How Much Planning Can I Do in Two Weeks?

[Haven]

Okay, ladies, I need your expert planning advice. I have two+ weeks off of work starting Friday, and since I don''t celebrate Christmas AND I have a two week break from grad school (phew!) I figure this is a great time to squeeze in all of the wedding planning I SHOULD have been doing the past three months.

This is what we''ve done:
- Have the Rabbi booked for the date, July 4, 2008
- Bought the dress (you all know about that saga, already!)
- Have the synagogue on hold for the ceremony
- Have two reception venues on hold, nothing finalized yet
- Have met with photog/videographer but haven''t signed anything yet
- Ummm, I think that''s it! Am I doomed? I''m just not that into wedding planning!

SO--If you were me, what would you take care of over the next two weeks?

 

[lucy.lucy.80]

Im just in the beginning stages of mine but i dont think you are doomed at all! I think you have done a great job of holding ceremony/reception sites and everything seems to be in place. although you haven''t finalized ceremony/reception yet, maybe you could start looking at printers for invitations or researching flowers/color schemes...you are getting married during the summer so you have so many beautiful color/flower options.

Have a nice 2 weeks off

 

[misysu2]

Ooh! 2 weeks is such a nice break! I miss grad school (NEVER thought I''d say that).

As far as wedding planning goes, I think you should finalize the synagogue and reception location. In my experience, the "on-hold" process only makes the vendors cranky as other potential clients look into it and they have to turn them away. I''d hate to see your venues given to someone else. AND you''ll feel SO good when it''s done!

Aside from that, I''d start thinking about BM dresses if you''re having some and the general color scheme with that. I started with a known color for my BM dresses, and that led me to flower colors, which led me to centerpiece colors, which led me to centerpiece/invitation theme, etc. Get one ball rolling and the rest seems to fall into place. Good luck!!

 

[Rhea]

finalize the reception site
sign a contract with photographer
book a DJ or band
book a florist

in that order, and then, if possible:

narrow down invitation designs
narrow down bridesmaid dresses

 

[Haven]

Oooh, great advice ladies, thank you! You''re giving me something to do between writing lesson plans and sleeping in.

Misysu--If I wasn''t teaching full-time AND going to grad school I''d probably love it a bit more. I''ve done two master''s programs in a row and I am just BURNT OUT at the moment. I defend my thesis in February so the end is near, thank goodness! (I''m actually grading final exams right now, three finals graded and then browse PS, three finals graded and then browse PS . . . I''m such a procrastinator.)

Keep ''em coming, ladies. I''m having trouble prioritizing my Wedding To-Do list!

 

[Rhea]

As far as order, think about what people or things can only be used by one person on one day and book so first (and early!) so you get first choice (hall, caterer, DJ, photographer). After that, book the next biggest things but people that can do several weddings on the same day (cake, flowers). Finally the things you can get last minute (if push comes to shove) or that not everything is riding on (BM dresses - even though it''s good to decide early they can always be bought off the rack, invitations, favours).

Quick and dirty on order

 

[Sabine]

I think definitely booking a reception hall is the first thing you need to do. You never know if there will be stuff you need to do for it (for example, we are adding twinkle lights to a couple of the tables at ours, and need to buy them NOW since after the holidays they aren''t available in most stores, so we need to go measure tables at our hall). I agree with Addy''s list, but want to add...how is your guest list looking? I would try to be finalizing it and starting to track down addresses, which has taken my family FOREVER to do for me, but I can''t complain since they are doing it for me! And what about Save the Dates? Since you are doing a holiday weekend, some guests might want extra notice, so now would be a good time to do those.

 

[dani13]

Definitely book your band (or DJ), and your ceremony musicians (if you want to use someone other than your band or dj for that, like a harpist or string trio)...The best ones are always booked over a yr in advance now, so I would get on it, especially if you want certain musicians in particular...Also, start looking at florists and bridesmaids dresses.....Other than that, I would say you are on track.....

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I am amazed no one mentioned it, but you caterer. If you are doing sit down or stations you need to book you caterer very early. Perhaps I am miss reading it and your reception site does it, but if not I would do that as soon as the holidays are over.

 

[bee*]

I have a month off from friday evening and the things that I want to get sorted during that break are:
Church
Priest
Gospel Choir
Band
Photographer
Videographer
Candelabras


Think that will do me for another while and then I''ll start again with the planning in the summer. Not sure if you need any of those things?

 

[Haven]

Thanks, gals!

Okay, so first we''re going to decide which venue we''d like to use for our reception. We have both on hold so we don''t have to worry about losing the date, AND we have the caterer on hold for the one location that does not have an on-site caterer, so at this point we just need to decide. Decisions seem to be my weak point.

Sounds like the band, photog, and all the other biggies. Oh boy, I''m starting to feel overwhelmed just thinkng about it.

THANK YOU FOR THE INPUT. Addy--I like your method of prioritizing, it''s great!