Wedding Planning Tips & Tricks

He FINALLY popped the question... Now, where do you start? Before we dive in – Understand that these are just SUGGESTIONS. I love wedding planning and like to offer tidbits of information to others in the planning process. Take what you LIKE and LEAVE what you do not like.

I am a firm believer that wedding planning does not have to be this misreable ^^screaming insanity^^ planning process. Yes...Weddings are notorious for being STRESSFUL. But think of engagement as a time of JOY! Don't mull on others' opinions and make decisions together with your fiancé and future spouse! This wedding is a covenant between YOU + YOUR HUSBAND. Prepare your heart and mind for this season of becoming husband and wife. Try your best to throw people pleasing out of the window (I know easier said than done)and recognize that your weddingday is guaranteed to be beautiful because you are getting married!

NOW LET US PRAY - NUPTIAL BLESSING O God, who by your mighty power created all things out of nothing, and, when you had set in place the beginnings of the universe, formed man and woman in your own image, making the woman an inseparable helpmate to the man, that they might be no longer two, but one flesh, and taught that what you were pleased to make one must never be divided; O God, who consecrated the bond of Marriage by so great a mystery that in the wedding covenant you foreshadowed the Sacrament of Christ and his Church; O God, by whom woman is joined to man and the companionship they had in the beginning is endowed with the one blessing not forfeited by original sin nor washed away by the flood. Look now with favor on these your servants, joined together in Marriage, who ask to be strengthened by your blessing. Send down on them the grace of the Holy Spirit and pour your love into their hearts, that they may remain faithful in the Marriage covenant. May the grace of love and peace abide in this bride and let her always follow the example of those holy women whose praises are sung in the Scriptures. May her husband entrust his heart to her, so that, acknowledging her as his equal and his joint heir to the life of grace, he may show her due honor and cherish her always with the love that Christ has for his Church. And now, Lord, we implore you: may these your servants hold fast to the faith and keep your commandments; made one in the flesh, may they be blameless in all they do; and with the strength that comes from the Gospel, may they bear true witness to Christ before all; may they be blessedwith children, and prove themselves virtuous parents, who live to see theirchildren’s children. And grant that, reaching at last together the fullness of years for which they hope, they may come to the life of the blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRE-PLANNING

Guest List Make a guest list – an easy tool to secure your guests' mailing addresses is through the platform Postable. Extra handy for Christmas cards and birthday party invitations on down the road after you are married. Stamps Order stamps in bulk from the United States Post Office or Stamps.com; this is almost always cheaper, and you can pick the exact design you would like to have on your save-the- dates and wedding invites. Save The Dates Save the Dates – a fun option may be a refrigerator magnet for the guests you invite to the wedding. They can stick that on the fridge rather than throwing a paper invite into the trash. Wedding Websites I highly recommend creating a wedding website. Most guests will utilize your wedding website. It is so handy for the following: bridal party list,travel instructions (whereto stay + room block information), time and location of the ceremony, and for accessing your bridal/couple registry. I used the Knot, but multiple online platforms manage your information well (Zola or Wedding Wire). Additionally, as you upload your guest list, the Knot will track the RSVPs of your guests. I recommend adding the phone numbers of your attendees. You can send out automated text messages to help clarify the day of instructions/directions for your wedding.

DAY-OF PLANNING Groomsmen + Bridesmaids Ensure that your bridal party understands the timeline for the day of your wedding. I recommend sendinga schedule out a week before the wedding communicating what needs to be worn and when, plus the location and timeline for rehearsal dinner, and wedding festivities. Brides - you may have to help your groom with this :) and sending the details to the groomsmen's wife/significant other may not hurt either! Bridesmaids getting ready - have a steamer on hand and ready to go at a momentnotice for any wrinkles.A sewing kit is also helpful and Band-Aids for blisters for uncomfortable shoes.

Guest Book Ideas For Your WeddingAttendees Having a Bible displayed with, "Please sign our guest book and highlight your favorite bible verse," is a sweet option. Two tips – (1) provide a couple of printed guide sheets for which books of the bible are located on what page (bibles tend to vary across religions). (2) Leave a magnifying glass set out by the bible to help your guests enlarge the text as they sign/highlight their verse. You can buy a magnifying glass for $1.25 at Dollar Tree.

Polaroid Picture station – have a polaroid camera, plenty of film, double-sided tape, markers, and a blank scrapbook ready at the entrance to your reception. Your guests can take polaroid photos and add their well-wishes to your guest book.

A wooden sign with your married name – for example, The Smiths est. 2023 and metallic sharpies for your guests to sign their names. Floral For The Wedding Day I highly recommend Brooke Walterscheid, based out of Amarillo, TX. Her business is Cultivating Kindness, and she is willing to travel. Filler floral can be purchased for centerpieces VERY affordably through Sam's Club. When I ordered through Sam's Club, I did have to have someone present at my house to sign for the package of chilled flowers.

DAY-OF PLANNING Photographer Make sure your photographer has a backup shooter if an emergency were to occur on your wedding day and they are not able to shoot your event. Triple-check that they have SECURE photo storage and a backup process while editing photos. I have heard too many tragic stories of girls NEVER receiving a wedding gallery because their photographer lost their images. Make a list of photos you want to BE SURE your photographer takes. Don't be afraid to grab a close family friend or assistant and tell them to mark off the pictures on your list to ensure all items get covered! Little Kids At The Reception I loved making a "Kid's Corner" basket for all the littles at our wedding. I spent $20 at Dollar Tree to purchase coloring books, bubbles, a few rubber balls, and crayons/pencils for the kids to enjoy at the wedding. PACK AN EMERGENCY KIT AND/OR SUPPLIES IN THE BATHROOMS AT YOUR RECEPTION It never hurts to be prepared! Duct tape, super glue, needle + thread, etc. will 9/10 always come in handy for the wedding decorating and all the little behind the scenes details. You can google search fantastic ideas online of what to include in your wedding emergency kit. Having extra supplies in the men's and women's bathrooms is always nice - Dollar Tree is helpful here - mints, deodorant, stain remover, dental floss, pony tail, hairspray, band aids, etc. Grand Exit - When the night is over Whether your reception is at the church or at a venue in town BE SURE to give a designated person the venues clean-up instructions for the rented space. It may be helpful to ask your bridal party to agree to help with clean up after your grand exit.

Don't forget if your reception venue asked for a deposit - verify if the deposit is refundable or non-refundable to ensure you get reimbursed what you are owed. The venue I used almost pocketed our deposit, but we remembered to reach out about the payment.

HONEYMOON PLANNING

The Honeymoon

To save/preserve your wedding bouquet hair spray is your new best friend! Spray your bouquet generously with cheap hairspray and hang the bouquet upside down in a closet. It will be dried and out and preserved for you when you return from the honeymoon!

This tip especially pertains to couples who leave the next day for their honeymoon – make sure your phone, wallet, driver's license, passport (if applicable), are accessible and ready to go. This will eliminate any stress trying to get to the airport for your honeymoon. A fun idea is to collect a Christmas ornament while on your honeymoon as a keepsake and to commemorate that event each Christmas season.

Grab a variety pack of postcards on your trip – even if you don't mail them while you are gone, you can send these to your bridal party/family/friends as a thank-you for helping with the wedding.

Lady K's One Thing:

Papal Blessing Parchments to commemorate special occasions such as Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Priestly Ordination, Religious Profession, Ordination of Permanent Deacons, Anniversary of Marriage*, Priestly Ordination, or Religious Profession, and Birthdays. This is a special and intentional gift that can be framed and hung in one's home. You can find the link here to request these blessed documents - https://bit.ly/2Dott1f

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