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Website #4: 15 things I wish I knew before I started planning my wedding

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Website #4: 15 things I wish I knew before I started planning my wedding

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The author of this article mentions the unexpected circumstances that many people fail to discuss when planning a wedding. Therefore, the planning process becomes easier when you become aware of both the obvious and unpublicized situations. To be specific, the circumstances being referred to are:

You won’t be able to stop talking about your wedding

A lot happens during the beginning and ending of the planning process

You should make a new email if you plan on going to a wedding expo

People ask about pregnancy plans before the wedding day

You will start speaking the “wedding language”

Everyone will give you advice

You will compare your wedding to others

It’s your big day, but not completely

You will get caught up in at least one unnecessary thing

You will second guess any big decision regardless of how much you love it

It is better to not show off your wedding dress before the big day

A lot of unexpected fees

Someone close to you will get weird

Wedding planning is a lot of fun

When people go through the wedding planning process, common areas such as costly expenses and advance booking are automatically thought about. This article is particularly useful because it brings light onto elements that are not generally thought about. As an example, casual weddings tend to be harder to plan and are more expensive than the traditional type.

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Wedding expos are quite common, and can be helpful if you're struggling to find vendors or a vision. They usually involve a whole bunch of vendors in booths who will try to get you to book with them, so they can be a bit overwhelming. The best piece of advice I got about them, that I unfortunately did not take, was to create a new email address just for the wedding.

Each vendor will ask for your contact info, and even if you only give it out to one person you're interested in, your email somehow gets added to seemingly every wedding-related business in a 100-mile radius. You will be inundated with emails for months, and it's not exactly fun. I also got a lot of phone calls from vendors as well. Keep that in mind.

No one really to be that person who says things like, "My FH loved that venue" or "Did you get my STD?" (a rather unfortunate piece of wedding lingo that means "Save The Date"). However, you will likely become that person (FYI, it took me weeks to figure out that FH means "Future Husband"). You will also become the person who understands the ins and outs of seating charts, processionals, and all of the specific types of wedding attire. It just comes with the planning.

You may have heard this before, but it is absolutely worth repeating: everyone you know will give you advice, wanted or unwanted, about your wedding. Some people will be unflinchingly rude when it comes to their opinion on what you're doing. Some will take it as a personal offense that you're eschewing tradition for something more unique. Some will butt in when you didn't even offer information. Try to take in stride, or just keep quiet about what you're doing.

In the weeks, months, or years leading up to your wedding, you will probably be invited to other weddings, bridal showers, and/or bachelorette parties. During those, you will compare every decision you've made to the decisions made at those events. It's not exactly fun, it's just that you can't really help it. This can turn negative fast, so try to remember your vision and keep in mind that you picked these things because they made you happy. It's not about what other people are doing, just about what you want.

You know how everyone says things to the bride like, "Enjoy it, this is your big day!" or "Sure, this is about your future husband, but really, it's about ." That's nice, but don't be mistaken: this is not completely just your day. First of all, it 100% is your future husband or wife's day as well - they still get a say in what is going on.

Second, you will, at some point, feel pressured to take into account the feelings of your family and your future in-laws. Your parents may want to add people to your already crowded guest list who mean a lot to them, even if you barely know them - and you will feel obligated to invite them. Your future mother-in-law might have a wedding tradition that is really special to her that you aren't into, and you might feel like you have to partake in it, or risk being rude. You ignore these things, of course, it's just that it's hard to do so - especially if they are helping pay for the event.

If you spend a lot of time on Pinterest or on a Facebook bride group or around other brides-to-be, you'll find a lot of wedding inspiration everywhere. In fact, you'll find so much, that you'll start wanting things you never thought you wanted, and some of them will be incredibly excessive and unnecessary.

For example I recently decided that I needed extra charger plates and colorful goblets, even though my venue supplies plates and glasses. Never mind the extra thousand bucks, when I saw them, they suddenly seemed to make or break my wedding. Do I need these things? No. Did I used to laugh at people who spent money on these things? Yes. Do I now really want them? Yes! It can be tough to stay practical if needed, so try not to get too swept up.

One of the best things I've done throughout my planning is keep my wedding dress a secret from everyone except my bridal party. I haven't done this because I think I'm worthy of some giant reveal, I've done it because I don't want to hear any opinions on my dress. If other people's opinions bother you, I highly recommend keeping your dress a secret as well. People will be surprisingly candid about what you're wearing, and it can be such an important and personal touch that you don't need anyone making you feel like you made the wrong decision.

Want a casual, outdoor wedding? That's great. It's just that your reasoning shouldn't be to save money or save time, because casual weddings are tough. They can often be more expensive than a traditional catering hall venue, and they often require more planning. Outdoor venues like barns or wineries usually don't come with things like bathrooms, tables, chairs, or even food, and you have to be in charge of all of these things that a venue would normally take care of. Outdoor weddings are fantastic, they're just tricky.

It wasn't until I began venue shopping that I realized that many venues (at least in New York) charge a site fee on top of their per-person fee . In other words, they charge, say, $150 per person, as well as a 10% site fee, as well as a tax. Site fees can be astronomical, depending on the venue you're looking at (I looked at places where the site fee alone was $20,000). It's just something to keep in mind when you're looking around.

That isn't even the only unexpected fee. There's also the tip you have to give every vendor, the "donation" you have to give a church if you're doing your ceremony there, the fee for pre-Cana if you're Catholic, the fact that many photography packages do not include the price of a wedding album, and more.

Weddings tend to bring out the worst in some people. During this time that is supposed to be really happy for you and your significant other, you will almost definitely experience some weirdness between at least one close friend or family member. As rough as it sounds, someone is bound to feel jealous about your upcoming wedding because they are not engaged. Every friend I've known who has gotten married has dealt with one person close to them who has distanced themselves during the planning process, and in some cases, it ended up seriously harming friendships.

On a less dramatic note, some people will get offended if they aren't invited, or angry with you if they aren't invited with a guest.

Wedding planning can have a really bad rep, which can be evidenced in these many negative points here. But in all honesty, it can be a lot of fun when you manage to forget about the stress and the money. Your wedding day is supposed to be a time to celebrate the love you've found with someone else, so as long as you keep that in mind, you'll be okay. And this is probably the only time in your life you'll be able to do this stuff, so let yourself enjoy it.

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15 things I wish I knew before I started planning my wedding

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Wedding expos are quite common, and can be helpful if you're struggling to find vendors or a vision. They usually involve a whole bunch of vendors in booths who will try to get you to book with them, so they can be a bit overwhelming.

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Website #3: How much does a wedding cost in Canada? 

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Website #3: How much does a wedding cost in Canada? 

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The average price Canadians thought was realistic for a wedding was $8,937 when the average cost cost ended up being $30,717. To break it down, some of the costs were averaged and estimated to be:

50% of the budget going towards the venue, food and bar, and event staff

2 - 3 tier wedding cake: $600

Experienced DJ: $1,750

Photo Booth rentals: $400-$600 for 3 hours of service

Photography and videography: $5000-$8000

I thought this website was useful in showing the importance of being realistic with your budgeting; especially for an event as big as a wedding. Due to the status that a wedding holds in society, pricing tends to be high and rigid. Therefore, the costs to host a wedding will likely be more than you are willing to pay. This website is particularly good in providing average prices for different wedding expenses in Canada so people are better able to accurately budget.

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Focus Wedding Photographers & Videographer Toronto

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A wedding is an important milestone in your life. Many couples might have thought about their wedding after dating for a period of time, and some far-sighted ones may have even started saving up for it when things got serious. However, for those who have never been exposed to such events before, the price tag of a wedding can still come as a surprise. According to a poll conducted by Global News in 2015, the average price that Canadians thought realistic for a wedding was $8,937.

That was a huge difference from the average number that people were actually spending for their big day:

So what are would-be brides and grooms spending their money on?

Based on a survey done by The Knot in 2018,

60% went to the wedding reception

10% was spent on the ceremony

photography and videography took up about 15%

a whopping 17% was spent on the engagement ring itself

The rest of the cost went to hiring a wedding planner, flowers and decoration, attires, transportation, stationery, and hair and makeup.

These numbers were calculated as an average amongst couples in different cities, with varying wedding styles. However, it is well known that throwing a party in the city can rack up a much higher bill than the average amount, and that holds true for Toronto. When asked how much a couple in Toronto can expect to spend for their big day, a local planner gave an estimate of $40,000 to $50,000.

The wedding reception is the biggest source of spending for couples, with the venue, food and bar, and event staff taking up 50% of the budget. That does not include the cake, entertainment, DJ and audiovisual service. When it comes to the venue, high-end ballrooms and banquet halls can be more pricey than smaller locations, but the good thing is that most items like rentals, tableware and basic amenities will be covered. If you plan to jump on the boho trend and rent a barn, the cost of renting the spot may be cheaper, but keep in mind that you will have to furnish and dress up the place yourselves, not to mention pay for a caterer to deliver, set up, staff and take down their equipment for your event.

Other items that you'll need to get for your reception are the cake, DJ, audiovisual service, entertainment, and decor. The average cost of a two to three-tier wedding cake is $600 in Toronto, which can be pretty steep if you are already paying for dessert and a sweet table at the end of the wedding. To save on the cake, a good number of couples chose to get a cheaper, smaller cake for cake-cutting photos, and then provide cupcakes or a slab cake to be served at the late night table. Some decided to forgo the cake altogether, or get a fake cake just for show during the reception. It all depends on how important having a beautifully decorated wedding cake is to you.

As for DJ, audiovisual and entertainment, the price can go between $2,500 to $3,000. An experienced DJ costs an average of $1,750 in Toronto, and an audiovisual technician will require about $1,000. There are of course more economical options, and many venues provide in-house DJ and AV services for a cheaper fee.

As for entertainment, the most popular thing right now is a photobooth. The cost of photobooth rentals vary, but the better ones are usually between $400 to $600 for 3 hours of service . The good thing about photobooths is that guests can have fun by themselves without needing much assistance, and at the end of the night, they have the print outs as a nice souvenir to remember the event by. Besides, it will be so fun for you to look over the goofy photos after your wedding day has passed!
DID YOU KNOW? WE HAVE A $550 PROMOTIONAL PHOTO BOOTH PACKAGE RIGHT NOW!
The next big thing on the wedding budget is photography and videography . The prices for this section can vary hugely, from less than a thousand dollars a night to packages in the five-figure range. There are many factors that come into play for the pricing, including experience, status (full time or part-time), number of shooters, quality, add-ons such as albums and prints etc. On average, you can expect to spend about $5,000 to $8,000 for good quality photos and videos, with maybe an album thrown in. These are the prices for reputable studios with experienced staff, and a solid portfolio to back them up. Your photos and videos are the only things that will last long after your wedding, so it is not advised to skimp on quality on this aspect.
ENJOY OUR $5000 PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY PROMOTION!
Apart from all that, flowers and decor can come with a hefty price tag as well. The estimate for wedding flowers plus decoration is about $3,000 for the average couple, and if you hire a designer or planner to help with it, that will be another $2,000 to $3,000. Flowers and decor, similar to photography and videography, can have a large range in price. Many couples made their own bouquets, and DIY-ed table decorations to save money. If you are good with crafts and have the time to make your own, you can save a lot of money on this section. Places like Costco and Loblaws have fresh blooms that you can purchase to make your own bouquets, and artificial flowers can be found in Michael's and dollar stores. The only risk with doing it yourselves is that you will not have the guarantee of having the exact number, type and colour of fresh flowers that you'll want for your wedding, which can lead to a considerable amount of stress, especially since you can only work on the flowers very close to the wedding. If you are not too particular with the types of flowers, or are willing to supplement with fake flowers, DIY is not a bad idea. Another thing to think about is the set up of your decorations. Since you will fully occupied throughout the day - you know, with getting married and stuff - you will need people to help you set them up. The good thing about hiring a florist or decorator is that they will have everything set up for you at the required time, so unless you have ample time to create your own centrepieces and can find help with putting them in place, a good vendor may be the way to go.

We mentioned about a wedding planner earlier, and this is something that more and more couples are going with nowadays. Hiring a planner helps you navigate through the uncertainties of finding vendors, reading contracts, and getting all the details organised before and during the day. A full service planner is usually about $4,000 to $6,000, and if you are looking for a day-of coordinator, the average cost is $1,500. These, similar to wedding photos and videos, are the prices of full time, experienced vendors. You can find part-time planners for a much cheaper price, but the risk of that is not knowing for sure how credible they can be.

One other group of items that take up a good chunk of your wedding budget is your wedding day fashion. That includes your dress and accessories, hair and makeup, groom's attire, and wedding rings. The dress, as we know, can cost as much or as little as you want. Many brides think of their wedding dress as the most important garment in their lives, and are therefore willing to splurge on custom dresses from high end designers. Some, on the other hand, may not care as much about an expensive dress, and do not mind purchasing pre-loved gowns or less costly dresses from more affordable stores. It helps that many retailers like H&M and J.Crew are coming out with bridal lines, and you can even get a wedding gown from e-commerce sites like Amazon! As for the groom's attire, the cost depends on whether you are purchasing the tux or renting it. A rented tux can cut the price down in half, but since a well-fitted, good quality suit can be an important item in a man's wardrobe, it is not uncommon for grooms to spend a little more and buy one for himself. Besides, buying the tux will allow the option of customisation, where you can have something special, such as your initials, logo or wedding date embroidered on it for memory's keepsake. The average price for a bridal gown is $2,000, and a groom's tux costs about $800 if you buy it. In terms of wedding rings, the estimated price is $1,200; and a hair and makeup artist for the day of is about $500 for the bride alone.

Unlike your wedding reception, the ceremony does not burn as big of a hole in your pocket. A wedding ceremony in Toronto costs about $1,800, and that includes the venue, musicians, officiant and marriage license. Of course, if you plan to dress up the venue with lavish decorations, the price can increase significantly. To save a little on this, you may consider having your ceremony and reception at the same place, if your religion and culture allows for it.

The last few items to purchase for your wedding are favours, stationery, transportation, and wedding night accommodations. These are grouped last because of their optional nature - not all couples choose to have them, but they are nice add-ons. The price of wedding favours and stationery can vary greatly, depending on what you get. If you build a wedding website and send e-vites to your guests, and use an online RSVP platform, then you can save up to $2,000 for your stationery. As for favours, a trend nowadays is to have guests take photos with the couple at a photobooth, and use those print outs as favours. If you decide to buy or make favours instead, the average cost is about $5 per guest. The price of wedding transportation really depends on the type and size of car you are getting, but many couples spent about $600 on it. Lastly, for wedding night accommodation, it is totally not a must have, as you can easily go home after the event is done. However, if you choose to stay in a hotel on the night of your wedding, the estimated price is about $400, or about 1% of your wedding budget.

That about covers everything a couple can expect to spend for their wedding. To wrap it up, you can use this breakdown from The Knot to allocate funds for your wedding budget:

Happy planning!

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How Much Does a Wedding Cost | Toronto Wedding Photographer

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A wedding is an important milestone in your life. Many couples might have thought about their wedding after dating for a period of time, and some far-sighted ones may have even started saving up for it when things got serious.

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Website #2: Wedding plan checklist and timeline 

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Website #2: Wedding plan checklist and timeline 

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12 months out

Determine your budget

Make a guest-list

Hire a wedding planner

Decide formality and overall theme

Select the venue and caterer

11 months out

Choose colour theme and start thinking of overall design

Hire photographer, band, DJ, videographer

10 months out

Start shopping for your wedding dress

Book hotel room blocks for guests

Create wedding website

Take engagement photos

Start looking at invitation

9 months out

Buy your wedding dress

Send save-the-dates

8 months out

Register for gifts

Select the bridesmaids dresses and schedule fittings for the month

Meet with potential florists

7 months out

Book the rehearsal-dinner venue

Hire ceremony musicians

Order rental items (i.e. linens, draping, etc)

Hire an officiant

6 months out

Hire a lighting technician

5 months out

Book transportation for guests, if needed

Book the bride and grooms transportation

Book the honeymoon

Buy or rent the grooms tuxedo

Begin premarital counseling

4 months out

Have your final tasting with the caterer

Choose your cake

Buy wedding bands

Select groomsmen attire and schedule fittings for the month

Hair and makeup trial

3 months out

Order invitations and hire calligrapher

Create or plan the menu

Brainstorm guest favours and gift bags

Book a photo-booth rental

Write vows

Select readings

Meet with officiant and invite him/her to the rehearsal dinner

2 months out

Send the wedding and rehearsal dinner invitations

First dress fitting

Pick up marriage license

Buy wedding party gifts

Do a floral mock-up with your florist

Give song selections to the band/DJ and ceremony musicians

Buy all small items

1 month out

Assemble gift bags

Pay vendors in full

Create a seating chart

Order or make escort and place cards

Have a final venue walk-through

Put cash in tip-envelopes for your planner/delegate to distribute

Break in your wedding shoes

The whole process of planning a wedding is generally very stressful and can be overwhelming. I chose this website because it provides a solid starting point for someone to use to get their wedding planning process started. Obviously, not everything will be applicable to everyone, but the steps should be used at the discretion of the individual(s). Compared to other checklists and timelines, this article gave a monthly breakdown as opposed to a list of “to-dos”.

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The question is popped, the ring is on, stars are in your eyes...but now what? With so many tasks to take care of and details to arrange, planning a wedding can seem overwhelming. But, if you give yourself enough time to plan and sort the tasks month by month with a wedding-planning checklist and wedding timeline, the job becomes more fun and less stressful.

"By breaking down the year month by month, you are taking on the planning process in bite-size pieces and it will be far less overwhelming," says Tessa Lyn Brand, the creative visionary behind Tessa Lyn Events. "You can enjoy each step." (Trust her. She knows what she is talking about.)

Meet the Expert

Though 12 to 14 months is the ideal length for an engagement, every couple's engagement time is different. (Brand once planned a wedding for a couple in a mere seven weeks.) If your engagement length is shorter, Brand's advice is to condense the schedule. "If you're getting married in six months, try to complete all the wedding-planning checklist tasks designated for month 12 to 6 in that very first month, and then you'll be right on schedule with everything else," she says.

Brand shared her expert insights to help create this 12-month wedding-planning checklist and timeline to help brides plan a stress-free path to "I do!"

12 Months Out

Determine Your budget

It's time to do the math and crunch some not-so-fun numbers. Before you can start anything, you have to figure out who's paying for what and determine your wedding's bottom line. From there, you'll want to break down said budget-what's a priority? What's not?-and start allocating funds accordingly. (A little market research here comes in handy.) And since these numbers will change as you plan, it's smart to start a detailed spreadsheet from the get-go. This will help you keep track of your spending and make it easy to adjust numbers along the way.

Make a Guest List

If only you could invite any and everyone, right? Chances are, you can't, which is why you have to put a cap on dishing out invites. When deciding your head count, consider your budget (how much can you afford?) and your venue (how many people does it fit?). Also, who's paying for what? From there, figure out how you're going to divvy up the list. If you and your partner are footing the bill, assume you'll get 70 percent of the invites, while both sets of parents will split the other 30. But if mom and dad are contributing, it's protocol to give all involved parties-your parents, your partner's parents, you as a couple-one third each. Next comes cutting, negotiating, and cutting some more until you reach a final number.

Hire a Wedding Planner

Again, this will depend on your budget. (Fair warning: Most everything will.) But if your funds allow-or if your peace of mind depends on it-now is the time to tap the manager of your big day. This person will be your right-hand woman (or man) and will guide you in all decisions, from selecting a venue to tracking your budget and handling all the logistics.

Decide Formality and Overall Theme

Now's the time to sit down and have another heart-to-heart convo with your significant other. After all, the vibe of your wedding needs to be a mutual decision between the two guests of honor. To get the conversation flowing, pour a glass of wine/water/tea and ask yourself: What's important to you and why? What do you value? Also, know that your venue-more on that below-is going to affect all of this. (Because, in most cases, we'd argue against a glam, black-tie theme for a barn wedding.)

Select the Venue

Okay, you know who you're marrying. Now the real question is where? Trust us: Choosing the venue is one of the most important decisions you'll make right now. Seriously, the location affects almost everything else, from how many people you invite to what kind of flowers go on the table. Chances are, it's also the biggest chunk of change you've put down, like ever. That's why you want to explore your options, visit the top contenders, and ultimately select a place that fits your guest count, style, and budget. (Here are the best venues we'd recommend again and again).

Select the Caterer

Your wedding is the best (and largest) dinner party of your life. So how exactly do you feed 150 of your nearest and dearest? Well, start with hiring people you trust to deliver-whether that's the venue's in-house caterer, a preferred caterer recommended by your planner, or even your favorite taco truck. And don't be afraid to get creative with your menu. Your guests will enjoy tasting your favorite cocktail as much as they will your grandma's blueberry pie.

11 Months Out

Choose a Color Theme and Start Thinking of Overall Design

Pull up your Pinterest boards, people. It's finally time to gather inspiration, select a color palette, and create a mood board. If you're struggling for inspo, planner Jessica Sloane recommends taking a step back to look at things that are already in your world-like how you've decorated your house, what you are liking on Instagram, etc.-and draw inspiration from that.

Hire Vendors Who Book Up Quickly, Including Your Photographer, Band, DJ, and Videographer

These are the people who will make your night fun-and all those memories last forever (aka, they're important). Do your research before you hire, ask all the right questions, and maybe even date your photographer. Seriously, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

10 Months Out

Start Shopping for Your Wedding Dress

You may know exactly what you want or you might not, which is okay, too. To get you started, here's an ultimate guide to dress shopping. Also, visit these places in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City -because finding a gown may be a matter of trial and error, but finding a salon shouldn't be.

Book Hotel-Room Blocks for Guests

It's a thoughtful gesture to block out rooms (and secure a discounted rate) for your guests. Here's everything you need to know.

Create Your Wedding Website

Get your site running now because you'll need to put the URL on save the dates next month. Follow these rules and make it pretty using Riley & Grey, Squarespace, or Appy Couple.

Take Engagement Photos

Now is a great time to practice being in front of the camera, especially since most photographers include a session in your package. But don't fret: We have three tips for the camera shy.

Start Looking at Invitations

The wedding invitation is a guest's first impression of your big day. That's why you want to put your best foot forward with a personalized preview. If you're going custom, start working with a graphic designer or stationer now to create your dream suite. If you're going for a less involved route, you can wait until the six-month mark. (Invites will be sent out just six to eight weeks prior to the big day.) Here are 12 of our favorite sites to look for invites.

9 Months Out

Buy Your Wedding Dress

It's time to say "yes" to the dress if you want to avoid rush fees.

Send Save the Dates

Let everyone officially know when and where you're making it official. And remember: Everyone who gets a save the date gets a wedding invite. No exceptions.

8 Months Out

Register for Gifts

Involve your better half in this one-after all, you two are building a life (and home) together. When registering, it's smart to ask for staples-like sheets and pots and pans, and so on-but it's even more genius to think about what you really want. Are you adventurers? Aspiring chefs? Charity givers? Consider your hobbies and tailor your registry to your soon-to-be-married lifestyle.

Select the Bridesmaids' Dresses and Schedule Fittings Within the Month

After browsing Brides.com for initial research, ask your bridesmaids to come shopping with you IRL-if they live close by. It will be helpful for you to see them in the dresses, and you could even ask how they feel in the options you're considering. (They do have to wear it in front of a crowd of hundreds, after all.) With that said, we're all about the trend of selecting a color palette-like yellow, grey, burgundy, or white-and letting your girls choose what they want to wear. Even better, check out our guide to perfectly pulling off mismatched dresses.

Meet With Potential Florists

Much like hiring your other vendors, you want to be simpatico with your florist, as well. In order to do that, we suggest polling friends for recs, scrolling through Instagram inspo, and asking your planner/venue coordinator who they recommend in the area. It's important that you find someone who is able to deliver on your vision and budget.

7 Months Out

Book the Rehearsal-Dinner Venue

Traditionally, the groom's family pays for the rehearsal dinner so treat this as an opportunity to impress your future MIL if that's the case. With that said, you still have say in the theme of this party and where it should happen (especially if you're footing the bill yourself). We love the idea of hosting a family-style dinner at your favorite restaurant-here are some great ones in NYC-or even hosting a casual celebration like a clambake or backyard BBQ. Read this before you start hashing out the details.

Hire the Ceremony Musicians

If you're enlisting the talents of a three-piece band, now's the time to do so. As for the actual music, we say don't go generic when you can go personal. Here are 100 song ideas for the processional, and 100 for the ever-important bridal march.

Order Rental Items, Such as Specialty Chairs, Linens, Draping, Lounge Furniture, White Dance Floor, Etc.

You may think of these as extras, and we beg you to change this way of thought. Great rentals essentially act as the good bones of your wedding-day décor. Conclusion: Don't skimp on upgraded chairs and cozy lounge furniture (your guests will thank you) if your budget allows.

Hire an Officiant

If you aren't marrying in a house of worship, you'll need to hire someone to make it official. Couples can use a professional (check local listings online on Thumbtack) or take a more intimate approach and ask a close friend or family member to do the honors.

6 Months Out

Hire a Lighting Technician

The most important detail couples forget about is lighting. Seriously, the bulbs and candles you select are what will ultimately light your perfect venue, make your photos just right, and keep the party going-even after the sun sets. Here are 24 bright ideas, and another 31 of picture-perfect candle displays.

5 Months Out

Book Transportation for Guests, If Needed

How do you know if it's needed? Consider your venue's parking situation, guests' access to car services or public transportation, and the cost you're asking them to incur. Good rule of thumb: If it's going to run them $20 or more-especially if you've already asked them to travel for a destination wedding- think about a shuttle bus. Or, some car services, such as Uber, allow you to book rides on others' behalf. For everything else you need to know about wedding guest transportation, check out our handy guide.

Book the Newlyweds' Transportation (Limo, Specialty Car, etc.)

Time to think about you two. Whether you're into getting in to a stretch Escalade limo, or all about hopping on a tandem bicycle-get around in a style that's all your own with these 15 creative transportation ideas.

Book the Honeymoon

Traditionally, wedding etiquette states the groom plans a surprise honeymoon for the bride. But, if you guys are tag-teaming your honeymoon strategy, try to have things semi-sorted out by this five month mark. That means being on the same page about budget, timing, travel arrangements, and a semblance of an itinerary. You don't have to schedule every minute, but each of you should share the most important takeaways you want from this trip, and act to ensure those activities will happen. Then, grab our top 13 tips to create the trip of a lifetime.

Buy or Rent the Groom's Tuxedo

The groom walks out first, remember? Make sure that first impression on your guests is a good one. Step one is choosing between a tux or suit, based on the formality of your wedding, and then deciding whether to buy or rent. When selecting the actual ensemble, focus on fit and function. A well-made outfit will be flattering, but also allow your groom to show off any and all embarrassing dance moves without fear of splitting any seams. Finally, if you're going the renting route, avoid these five mistakes groomsmen make when renting a tux or suit.

Begin Premarital Counseling

Whether you come from a religious background or not, pre-marital counseling has worked wonders for countless couples. (The experts say so, and so do the couples.) It's helpful to have an objective third-party encouraging you to address issues that haven't come up yet in your relationship. And, counselors can provide you with healthy conflict resolution tactics so you'll be ready when the inevitable disagreement does present itself. Plus, some states offer a discount on your marriage license if you undergo counseling.

4 Months Out

Have Your Final Tasting With the Caterer

At this point, you've asked your caterer to talk through these questions. Now it's time to taste what they're really made of. The tasting has become increasingly important as more and more couples choose to customize everything from their signature cocktails to their desserts. If you're nervous about heart-eyes obstructing your taste buds' judgment, bring your planner or consultant. They've likely attended dozens of tastings, and will be your clear-eyed troubleshooter-paying attention to the detailing of the food and the attentiveness of the service, while you're crying over crab cakes to bae about how "It's just starting to feel so real, you know?" Here's more info on what not to do.

Choose Your Cake

We'll hit you first with the pinspiration: Check out these gorgeous photos and delicious flavoring descriptions. Now, you and your partner should settle on a look and flavor profile you both love. Don't stress about pleasing every one of your guests. This is your cake as a couple; it's about expressing you guys. (You can also consider a groom's cake.) Got the cake(s) decided? You need a baker. Find a reputable one who's available on your date, and happy to take on your dream design for an equally dreamy price. (Ask them these questions.)

Buy Wedding Bands

Does your fiancé (or you) know the difference between an engagement ring and a wedding band? Read up, and then look through some of our favorites for him and her.

Select the Groomsmen's Attire and Schedule Fittings Within the Month

Do you want the groom and his guys to be matchy-matchy? How can you ensure the entire entourage gets fitted on time if they live all over the place? What else could go wrong? Breathe. You've got this, and don't be afraid to get the groom involved. He may be able to easily pull rank and get his men in line-a very neat, orderly, and well-dressed one, at that.

Hair and Makeup Trial

Help your stylists help you by researching some particulars before you come in for your trials. Look back at old photos of yourself so you can find something that's worked before and ensures you still look like yourself. Next, feel free to search social media for other inspiration; just don't delude yourself with highly-filtered Instagram expectations.

3 Months Out

Order the Invitations and Hire a Calligrapher

There are a few ground rules when it comes to ordering your wedding invitations: Order enough of them and account for some mistakes, make sure they will arrive in time, set up a system for recording RSVP replies, and confirm all addresses and spelling. But when it comes to design and wording, the options are endless. Need a little advice to rein it all in? Keep reminding yourself that the theme of your invites should match the vibe of your wedding and express you as a couple. If you commission a calligrapher, here's everything you need to know about calligraphy. Make sure your calligrapher knows it, too, and can prove it before booking him or her.

Create or Plan Your Menu

Once you've undergone a successful tasting, you'll have a good sense of your caterer's style and offerings, so you're ready to finalize your food. Maybe you're the couple who's hand-selected every hors d'oeuvres, main, side, dessert, and drink situation. Or, perhaps you just told your chef to "handle it" and called it a day. Either way, now is the time to stamp your approval on a completed menu that fits your budget, tastes, and timing.

Brainstorm Guest Favors and Gift Bags

You don't have to do favors or gift bags, but now's the time to decide. Here are some of our favorite options for favors, and these are Lauren Conrad's thoughts on welcome bags. Go forth!

Book a Photo-Booth Rental

Photo booths have become a reception staple, but if you're hoping for something with a little more pizzazz than your standard step-and-shoot, check out these seven creative alternatives.

Write Your Vows

If you've opted to write your own promises to one another, start thinking about what those should sound like for you two as a couple. Traditional? Tear-jerking? Feminist? Millennial? Pop-culture inspired? We've got guides for them all.

Select Readings

Bible versus are an obvious choice here (thanks, Mandy Moore à la A Walk to Remember), but there are plenty of nonreligious options, as well. If you'd like for your readers to choose their own, make sure you give them as much guidance as possible.

Meet With the Officiant and Invite Him or Her to the Rehearsal Dinner

Lots of things to consider when asking someone to marry you, but your main concerns are availability, eligibility, fee, and fit. Can your officiant of choice lawfully, affordably, and meaningfully help you two become one? Once you've chosen, make sure he or she is on the same page as you about your expectations and the overall tone you want for your ceremony. And if you've recruited a recently-ordained bestie to head up the charge, here's an article on how to officiate a wedding ceremony you can send along.

Start Crafting Any DIY Items If You Haven't Already

Whew! Let's hope you were able to control yourself scrolling through our DIY inspo and only have a few projects to tackle at this point. (Read this if you're overwhelmed.) Get to crafting-and make it anything but crappy with good friends, good music, good food, and good breaks regularly.

2 Months Out

Send the Wedding Invitations (With RSVPs Due One Month Before the Wedding)

You already did the hard part-the selection process. Now, just print and assemble.

Send Out Rehearsal-Dinner Invitations (These Can Be Included With the Wedding Invitations If You Like)

If your partner and his or her family are handling the rehearsal dinner, make sure you give them an accurate list of addresses, and feel free to discuss the design and overall aesthetic of the rehearsal dinner. You don't want it to be an exact replica of the reception that will follow the next night, but you may also want to confirm you don't show up to an "eat with your hands" BBQ buffet in black tie.

First Dress Fitting

We know you've been following along on our Ultimate Wedding Dress Shopping Timeline, but just to remind you: Your first fitting should be anywhere between two to three months after ordering, and your second one around the six-week mark.

Pick Up Your Marriage License

Ah, the fine print. There are four steps to getting your marriage license, and it's important to know where to go, what to bring, how much it'll cost, how long it'll take, and how long it'll last.

Every state has different laws and requirements, so Google yours. If you're having a destination wedding, whether domestic or international, you'll need to research those paperwork requirements as well. Then, make sure you as a couple, your witness(es), and your officiant sign it. ( Here's what to do if, God forbid, you lose it.)

Buy Wedding-Party Gifts

How much you spend on your bridesmaids' gifts is determined on an individual basis, but no matter your price point, your goal should be something that's as thoughtful, functional, and personalized as possible. Here are some suggestions, and testimonials from real maids of honor.

Do a Floral Mock-Up With Your Florist

Floral samples vary depending on your florist and your own wedding décor choices, but most of the time they'll include a mock reception table setup, centerpiece, and bouquet. Now is also the time to talk tweaks and finalize your delivery and care strategy.

Give the Song Selections to Your Band or DJ

Guys, if you need music suggestions, please hit us up:

Give the Song Selections to Your Ceremony Musicians

We've got suggestions on ceremony music, too.

Buy All Small Items

Just off the top of our heads, those include table numbers, toasting flutes, cake topper, cake stand, cake knife, guest book, card box, ring-bearer accessories, flower-girl accessories, a cute hanger for your dress, and a garter. Also consider purchasing pashminas, flip-flops, and/or sunglasses for guests to change into at the reception, as well as baskets to hold them. Then, don't forget your signs ("Welcome," "Guest Book," "Dancing Shoes," etc.).

Assemble Gift Bags

Follow the same guidelines as you did for your DIY projects to ensure this task is fun, not frustrating.

Pay Your Vendors in Full

The last awkward situation you want to deal with right before your wedding day is a vendor chasing money. Avoid that by keeping careful track of when and how much you pay each vendor. If there are some vendors who must be paid the day-of, or you're distributing tips, give your most trusted bridesmaid or relative a heads-up that come wedding day, you'll be counting on them to handle the labeled envelopes you're going to put together.

Create a Seating Chart

You thought the guest list was a pain in the hiney, and now you've arrived at the seating chart challenge-another daunting balancing act of relationships, egos, potential, and crisis-management. You'll want to think about your venue's floor plan, whether or not you'll have a head table and who will be sitting at it, and choosing a cool design. Here is a digital planning guide, in case that helps, too.

Order or Make Your Escort Cards and Place Cards

First, you should know the difference. While both place cards and escort cards designate where each guest will be seated at a wedding, place cards are more specific-and also more formal-than escort cards. A place card not only directs guests to the table where each will sit during the reception, but also points each guest to his or her particular seat at the table. Whichever you choose, you'll want your cards to complement the overall theme of your wedding, but again, the possibilities are unlimited.

Have a Final Venue Walk-Through

Make a list of questions beforehand, and bring your planner or another close friend or family member to bring up anything you forget.

Put Cash in Tip Envelopes for Your Planner/Delegate to Distribute

Remember those labeled envelopes we talked about for last-minute checks or tips? (By the way, here's a complete tipping guide on how much to give and to whom). Primarily, you don't need to tip people who own their own business-such as photographers, videographers, and florists. It's customary to tip the following vendors: musicians, DJs, hair stylist, makeup artist, drivers, bartenders, and servers. Many couples tip the wedding planner, as well.

Break in Your Wedding Shoes

Walk around your hallways. Dance in your kitchen. Do everything in your power to avoid painful blisters on your wedding night.

Congratulations! You've made it all the way to the final week of your wedding planning. Deep breaths now, most of the hard work is over at this point. Now all that is really left is the nitty-gritty details. Take care of things like:

Refreshing your hair color

Getting your eyebrows done

Manicure/pedicure

Getting a massage (why not make it a couple's massage?)

Final dress fitting (a friend or bridesmaid should come with you so she can learn how to bustle if your dress requires it)

Pack your bags for the honeymoon (don't forget your passport if you're leaving the country), and confirm your travel arrangements

Any edible crafting

Clean your ring (head to your jeweler to get your engagement ring professionally cleaned so it's extra sparkly on your wedding day)

Chase any RSVP stragglers and deliver the final head count

Clear your work to-do list so you can only focus on wedding festivities and take it all in

Practice your vows out loud

Write your partner a note

Night Before and Day of the Wedding

The big day is finally here. All your careful preparation and creative planning have come to fruition, and it's time to enjoy the wedding. Here's what to do:

The Night Before:

Eat a healthy meal

Pack a clutch or small bag of personal items

Drink water

Get a good night's sleep

Put any boxes, suitcases, bags, and survival kits to bring to the ceremony or reception in the car (you'll thank us tomorrow)

The Morning Of:

Stay off your feet as much as possible

Eat breakfast

Drink even more water

Take your dress and veil out of the bag early on and have someone steam them if needed

Lay out all the items (rings, invitations, etc.) that you want your photographer to capture

Exchange notes with your partner

Say thank you to everyone around you

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The Ultimate Wedding-Planning Checklist and Timeline

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The question is popped, the ring is on, stars are in your eyes...but now what? With so many tasks to take care of and details to arrange, planning a wedding can seem overwhelming. But, if you give yourself enough time to plan and sort the tasks month by month with a wedding-planning checklist and wedding timeline, the job becomes more fun and less stressful.

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Website #1: How to create a wedding budget 

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Website #1: How to create a wedding budget 

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To create a wedding budget, people should take steps to:
1. Discuss

Talk to your spouse-to-be about everything in regards to the wedding. It is important that you are both on the same page so that you are working as a team to create the vision. 2. Budget

Involve all contributing parties for the wedding to address financial contributions.
3. Prioritize

Make a list of must-haves and prioritize those before anything else.
4. Organize

Stay on top of the budget to ensure that you are not overspending.

People tend to get caught up in the glamorous parts of planning a wedding and oftentimes overspend. I chose this website because it is useful in providing soft skill recommendations on how to start a wedding budget. Therefore, people can figure out what they have to spend before settling on things they cannot afford.

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Are you stressed about your wedding budget? We've got a few tips that'll help find the price point that'll deliver you the wedding of your dreams without leaving you penniless.

Before you start hunting for the perfect wedding bouquet or sampling outfits for your big day you'll want to nail down a wedding budget. No, this isn't the most exciting part of wedding planning, but it is absolutely essential. It's easy to overspend with all the amazing dresses, cakes, flowers and decorations available, so picking a wedding budget and sticking to it is key. Figure out how many loonies and toonies you've got to spare before getting your heart set on anything.

Here are a few tips on how to create your wedding budget.

Discuss

Being on the same page with your spouse-to-be is of the utmost importance. After all, the two of you - and/or your families - will be putting generous amounts of cash into your wedding day. Discuss everything from how many people you wish to invite to what type of centerpieces you want at each table. Keep this information logged so that you don't lose sight of your goals and how you've decided to divvy up your wedding budget while shopping around. The aim is to plot out your vision as a team and then start involving other people.

Budget

Traditionally, the family of the bride would take on paying for most of the wedding - but the times they are a-changin'. Sit down with your spouse, their family and your own to discuss who will be footing the bill for your big day. Oftentimes all parties (including the couple) will put a sum of money toward the event. Make sure everyone is comfortable with the amount they're contributing to avoid problems further down the line. Pro tip: read our article about ways to avoid going over budget on your wedding.

Prioritize

Discuss the parts of your wedding that you think are the most important with your partner and go from there. Maybe they've got their heart set on a wedding venue but don't mind cutting back on floral arrangements? Perhaps you're willing to forgo that four-tiered wedding cake in favour of a more impressive wedding dress? Make a list of "must haves" for the two of you and prioritize those - then you can start booking fittings, tastings and venue scouting expeditions.

Organize

You'll want to stay on top of your wedding budget at all times to ensure that you are not overspending. Use our budgeting tool to keep things in order. You can enter your total budget and the tool will estimate the cost for each item. Don't forget to budget for tipping your vendors or service staff where appropriate. You can then edit or add items and juggle allocations based on your priorities. Aside from logging all the pricing information - from the cost of your wedding photographer to your officiant - the tool will track your payments and send you reminders, making the planning process more manageable.
Plan your wedding budget and keep track of your spending with WeddingWire's FREE Wedding Budget Planner"

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Are you stressed about your wedding budget? We've got a few tips that'll help find the price point that'll deliver you the wedding of your dreams without leaving you penniless. Before you start hunting for the perfect wedding bouquet or sampling outfits for your big day you'll want to nail down a wedding budget.

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Welcome to my wall on weddings costs and planning. Here you will find topics such as dismissive costs, rationale of costs, methods of savings, and budgeting tips. Through the various articles, videos, and posts, you will find everything you need to know before you start planning for your big day. Hopefully, this will get you to think wisely when selecting wedding services to ensure that costs do not spiral out of control.

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Video #1: Why are weddings so damn expensive?

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Video #1: Why are weddings so damn expensive?

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Weddings are typically really expensive because of wedding markups, asymmetric information, and the “once in a lifetime” mentality. Some vendors charge a higher price for weddings than for other similar parties. Asymmetric information suggests that the familiarity with a market produces balanced information between buyers and sellers so they can settle on a fair price. With the lack of consumer experience in the wedding industry, most people do not have a good idea on what is an acceptable price. Lastly, the “once in a lifetime” mentality makes it hard not to splurge when you put so much weight into one day.

This video is important in allowing people to understand the rationale behind the costs of a wedding. As an example, the emotional weight attached to weddings usually results in more work for the vendors. Hence, there is a tendency for higher prices. The bride and groom will then be able to have reason to justify the costs associated.

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A wedding videographer explains the bizarre economics of your big day. Listen to NPR's Planet Money on why wedding dresses are so expensive: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/08/05/138760908/why-are-wedding-dresses-so-expensive Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines.

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Video #2: How to save money on your wedding!

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Video #2: How to save money on your wedding!

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To save money on your wedding, it can be useful to decide what three things are most important to you and focus on them. All other expenses and their costs associated can be up for debate. Also, you can take respectful advantage of your friends skills and resources. For instance, you may have a sibling who bakes and can do your wedding cake. This will allow you to cut costs and honour the people closest to you.

With the wedding industrial complex being such a luxury market, it does not factor in the financial health of its clientele. Therefore, it can be difficult to find areas to save when the majority of wedding services are overpriced. For individuals who have a tighter budget, this will help couples prioritize their money for other investments such as a down payment for a house.  As an example, a suggestion was to purchase a 2 tier cake for the wedding and the rest can be from Costco.

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Video #3: The number one wedding budget killer!

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Video #3: The number one wedding budget killer!

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80% of a wedding budget is affected by the number of people you invite. The wedding planner in this video came up with the cost per guest for the average event: $90.20.

Items that are affected by your guest count includes:

Chairs

Tables including linen costs

Utensils

Napkins

Classware

China

Centerpieces

Appetizers

Meal

Desserts

Booze

Favours

Invitations

Most people do not correlate the number of guests to the costs and end up inviting more people than they can afford. This can result in difficulties making a smaller budget work when you have so many people to factor in. The wedding planner in this video made it evident by breaking down some of the costs associated for each guest. With all of the components that need to be included for each guest, it is important to be aware of the amount of people being invited.

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Video #4: Money Monitor: How wedding costs can spiral out of control

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Video #4: Money Monitor: How wedding costs can spiral out of control

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Prices come to be a shock if you have never planned or talked to someone who has had experience with the wedding process. Working with a wedding planner who has experience can help manage the budget and expectations. Some factors that contribute to out of budget expenses are that:

Venues cost a lot because of the hidden fees

People oftentimes forget about the cost of transportation, audio/visual needs, and lighting

Flowers cost more than what people usually expect

Personally, I think this video is valuable because it suggests reasons as to why weddings costs exceed one’s budget. Due to the lack of experience and knowledge on the industry, people will end up settling on costs that are overpriced. Since the video pinpoints areas that largely affect costs, you are then more aware of finding options before settling. By knowing things such as hidden fees, people can come up with a more realistic budget without surpassing their budget too much.

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Money Monitor: How wedding costs can spiral out of control

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The other posts have mentioned hidden fees for venues but fail to provide other areas where fees also apply. If necessary, there may need to be wedding dress alterations or hair and make up trial runs that need to be included in the budget. By not knowing additional hidden fees, budgets cannot be accurately made without it inflating in cost.

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I thought that this picture shows a different perspective on wedding costs. All the other articles and videos have talked about the traditional North American wedding and the costs associated. However, not everyone will go through that type of wedding so costs will vary based on culture too.

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1. What did you learn about your topic that surprised you the most?

From researching this assignment, I think the most surprising thing was learning the expected wedding cost versus the actual average cost. For the most part, I knew that weddings are a big investment for most couples. However, I had no idea that costs ended up being triple the amount initially thought out.
2.Provide a real-life example of how this topic is relevant or interesting for you.

For cultural weddings, I think this content is especially relevant because some can go on for multiple days. As an example, I went to a Pakistani wedding that was three days back to back. Costs were outrageous because of the elements added and length of the wedding.  For those cases, it is important to understand the importance of costs to avoid being extremely in-debt. 3. If you could pass on your knowledge to a family member or friend, what do you think is the most important thing to pass on?

I feel that the most important piece of knowledge to pass down is to be aware and research all supplemental costs associated with wedding services. In doing so, you are going to be more prepared to create an accurate budget as well as avoid any surprising fees.