about our wedding. It was perfect, as it was the perfect representation of us.

      Also, congratuations!

  48. QUESTION:
    Did anyone else get very anxious thinking about all the planning needed for a wedding?
    So I just got engaged two days ago & I was at the mall today and was wondering around a bookstore. I found the wedding section and picked out a few wedding planning books and sat down and started to go through them. After going through them I started to feel really anxious and I like I needed to take some deep breaths and maybe stick my head inbetween my legs and calm down.
    I don't know if it is just the stress of thinking of all the planning needed and money needed. Or it's just all my stresses combined.
    Basically my stresses include: college classes, currently in the process of transfering colleges for the spring, work, finances, & problems between boyfriend & mom.

    Did anyone else feel a little faint when they started thinking about everything they would need to do?

    • ANSWER:
      First thing is pick one weddding planning book and throw the rest out. Pick one with some type of timeline, and just do what it says. People can really go insane trying to plan a wedding, so you need to keep things as simplified as possible. Another option would be to go ahead and hire a wedding planner. You might have to pay a little extra to them, but they can manage your budget and save you money and your sanity. Since you are also trying to juggle college at this point, and mom + boyfriend are already causing drama, it might be a good option.

      So take a few deep breaths, go to a spa if you need to relax, maybe put off wedding planning for a week just to calm your nerves. Then go about it one step at a time.

      Good Luck

  49. QUESTION:
    Best wedding planning book?
    I am looking for a wedding organizer book. I would like one that is 3 ring bound so that I can organize it well. Any advice?

    • ANSWER:
      You honestly don't need to spend money on a book. I have been given three different planning books as engagement gifts from friends and besides flipping through them once, I don't use them. You don't need to spend money on something like that when so much stuff is free and then you can just put in it a binder with three-whole page protectors to store contracts/stuff from venues/vendors.

      I have accounts at theknot.com and Weddingbells.ca and I don't even use them! I have everything in an excel spread sheet because then I can customize it to the way I like. I used the lists and budgets from free online site (Martha Stewart Weddings has one too) and transfered what i needed to Excel, a I have a worksheet for each item with my overall budget being first (a page for favour costs, invitation budget, venue/catering, etc). Then I just printed it out to store in a folder.

      Just be sure your binder has pockets or you have a folder assigned for the wedding because you get a lot of stuff/contracts from vendors that you need to organize and can't necessarily punch holes in.

      Good Luck!

  50. QUESTION:
    I am interested in event planning but mostly wedding planning?
    I have taken an online course from penn foster on wedding planning and also graduated with my associates degree in hospitality management, I want to start my own wedding planning business near Louisville KY does anybody have some advice for me on how to do so? I have many books on business also, does anyone know any great books? Is anyone an experienced planning? Thanks so much!

    • ANSWER:
      Before you jump into wedding planning, do some market research first.

      1. How many weddings are there in your area? How much does the average couple spend? How many wedding planners? You can find answers to these questions at www.TheWeddingReport.com.

      2. Once you have an idea about how big the market it and how much competition you have, search the internet for words like, "Louisville wedding planner." See what comes up and who your competition is.

      3. If you find a local wedding planner whose website you like, contact them and see if they need an assistant. This is a great way to learn the ropes in the "real world" and start making some contacts with other wedding professionals in your area.

      4. You might also take a position in banquet sales or management at a facility that does a lot of weddings. This is a great way to get experience without the risk involved in starting your own business.

      Honestly, the wedding industry is hurting right now. Wedding planners are suffering the most; when couples trim their budgets, the planner is often the first to go.

      Most wedding planners don't typically make very much to begin with unless they work the very, very high end market. The ones I work with are making ,000 - ,000 for full coordination (which is hard to sell right now) and that is for months of work. It's peanuts for the amount of time they put in.

      I don't know your financial situation, but if you start your own business be prepared to make very little money for at least the first year. If you hit it hard, you might begin making money in the second year. It would make more sense to get a job in a related field (with another planner or in the banquet area) and then start doing event planning on the side.

      Do your research first, figure out how much you need to make and what you can reasonably charge in your market before you start the business. Try to examine the facts before you let your passion for starting your own business take over.

      Good luck!


wedding diet