Apr 18, 2016 | wedding planning
Congratulations! All that worry paid off! Photo courtesy of Artisan Events, Inc.
I know that some people find planning of any kind stressful, so sometimes wedding planning can cause acute anxiety. If that’s the case for you, you are not alone. I can’t promise that it will always be easy or free from stress, but I do have a few tips to help.
First, don’t try to do everything alone. If your fiance(e) isn’t willing or able to be an equal partner in planning, find someone else you can rely on. It might be your best friend, your sibling, or a professional planner. Find someone who is willing to commit to being there for you through the entire process. This is a lot to ask of someone, so, if you are not paying that person, be sure to do something very nice for them.
Next, try to limit the number of things you are worrying about at any one time. Decide on (for example) three things that need to get done first, and then worry about those. If numbers four, five, or six try to get your attention, put them aside and just concentrate on the first things. When you finish one project, add another one to the list.
Finally, the most important thing is to do something. Anything. When you’re looking at a big project, it can be daunting. But every time you cross something off your to-do list, it gets a little easier. So, make that phone call. Look up that thing you’ve been meaning to find out. Make that list.
It isn’t always easy to make all of the decisions that go into planning a wedding, but if you can narrow your focus a little and start making some progress, you’ll start to feel more and more confident that it will all get done and that it will all be all right.
Apr 11, 2016 | wedding planning, Weddings
We do love our dogs! Photo by Allison Williams Photography.
I’ve written a little about children in weddings before, but there is also the question of animals. Should you have a dog be your ring bearer?
I have to say that my reflexive answer to that question is, “No.” But I will say that there are some exceptions to that categorical negative. There are certain circumstances where it might not be a bad idea.
If you are having a very formal wedding and/or you are worried about things happening outside of your control, a dog in the ceremony is very likely going to do something you don’t want to have happen. But if your wedding is casual and you are extremely easy-going about what happens, you might not mind the unexpected things that dogs can do.
I would still only recommend doing this if: 1) the dog is yours or is one who knows you very well; 2) the dog is very well behaved in crowds and under superb voice control; 3) the dog is happy to carry or wear something; 4) the dog’s person can spend some time working with the dog to be sure he or she knows what is requested; and 5) you can assign someone to be full-time dog handler. If any of the above is not true, I would think twice about it.
There are other things you also might want to consider. For example, where will the dog go after the processional and during the ceremony? It’s very cute to have a dog walk down the aisle, but will it then go and put dog hair on everyone in the front row? And, as with children, let your officiant or best man carry the actual rings!
Perhaps the most important thing to decide is whether you want to allow a dog to be the star of your wedding. As actors always say, never work with dogs or children, because they always steal the show.
Mar 21, 2016 | Day-of Coordinating, wedding planning
Getting married in your back yard? I’ll work with you!
I was in an get-acquainted meeting with a couple who ended up hiring me recently and the groom mentioned that, before he met me, he had been opposed to hiring a day-of coordinator. When I asked him why, he said it was because he had a negative image of wedding planners and didn’t want one at his wedding.
I think I’ve run into this stereotype before: The wedding planner is bossy or unapproachable or a know-it-all or insistent on rigid etiquette or only has one way of doing things. I wouldn’t want someone like that at my wedding, either!
Fortunately for you, if you’re getting married, most wedding planners don’t fit that description. I certainly don’t. My job is to serve your vision of your wedding and make it happen. It’s important to me not to make any judgments about your choices. It’s your wedding; it’s going to be wonderful; and I want to help.
Feb 29, 2016 | wedding planning
Good planning means great results! Image by Blonde Photo.
I seem to have a new series on time management here, as things keep occurring to me. Here’s my time management tip for this week:
Prioritize your to-do list. (You did make a to-do list, right?) It’s easy to get sidetracked into taking care of the minutiae too early in the process, so keep an eye on what needs to get done first. Before you start sweating the exact placement of the gift table, be sure you have a caterer in place. Don’t worry about linen colors if you haven’t yet hired an officiant.
If you can keep your focus on the big picture, you’ll find that a lot of the little details take care of themselves–or are taken care of by the people you hire. Your caterer may have worked in the space before and will know exactly where the gift table is best placed. Your planner will make sure you think about linen colors when the time is right. Your first job is to make sure that you have hired the right caterer and the right planner so they can help you.
Nov 30, 2015 | wedding planning
Good planning has great results! Photo courtesy of christytylerphotography.com.
Here’s one more thought for you on time management, and then you’ll know most of what I know. This one’s a doozy, though, and most people don’t like to admit that it’s true, so brace yourself:
There won’t be more time later. In fact, there will probably be less time later.
It’s always tempting to think that after some event or after some project is finished, there will be more time to work on whatever it is that you are putting off. The reason this is a fallacy is that if there isn’t enough time for everything now, then things are being put off. That means that on top of all the stuff that belongs in the future, you’re adding stuff from the present. And that means that there won’t be more time.
If you find this depressing (and some people do), just remember that you can do something about it: Get at least one thing off the list today. That is one thing fewer you’ll be doing in the future, when there’s less time for it.
Nov 23, 2015 | wedding planning
Good planning has great results! Photo by Ann Oleinik.
If you’re looking for Part I on time management, you can find it here. I have a few more thoughts on the subject that I hope you’ll find useful.
Once you have your overall timeline in place, try to stick to it. It might be tempting to jump around from project to project, but I find it works better to finish one thing before going on to the next. It helps you keep focus on what you’re doing so that you don’t overlook the details and it also gives you a nice feeling of accomplishment when you check a project off your list.
Another trick is to use tiny scraps of time to best advantage. If you have ten minutes while you’re waiting for an appointment, think of a small job you can get out of the way in time that might otherwise be wasted. Look up reviews for a make-up artist you’re interested in or scan Pinterest for decor ideas. Using these little bits of time can add up to a whole lot in the grand scheme.
But don’t worry! You can get it all done in time.
Recent Comments