My Wedding Planning Process

[eco-chic]

So I have had a couple people ask me to post up my wedding planning process (I am getting married next month). At first I didn’t know where to even begin with the post, but after thinking about it I have too gone to different sites to get ideas from other people's wedding planning posts. I am trying to include everything I have done so far. So sorry for the very long post! Feel free to take ideas from me for your own celebration; in the end they are not just my ideas but a collection of many people's ideas from the web! My colour choice is mostly gold with a splash of baby pink and blue.

Organization - I have been deemed queen of organization by my bridesmaids. Organization is key to any wedding! From the minute I started planning for my wedding I made myself a wedding planning binder. Forget the wedding planning binders you can buy in the store. Sure they have the tabs to help you organize but in the end they are costly and this is something you can do yourself! Plus I found that some of the info they had in there just didn’t apply to me. A home-made binder is the best way to go, and it is custom to YOUR wedding. Plus with all the PDFs you can find online, it is easy enough to make one yourself! I just bought a PINK binder and used page protectors to keep any brochures I might have gotten from the wedding shows I attended. I used the same baseball card keepsake plastic things (the same which I use to organize my coupons and some of you do as well) to organize any cards I get from vendors. And I separated each category with dividers. I had a category for budget (important!), guests, photo/video, flowers, cake, attire, decorators, and limo/transportation. This made it so easy for me in the end when I was choosing each vendor.

Budget – this is the most important part of any wedding. I downloaded a simple wedding budget worksheet from day one of the wedding planning process (http://www.realsimple.com/static/pdf..._worksheet.pdf) which actually shows how much as a percent you should spend for each aspect of the wedding. While I might have meandered a few percentages from their suggested ones, it did in the end help me with my wedding budget. This is important in order to know how much to set aside and start saving. This sheet was the first piece of paper in the budget section of my binder, and I also modified this chart with a “deposit” and “amount owing” columns since many vendors required a deposit (like the cake, decorator, reception hall, etc.). This way I know who I paid a deposit to, how much left I need to pay, and what the total of each vendor’s charge was. I also included any receipts, papers, contracts, etc. in a page protector right after this sheet.

Flowers – I went with the simple silk flowers. I wanted my bridesmaids and myself to keep the bouquets for as long as they want them. Why spend all this money on something you will throw away at the end of the night? I have heard people make nice centerpieces on their dinner tables with their bouquets in the end. What a nice touch! While you might think it is cheaper than real ones, believe it or not but they were $70 cheaper for all of the flowers I got for the wedding than if I was to go with real flowers. The only thing that is real is my throw-away bouquet (which she actually didn’t even charge me for!!) But I have heard from the groomsman that the boutonnieres tend to wilt by reception time. I chose flowers which look real –roses, hydrangeas, calla lilies, and orchids.
Story – I took a day in February to look at flowers and made an appointment with a florist (very first one). During the appointment, she was nice, but her silk flowers looked like something bought from an antique store – old, washed out colours, droopy. I didn’t like it. But me being nice I said ill think about it and come back later that day. Well, she didn’t want me to look around fearing I might never come back so she kept pushing me! She said things like “I only have enough flowers for just your wedding...” and “we have been in business for over 20 years we are the most experienced florists in town...” Ok, thanks, but no thanks! So as I started walking she shouted to me from across the store “see this bride here? She just ordered the same flowers you want for your wedding. I now only have enough to do your wedding. If you leave I can’t guarantee you will get these flowers”. That was my ultimate deciding factor. I said “THANK YOU!”, walked out, and never saw her again!

Dress – I actually bought the very first dress I tried on. I know, I didn’t want to either. But there was something about it that I loved so much. PLUS...I got it for $800 even including taxes since they had their end-of-summer sale in September. Why not...retail price: $1649. I knew I wasn’t going to get the same kind of dress as this one. So I got it. It was the first thing I bought, and I’m happy I made this decision!
Story – so this dress was one size too small! But I was determined to save on the alterations and lose some inches. It fit, but I could barely breathe and I needed the help of two assistants to be able to zip it up. By my first dress fitting by the seamstress at the store 2 weeks ago, honestly I can say that the seamstress just zipped it up!!! She said to me “Hun, you don’t even need to alter this dress...it fits you like a glove!” I was so thrilled! What I did since January was this – 4 days of exercise, one hour each day (P90X and Insanity). My snacks consist of yogurt, apples and peanut butter, fresh fruit, and a more controlled lunch/dinner. Now I feel great and know I look great!! I never thought I could do it but this just proved me wrong!
Regarding the veils – I honestly don’t understand why they are crazy expensive! For even the basic veil with no decor is over $100!! WTH! So, after seeing a very expensive veil worth almost as much as my dress $649...cause it has silk (who gives a...!) me and my mom went to fabricland, bought all our material, and out of $20 she created an even better replica of that $649 veil. Plus the fact that she made it and no one else will have one like mine is priceless!!! I never knew how easy it was to make (ok the edging she did on the sewing machine said took her 30 mins to do, and stitching the pearls and lace trim took another 40-50 mins).


Invitations – I bought these early. Michael’s had a display of a variety of invitations on clearance from the “Brides” collection. One box of 40 count was $15-something. So I bought 2. The box included RSVP cards with envelopes as well. Sure it was a make-it-yourself type. But I loved the invitation as it was so simple and so elegant. It has a single pearl with a ribbon running across it. Since my dress has pearls as sequencing, I thought it would be perfect to match! Plus, the less decorations, the less costly postage will be.

Decorations – my venue is at a golf club, so the rich and beauty of the floor to ceiling windows really adds decorations in themselves. So I only opted for a gold theme to suit the elegance of my theme and the venue. I chose gold chair covers with pink sashes, gold tablecloths with gold charger plates. The centerpieces are just cylinder style vases (I think??) filled with water and a floating candle with an orchid (again matching my bouquet) and crystal rocks (matching the crystal-like sequencing on my dress) in the bottom of each cylinder. There are 3 cylinders, each small, medium and tall. They will rest on a mirror (to add more light) with pink rose petals sprinkled around. I wanted this theme to be elegant and romantic. I think it suits it. I will have a backdrop, under lighting both against the backdrop and under the head table tablecloth. My DJ is providing with up lights against the walls for more lighting/decorations. So this was pretty cheap for me. Plus I searched throughout my area for the cheapest one I could find, but that has to be a good person/company to work with. I am happy to have chosen mine who is a fantastic person to work with!

Regarding the escort card table – I have seen different styles and different ideas. I am going to try to make this...

Party Favours – I didn’t want to completely spend a lot of money on this. But then again I didn’t want people to just toss it in the end. Who needs another tea cup or photo frame? I decided to go to my local winery and purchase bottled wine in a favour size (355mL). Plus the labels and wrapping is all free and included. It was cheap, ended up being $3.50 per person. Not bad! I also heard of people donating on behalf of each guest a certain amount to a foundation/organization they associate with (breast cancer society, Alzheimer’s society) and provide with a little card to put for each place setting at the table.

Photography/Videography – i went with a friend and his wife who both very good photography (not professional; they are both profs at my university). Since we know each other it will be easier to work with them. We did an engagement session with them and the pictures turned out beautiful and very professional. So we cut out a large cost by going with them. Regarding the video though, it was a bit expensive. But I really wanted to capture almost every moment of that day since I know I will be so caught up in the moment that I won’t have time to really see everyone’s expressions. Plus with the “documentary style” of video editing, I like to see the most important events captured as a film, I guess you can say. Both sets of parties will be at my wedding for an unlimited amount of hours (no strict timeline like other companies). I am happy with my investment!

Odds and Ends – cake cutter I’ll buy from the dollar store and just decorate with fancy ribbon, lace, etc. (Why spend so much on something you will use only once...yes they are pretty but seriously!!). Cake topper from bulk barn (they have nice ones, and maybe when they have their next coupon if I’m lucky!). Bride and groom glasses for the champagne: my mom already decorated those; we just bought glasses at home outfitters $10 for both including the decor. As a traditional Romanian wedding we have a band accommodating us through the entire day (even at pre-ceremony festivities at my parent’s house).

Did I miss anything? Lol. I am not bragging that my wedding was cheap, cause its not turning out like that (mostly the food at the golf club is the most expensive one, and with an open bar...yeah!). But we are getting the help of our parents to pay for some. So in the end we won't be going into debt as a newlywed couple.

[Kalmel]

Wow! way to go.

[Lynn49]

What a smart, savy bride you are!! It just breaks my heart when I see fancy shmaltzy cake cutters, unity candles (they buy the kits instead of decorating their own candles with ribbons and pearls!!)...there's so much that can be done in a much more cost-effective way...Our DD was like you....very cost conscious (I made the cake, table centre-pieces), and only has the tiara, veil and gown, which she'd like to sell, but hasn't gotten around to it, yet. It's a Maggie Sottero...yes, on that she spent some money! LOL! I don't think she wants to part with the tiara, however...I do lots of weddings each year, and see both ends of the spectrum regarding decorating...is so much smarter doing it the way you are...

Keep it coming, and PICTURES if you have nothing better to do...LOL!!! Hope everything continues to run smoothly for you!!

[Natalka]

Wow, thanks so much for sharing all this with us - it's much appreciated!

Your gown is very special, and what a great price! I also bought the first gown I tried on, it was 'the one'. Very nice that your mom had the skills to make the veil; that's awesome!

You sound so very organized, and that's amazing!

Some questions, though, if you ever have time... and whatever more you don't mind sharing..
I don't know what an 'escort card table' is.
How many people are you expecting? How many attendants, and what are they wearing?
What type of ceremony will you be having?
The reception - what about the food? (sarmale?) Sweets?

Traditional Romanian wedding? Very cool! I know I could google it, but would want to know what that entails through the day for you! I know what a traditional Ukrainian one is like (which we had for the most part), and a Ruthenian (Rusyn) one - so I'm wondering how yours will be.

[VeeVee]

Eastern European Weddings rock (Serbian here! lol)

Your so very organized! Would love to see pictures after the wedding - best of luck!

[Lynn49]

Ukrainian wedding for us, too....42 years ago this month! Traditional? I'll say, LOL!!

453 guests!!!!!

I can't even comprehend that nowadays!

Yes...MORE, please!!!! (we know you have nothing better to do than post here...lololol!!)

[eco-chic]

Wow, thanks so much for sharing all this with us - it's much appreciated!

Your gown is very special, and what a great price! I also bought the first gown I tried on, it was 'the one'. Very nice that your mom had the skills to make the veil; that's awesome!

You sound so very organized, and that's amazing!

Some questions, though, if you ever have time... and whatever more you don't mind sharing..
I don't know what an 'escort card table' is.
How many people are you expecting? How many attendants, and what are they wearing?
What type of ceremony will you be having?
The reception - what about the food? (sarmale?) Sweets?

Traditional Romanian wedding? Very cool! I know I could google it, but would want to know what that entails through the day for you! I know what a traditional Ukrainian one is like (which we had for the most part), and a Ruthenian (Rusyn) one - so I'm wondering how yours will be.

Thanks so much for the kind words!
An escort card table (i heard the term from the manager at the hall say) is where the place cards for each guest will be to tell them what table they will be sitting at. I am still not sure of how i will organize this and do this...
Regarding the food - we will have roast chicken or pork loin marinated with garlic, shallots, rosemary, seasalt and pepper in an olive oil/lemon sauce served plated with roasted potato wedges and family style garden salad with white vinaigrette. I will have a dessert table with traditional european desserts, as well as the cake.
Im actually Serbian and he is Romanian...and since our traditions are very similar i have stuck with just saying romanian lol.
I have 6 in my bridal party, and the girls are wearing a dusty rose short dress. We decided to opt out of the traditional bridesmaids dresses since they were too conservative, we didnt find any we liked, and i wanted the girls to be able to wear them again (i mean spending close to $200 on your dress and never wearing it again?!). This is the one they chose:http://www.camillelavie.com/dress/Sh...1820-10576.cfm but it is in dusty rose (they dont have a preview of the colour on the site).
My MOH will wear this one: http://www.camillelavie.com/dress/Lo...820-A11627.cfm in gold
The best man will have gold vest and tie, while the groomsman will have dusty rose vest and tie (matching with the ladies).

What we will do pre-ceremony is this - my parents are renting a tent for the yard to welcome any close family and friends to come to partake in this pre-ceremony tradition. The band will be there, along with some pre-wedding drinking (slivovica woohoo!) and finger food (appetizers). The girls are all with the bride waiting for the groom to come and "buy" her. The guests dont see the bride until the groom is the first to see her. The groom comes to "buy" the bride with his family/friends and BM and GM. The BM and GM bid with whoever is "selling" her until they come to a decided amount. They then all make their way to the ceremony.
Nothing really too crazy happens at the reception, except for the endless "kolo" dancing. I wonder with all this dancing who will end up eating their meals lol!!

Any other questions i am happy to answer! As this is getting me excited for the big day!

[saveadollardiva]

WTG on all the planning! You have everything going right! I know what you mean when you bought the first dress you tried on lol. I did the same thing! When I tried it on I knew right away! Of course everyone wanted me to try other ones, which i did, but i ended up always going back to the first one. NOW I fell in love with it, the way it was, BUT of course in true euro fashion, the bigger, the blingier the better lol. So a few things were added to please my family. And I am proud that you are doing it on a great budget! I started on a budget... than I lost it lol. UGH when i think of all the money we spent it is crazy! Love the dresses you pick out! and everything you have seems beautiful Good Luck!

[VeeVee]

Those dresses are fantastic!

Another option you can do for the escort card table - well it isn't really a table lol but something like this


or like this


Anyways you get the idea lol

[eco-chic]

yes i like those too. i like the first one seems like there is more colour...hmm something else for me to think about thanks!!

[saveadollardiva]

this is what we did for our seating table cards area. This is not the actually picture of it but same idea.

[Natalka]

I first saw the choosing of the bride at the first wedding from my husband's family who had emigrated here from Serbia - so very interesting! Also we did the procession walking from the bride's home to the church - my son was little, he was one of the attendants (I cannot remember the name for the position!) along with his cousin; they wore cute black hats and a cane with trailing ribbons on it, and were next to the bride during the procession.
We all got embroidered sashes with rosemary sprigs on them to wear.
After the church ceremony (full-on everything, crowning, etc.), outside the church coins were thrown for the children to gather.
At the dance, they had the bride dances (never saw that before where you pay to dance with her). Then later there was a point where the groom just came to negotiate with the man leading the bridal dance (banging banyak with wooden spoon), he tried to give more and more money, then finally just threw his wallet in the banyak and carried off the bride. When they came back, she had on an apron and babushka.

Oh, the kolo! Such fun! We Ukrainians have the kolomayka, which is a bit different.

[eco-chic]

I first saw the choosing of the bride at the first wedding from my husband's family who had emigrated here from Serbia - so very interesting! Also we did the procession walking from the bride's home to the church - my son was little, he was one of the attendants (I cannot remember the name for the position!) along with his cousin; they wore cute black hats and a cane with trailing ribbons on it, and were next to the bride during the procession.
We all got embroidered sashes with rosemary sprigs on them to wear.
After the church ceremony (full-on everything, crowning, etc.), outside the church coins were thrown for the children to gather.
At the dance, they had the bride dances (never saw that before where you pay to dance with her). Then later there was a point where the groom just came to negotiate with the man leading the bridal dance (banging banyak with wooden spoon), he tried to give more and more money, then finally just threw his wallet in the banyak and carried off the bride. When they came back, she had on an apron and babushka.

Oh, the kolo! Such fun! We Ukrainians have the kolomayka, which is a bit different.

Yes yes...pretty much the exact same thing!! Thanks for sharing!

[Lynn49]

Your gown, the brides-maid and MOH dresses are very cute...they'd have to have pretty nice figures to be confident enough to wear them!! Yikes...not for the faint of heart! The seating charts that Natalka posted are so well done..much nicer than some I've seen and I have an opportunity to see one every Saturday! Spice them up with your own colours...very well done!

Keep it coming.....what music have you chosen for your processional/recessional and the signing of the Marriage Register?
Are you having ambient music playing as everyone arrives and gets seated?
Does the music change for the groom's entrance? His groomsmen? Your bridesmaids?
I hope it changes for YOU!!

Can you tell this is part of my planning meeting with my couples? LOL!!!!

[matrix82]

Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

I would just add, that if you send out save the date cards, please also invite those guests to the wedding as well, it is ackward and confusing if a person recieves a save the date but does not get an invitation to the wedding.