A Practical Wedding Planner: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Wedding You Want with the Budget You've Got (without Losing Your Mind in the Process)
256A Practical Wedding Planner: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Wedding You Want with the Budget You've Got (without Losing Your Mind in the Process)
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Overview
Whether you're newly engaged or haven't quite made anything official yet, but you know you want to spend your lives together, you're going to need help planning your wedding. When you're ready to take a deep breath and start, this is the book you want--need--to have. From figuring out what you really want--as opposed to what everyone else thinks you should want--to helping you keep an eye on the ceremony itself and the vows, Meg Keene, founder of apracticalwedding.com, covers all the essentials. With checklists (such as flowers, food, final venue walk-through) and key spreadsheets (guest list and seating chart, budget, venue search, and more), A Practical Wedding Planner helps you:
- Set a budget--and stick to it
- Choose a venue: traditional, non-traditional, and everything in between
- Hire good vendors and keep your friendors (and tells you why DIY doesn't always save money)
- Figure out catering, rentals, and everything else Pinterest forgot to tell you
- Reality-check wedding dér
- Create and write a ceremony that really represents both of you
- Get everyone to show up...and have a good time
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9780738218434 |
---|---|
Publisher: | Hachette Books |
Publication date: | 01/05/2016 |
Sold by: | Hachette Digital, Inc. |
Format: | eBook |
Pages: | 256 |
Sales rank: | 572,439 |
File size: | 10 MB |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Introduction xiii
Chapter 1 Figuring Out What You Really Want 1
APW Basics 1
So You Liked It (and You're Gonna Put a Ring on It) 2
Priorities, Priorities, Priorities 2
Venn Diagram of Emotional Goals 5
Our Wedding Mission Statement 5
All the Wedding Things (Many of Which You Don't Need) 6
Wedding Planning Priorities 7
Extra Credit: Bringing In the Family 9
Putting It in Order 11
How to Have a Fun Wedding 13
The Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good 14
Chapter 2 Guests First, Budget Second 15
APW Basics 15
Don't Start by Cutting Your Guest List 16
Questions to Discuss with Your Partner 16
The Guest List Spreadsheet 17
Sidebar: Wedding Party Basics 18
Setting Your Budget 19
The Sky Is the Limit 20
Taking It to the Bank 21
A Post-it Note Does Not a Budget Make 21
The 123s of Budget Setting 21
The Devil Is Not in the Details 22
The Myth of the Wedding Budget Pie Chart 23
Real Wedding Budget Pie Charts 24
Chapter 3 From the Ballroom to the Beach: Location and Logistics 27
APW Basics 27
Figure Out What You Want in a Venue 28
Traditional Versus Non-Traditional Venues 28
Traditional Venues 28
Non-Traditional Venues 29
How to Find a Traditional Venue 29
Venues and Catering cost? 30
Whittling Down Your Options 30
All-Inclusive Venues 30
Finding Non-Traditional Venues 31
Sidebar: Destination Weddings 32
What Is (and Isn't) Included? 34
Sidebar: Ideas for Non-Traditional Wedding Venues 34
How to Throw a Wedding in a Non-Traditional Space 35
Rentals 36
Finding a Rental Company 36
Order Lots of Glassware (and Other Rental Tips) 37
Table and Linen Sizes 38
Renting a Tent 39
Other Items You Might Need to Rent 40
Sidebar: Questions to Ask at a Venue Walk-Through 42
Chapter 4 Vendors, Friendors, and Doing It Yourself 45
APW Basics 45
Hiring Vendors: Who Conies First? 45
Sidebar: Questions to Ask at a Venue Walk-Through 46
How Vendor Pricing Works 46
Where Are All the Awesome Vendors Hiding? 47
Don't Forget to Vet Your Vendors 47
Wedding Vendor Contracts 49
What to Do If Something Goes Wrong 50
Hiring a Photographer 51
Alternative Methods for Capturing the Day 53
Hire a Non-Pro 53
DIYing Your Photos with the Help of Family and Friends 54
Who Is Going to Plan and Run This Thing? 55
Hiring a Wedding Planner 55
Hiring a Day-Of Coordinator 56
Venue or Catering Managers 57
Do All of Your Weddings Look the Same? And Other Questions to Ask 57
Wedding Stage Manager-Your DIY Wedding Planner 58
Sidebar: What Your DOC (or Wedding Stage Manager) Does 58
Hiring an Officiant 59
The Four Basic Types of Wedding Officiants 59
Hiring a DJ 60
DIY DJing 61
Hiring a Band 62
Hiring a Hair Stylist or Makeup Artist 63
Yes, You Can Wield the Hairspray Yourself 64
DIYing Your Makeup: Your Regular Routine… Plus 64
…And Everyone Else 65
Sidebar: Tipping Your Vendors 65
So You've Been Reading This Book…and Decided You Want to Elope 66
Just a Few Ways You Can Elope 66
Marriage License: A Mini-Checklist 66
Un-Plan Your Elopement 66
How to Reschedule or Call Off Your Wedding 67
Chapter 5 Cheers! Feeding Everyone 69
APW Basics 69
The Many Ways to Feed Your Guests 70
How to Find a Full-Service Caterer 70
What Full-Service Caterers Do 71
Sidebar: What to Look For in a Traditional Caterer 71
Think Outside the Box 72
Food Service Options 72
Sidebar: Accommodating Food Restrictions and Allergies 73
Alcohol Service Options 74
Sidebar: Standard Wedding Bar Options 74
Restaurant Weddings 75
Sidebar: Wedding Cakes: Flour, Butter, Sugar (and Cash) 75
Non-Traditional Catering, from Food Trucks to DIY 76
Sidebar: The DIY Catering Checklist 77
Who's Taking Out the Trash? And Other Staffing Issues 78
How Much Food Do You Need? 79
Sidebar: How to Buy Alcohol for Your Wedding 79
Food Trucks 82
Food Truck Issues to Consider 82
Yes, You Can Have a Potluck Wedding 83
Sidebar: Catering Hack Ideas 84
Self-Catering 85
What You Need to Self-Cater 85
Meal Planning 86
Sidebar: Self-Catering Planning Documents You'll Need 86
Chapter 6 Getting Everyone to Show Up (and Have a Good Time) 89
APW Basics 89
Save-the-Dates 90
Invitation Wording and Etiquette 90
Sidebar: A Note on Child-Free Weddings 92
Sidebar: The Gently Feminist Guidelines for Addressing Wedding Invitations 94
People Are Terrible at RSVPing (Help Them Help You) 96
Thank-You Notes 97
What to Include in a Wedding Website 97
Sidebar: Hotel Blocks 98
Registries Aren't About You, Exactly 99
Sidebar: A Note on Giving Gifts 100
Social Media and Weddings 101
To Share… 101
Or Not to Share… 101
Is That the Question? 101
Wedding Vendors and Image Usage Rights 102
Sidebar: Party, Party, Parties! 102
Chapter 7 In This Hot Outfit, I Thee Wed 105
APW Basics 105
Wedding Dresses: Scam or Not' 106
Traditional Wedding Dresses 107
Sidebar: Dresses by the Dollars 107
The Alterations Game 108
Wedding Dress Timelines: Separating Fact from Fiction 110
Sidebar: Bridal Accessories: From Sparkle to Bangle to Pouf 111
Body Image, Sizing, and Wedding Dresses 111
Sidebar: How to Have an Empowering Wedding Dress Shopping Experience When You Wear a Plus Size (or Any Size) 112
Not All Wedding Dresses Come from Wedding Dress Stores 113
Major Retailers and (Nan-) Wedding Dresses 113
Buying and Selling Used Dresses 113
Vintage Wedding Dresses 114
Sidebar: Things to Keep in Mind When Shopping for a Vintage Wedding Dress 115
Buying a Dress from China 115
The Perfect Bridesmaid Dress Does Not Exist 117
Traditional Bridesmaid Dresses 117
When Your Bridesmaids Are All Across the Country… 118
Bridesmaid Dress Alternatives 119
Sidebar: How to Make Mismatched Outfits Work 119
Suits, Suits, Suits 120
Types of Suits, or What to Do with All the Buttons 120
Sidebar: Rental Tuxes and Affordable Suits 121
Buying a Suit That Fits 122
Suit Colors and Fabrics 123
Sidebar: More Casual Groom Style 123
Androgynous Styling Options, Suits for Women, and Other Gender-Queer Fashion Choices 124
Chapter 8 Sparkles and Spreadsheets: A Realist's Guide to Wedding Decor 127
APW Basics 127
Don't Plan Your Wedding Backward 128
Get off the Internet and into Your Venue 128
Creating a Decor Plan 129
The Relaxed Color Palette 129
Glitter Fabulous Is Totally a Style 130
You Can't Do All the Projects (So Pick a Few That Matter) 130
Sidebar: DIY and Decor Management 131
The Big Ugly Space Problem 132
Advice for More Decor Situations 134
Outdoor Spaces 134
Low-Light Spaces 134
Venues Where You Can't Attach Things to the Walls 135
Sidebar: Affordable Decor Materials 135
Chapter 9 Picking Flowers: Florists, DJY, and When the Blooms Js Off the Ranunculus 137
APW Basics 137
When to Use a Florist 138
Finding a Professional Florist 138
Working with a Florist 139
Sidebar: Where to Buy Wedding Flowers 139
Flower Chart 140
Floral Hacks 141
DIY Bouquets and No-Big-Deal Centerpieces 144
Floral Consulting and DIY Flowers 144
DIYing All of Your Wedding Flowers 144
Chapter 10 Ceremonies, Vows, and Why We're All here 147
APW Basics 147
Pick a Thesis 148
Sidebar; Legal Requirements 149
Putting the Words Together 150
Pick a Structure 150
Fit In the Fun Stuff 150
Sidebar: A Checklist for Officiating a Ceremony 151
The Building Blocks of a Wedding Service 152
Sidebar: Wedding Ceremonies: Many Cultures, Many Ways 153
Wedding Vows: Engrave Them on Your Heart 155
To Write or Not to Write 155
Breaking Down Vows into Parts 155
How to Write Your Vows 156
Interfaith Services: The Basics 158
Sidebar; Religious Wedding Vows 159
Sidebar: Secular Wedding Vows 161
Chapter 11 Getting' It Done 163
APW Basics 163
Being Laid-Back Requires Advance Planning 164
Once It's Planned, Pass It Off 164
Sidebar: How Long Is a Wedding? 164
A Wedding Timeline Is a Gift to Your Guests 165
Sidebar: Sample Timelines 168
Sidebar: The Gap Between Religious Ceremonies and Receptions 170
Making a Floor Plan 170
How Much Space Do You Need? 171
When to Have a Seating Chart 171
Escort Cards, Name Cards, and How Seating Assignments Work 172
Creating Your Seating Chart with Minimal Tears 172
Sidebar: Planning a Wedding Weekend 173
Shuttles, Buses, and Vintage Cars 174
The Wedding Rehearsal 176
The Rehearsal Dinner 177
Getting All the Stuff There, and Back Again 178
Sidebar: Day-Of Emergency Kit 180
The Wedding Planning Binder 181
Conclusion from Here to the STARS 183
Appendix 185
How to Throw a Wedding in a Non-Traditional Space 185
Potential Rental Items Checklist 186
DIY Catering Checklist 188
Potential Floral Item List 189
DIY Flowers Shopping List 190
DIY Bar Alcohol-Buying Calculations 191
DIY Bar Alcohol-Buying Shopping List 192
DIY Bar Setup List 193
Final Site Visit/Venue Walk-Through Checklist 194
Last-Minute Things You Might Have Forgotten (Two Weeks Out) 195
Last-Minute Things You Might Have Forgotten (Night Before) 196
List of Documents to Have in Your Day-Of Binder 197
Sample Spreadsheets 198
Guest List and Seating Chart 198
Budget 200
Venue Search 204
Pack List 206
Important People 208
Vendor List 210
Working Timeline 212
Decor Setup Instructions 214
Find More Resources on APractialWedding.com 215
Acknowledgements 217
Sources 219
Index 221
About the Author 239