Planning A Destination Wedding Checklist

Planning a Summer Wedding? Important Considerations for Brides to Be

Planning the wedding of your dreams can be a monumental task in itself. It won’t take long before you realize why “wedding planner” is a full time job description. If you’re getting ready to embark on the long journey of planning your own summer wedding, or if you’ve simply got some prospective suitors waiting in the wings, this quick checklist can help give you an idea of the many details brides and grooms to be have got to tackle before the big day.

The Wedding Gown

One of the first things many future brides do right after getting engaged is shop for the wedding gown. Getting an early start is a very good idea, as special ordering and alteration—not to mention the difficult process of choosing a gown—can take a considerable amount of time.

A common trend in wedding gown selection today also finds brides setting a specific fitness or weight loss goal before the ceremony is set to take place. In any case, allowing six months to a year between the time you choose your dress and your actual wedding date should give you plenty of time to handle any unforeseen problems that may arise.

Bridal Party Gowns

Like the wedding gown, it can take a long time to make a final decision on bridal party attire. In many contemporary weddings, brides have forgone the tradition that bridesmaid gown must be perfectly uniform. The wide range of coordinating gowns on the market today makes it simple to leave the decision of cut and style up to the bridesmaids themselves.

However, it’s also a good idea to give your bridal party members a few parameters to stay within as they pick out their outfits. Assign a very specific color early on, at least six months before the ceremony, as well as any preferences you have concerning formality or cut to help guide your attendants’ choices. The mother of the bride dress can vary from bridesmaid attire, but should match closely in color.

Invitations

Invitations are one of the earliest official indications of your wedding and should accordingly be taken care of well ahead of the actual date. Invitations should actually be mailed out about 8 full weeks before the date of the wedding, allowing plenty of time for travel arrangements and RSVPs. Destination weddings should add considerably more time, depending on location and travel needs.

Announcements

Wedding announcements are different from invitations in that they are meant to provide an official notice of your wedding just after it has taken place. Announcements are designed for friends, colleagues and acquaintances who didn’t quite make it onto the final guest list. Announcements should be sent out on the wedding day itself, give or take a day or two.

Wedding Transportation

One of those small but very important details many happy couples tend to forget about when planning their wedding is special transportation. Whether you plan to rent a single limo for the bride and groom or several to transport the whole wedding party, it’s a good idea to book well ahead of schedule. Spring and summer weddings are the most popular, so you should book a limo 6 to 9 months ahead of time. Your choice of vehicles can usually be secured with a contract and deposit.

The Photographer

As with many other book-ahead considerations, a spring or summertime wedding will mean you’re competing with hundreds of other couples for a few precious resources. It’s not too early to set up a deal with a photographer up to a full year before your ceremony is set to take place.

In most cases, the best photographers will be snatched up first, so don’t be afraid to inquire about booking in advance if a particular professional or agency catches your eye. This rule can apply to many other aspects of the ceremony as well, including DJs, bands, catering companies and equipment rental.

Gift Registry

Setting up a gift registry for your wedding can be a time consuming process itself, but good etiquette involves waiting about 3 or 4 months before the ceremony itself. There are also practical reasons for waiting a bit, since many stores overhaul much of their merchandise after a season has passed, while the vast majority of gifts won’t be purchased until a few days before the wedding or shower.

Planning A Wedding is a truly herculean task and you shouldn’t hesitate to seek a bit of professional help. A good wedding planner can be worth his or her weight in gold, but remember that their time will be competed for as well. If you choose to go it alone, let your family lend a hand and take advantage of the tomes of advice circulating on the internet. After all, you can never have too much information when planning your special day.

About the Author

Tyrell Vincent is a freelance writer who writes about weddings and specific products such as wedding dresses

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