Wedding Timeline

Some people would say that you only need 9-12 months to plan your wedding, but I disagree. There are three things which you will need at least a year to plan correctly for; Budget, venue, and flowers. If you want a large wedding, you may need more than 12 months to acquire the proper amount of money. Check with family and friends to see if anybody wants to help pay costs. Many parents want to help. Sometimes friends will help with the Bachelor/Bridal Party. After you have chosen the number of people and budget for your wedding, you can set a tentative wedding date.  The second item on your list is booking your venue of choice. Many venues are booked solid the year before so after you have chosen size of wedding, decide on venue and get it booked.  Another thing you may need more than 9 months for planning is what type of flowers you want in your wedding. If you want summer blooming flowers in a winter wedding, expect to pay more. Cakes, attire, and jewelry usually stay the same price. After these three items are taken care of, now you can get into the planning timeline:

9-12 MONTHS:

Announce engagement

Engagement photos

Pick the final date for your wedding

Finalize how the expenses will be shared.

Prepare folder for receipts so you can prevent overspending

Make a list of every person you will invite to your wedding

-divide the list into must and maybe so if you have too many people you have a smaller list to eliminate from

Reserve your reception site if different than ceremony venue

Book your officiant

Book your photographer

Choose color scheme

Get wedding gown/veil

Choose maids of honor and best man (men)

Apply for passport and visa if needed for your honeymoon

6-9 MONTHS:

Send save-the-date cards

Choose flower girl and ring bearer

Reserve Wedding Night Suite

Choose bride maids attire

Book Florist

Book Band/DJ

Book Videographer

Start Planning Honeymoon

4-6 MONTHS:

Start Shopping for each other’s wedding gift

Reserve Rental Items

Finalize your guest list

Order stationary: Invitations, Thank You Cards, Wedding programs, seating cards, RSVP cards

Address Invitation Envelopes

Arrange accommodation for out-of-town guests

Buy shoes/accessories

2-4 MONTHS:

Order Wedding Cake

Prepare Party Favors

Order Wedding Decorations

Book Transportation for wedding day

Marriage License

Order Wedding rings

Prepare before and after wedding activities for guests

Buy gifts for bridal party

Mail invitations

6-8 WEEKS:

Record RVSP on wedding guest sheet

Decide on hairstyle and makeup

Schedule hair, makeup, and nails for your wedding day.

Buy toasting glasses, cake knife, ring pillow, guest book, etc.(Something old, something new, something gold, something blue).

Change, name, address, drivers license, SS card, insurance policies, subscriptions, bank accounts, etc.

Reserve wedding attire for groom, groomsmen, ushers, father of the bride and ring bearer.

Plan rehearsal dinner

Finalize Menu and beverage order.

2-6 WEEKS:

Finalize ceremony details with officiant

Get final fitting of wedding gown and other attire

Finalize rehearsal dinner

Pack for honeymoon

Contact unresponsive guests.

Finish wedding day timeline: give copy to vendors

Check fit of wedding rings

Outline special  wedding photos you want from photographer

Meet with band/DJ and outline music you want played

Decide on ceremony seating and give list to ushers.

Plan your reception room layout and seating arrangement.

FINAL WEEK:

Delegate person to check on payments of DJ/band, officiant, florists, venues, and vendors.

Review Ceremony Seating with usher

Pick up Attire and double check fit

Final guest count to caterer

Timeline with vendors, modify if needed

Confirm honeymoon reservations/ accommodations

Finish packing for honeymoon

THE BIG DAY:

Give groom’s ring to maid of honor

Give bride’s ring to best man

Follow timeline

Relax and enjoy!

Keep Your Marriage Blooming

Hubby works days getting home no earlier than 5:30 pm. Wife works evenings leaving at 2pm and working till 11:00 pm. Because hubby leaves house by 8:00am, he heads to bed about 10:00pm for a decent nights rest; Monday through Friday. Wife works Tuesday through Saturday. This leaves Sunday for the newly-wed couple to spend time together. Even though they live in the same house, they feel worlds apart. Here are some ways to keep your marriage blooming…

Make your common day off a date day. You have been dating for a while so keep on dating. Keep on planning dates together. By now you have a good idea of what each of you likes to do and eat, take turns spoiling the other on date night. Or for double the fun, take the first ½ of Sunday to do what the wife likes (ladies first) and then use the 2^nd half of Sunday to do what the hubby likes. Here are some ideas of ways to spend time together:

Try hosting a party for your friends and family and have a date night jar for them to drop ideas. When you run out of ideas, pull from the jar or use the jar to get started.

***   Walk in the park, hiking, fishing, bike ride, picnic, museum, ice-skating, water-gun fight, swimming/ float in river on inner-tubes, play pool, star gaze, sledding, $5 gift challenge, visit playground, county fair,  volunteer in community, or go to a school play.

RAINY DAYS

1. Watch a Movie together

2. Play board games: Yahtzee, Uno, Phase 10, 10,000

3. Start putting puzzles together

4. Host a game night or scavenger hunt

OTHER GAMES

1. Truth:

*The goal for this game is to learn more about each other.

--Taking turns each person tells 2 truths and one lie about themselves and your honey chooses which is the lie.

2. Name Game:

*The goal for this game is to show and build affection.

-- For each letter of your spouses name, come up with one meaningful and truthful compliment or good thing about your honey.

3. Blind-Miming:

* The goal for this game is to build trust.

-- Take turns blindfolding your honey. Choose a place for an obstacle course and guide your spouse safely through the course.

4. Become One Challenge:

*The goal is to overcome dilemmas either by accepting shortcomings or problem solving.

--Tie your left hand to your honey’s right hand and do something like cook a meal, do a household chore, or complete a project together.

Flower Knowledge

Flowers play a large role in the theme of your wedding. The bouquet you choose to walk down the aisle will make a powerful statement about what type of bride you are. It is the most important accessory you will have at your wedding and will live with you in your photos for the rest of your life. The goal of your bouquet is to enhance your natural beauty. From cascading to simple hand-tied arrangements, discuss with your florist what is your perfect look: have fun and be creative!

With that in mind, there is knowledge you must have in planning your perfect bouquet. I always tell the bride to find out what type of colors and flowers they want first, then plan their wedding around the season your flowers are available. If your wedding date is more important than flower choice and colors, you always have the options for dying or silk flowers. When you choose a florist this is one of the first questions you should discuss if you are choosing dyed or silk arrangements as many florists may not be available.

Meanwhile follow this link to our Pinterest page to view the types of flowers available for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

https://www.pinterest.com/bozemanflowers/