What to do next?

[cindygenit]

Hey ladies...

I haven''t done any wedding planning for about a month... mainly because i feel that it''s so long till my wedding..and I probably shouldn''t make any more wedding decisions?

What i want to know is... when did u organise your wedding flowers, DJ, and cake? Is there such a thing as "too soon"?

FYI, my wedding is in July 10 2010, and I have only booked my venue and got my wedding dress organised.

The little details like bonboniere and program etc can be organised in the last month before my wedding right???

TIA!

 

[FrekeChild]

I don''t think there is such a thing as too soon in wedding world. I got engaged in December, and started planning immediately for a wedding in January 2010--the slowest time of the year for weddings. The only major thing I have left is figuring out a "reception"...then the next step will be to order invitations and then little details.

But I don''t have things like DJs, flowers or cakes or deal with. So, take that for what it''s worth. (The flowers are taken care of by the hotel/chapel. I picked out roses and a color, and that was that.)

 

[laughwithme]

My wedding is pretty close to yours (June 26) so hopefully I can offer some insight on where I''m at. But....keep in mind, I am a mega-planner who wants just about everything done way further in advance than it probably should be.

You asked specifically about flowers/DJ/cake. Flowers: I will start "shopping" for florists around Oct-Nov, and then meet with one Dec-Jan. DJ: the DJ I wanted was very popular, and already booked for every weekend in June except mine. So, we booked him last month. Cake: I went to a bridal show and met a cake lady I loved, and also have a friend''s recommendation who charges only $1.90/slice (and I was at her wedding - so I know the quality is good.) I will probably meet with one or both after the first of the year (i.e. Jan.)

Other than that - I''ve already got reception venue, church, photog, dress ordered, honeymoon plans are decided, premarital classes scheduled, and custom wedding bands are in the works.

Good luck, all will fall into place!!!

 

[musincy]

Date: 8/10/2009 3:26:27 AM
Author:cindygenit
Hey ladies...

I haven't done any wedding planning for about a month... mainly because i feel that it's so long till my wedding..and I probably shouldn't make any more wedding decisions?

What i want to know is... when did u organise your wedding flowers, DJ, and cake? Is there such a thing as 'too soon'?

FYI, my wedding is in July 10 2010, and I have only booked my venue and got my wedding dress organised.

The little details like bonboniere and program etc can be organised in the last month before my wedding right???

TIA!

You're less than a year away from your wedding... I don't think anything at this point is too soon. I got married this July, and I booked everything by last August/September. I didn't need to, but I was planning from out of town and it was just easier with my schedule. None of my vendors thought it was strange though.

Also... you don't mention a photographer. I would book one now. Remember, photographers can only do one wedding a day, so the good ones can be booked quickly, especially for summer weddings. I'd call a few in your area and check on their availability if you haven't done so already. The officiant is also important if you are set on a specific person. It was difficult for me to coordinate dates with our venue and officiant. I'd hire someone for that now, too.

 

[cindygenit]

July is winter in Oz so its off season. I have to check with my venue if the DJ I want have ever played in the venue before and the venue needs to approve my chosen DJ. AFter that I just have to send in the form and deposit.

FLowers... well they ave referred me to the florist they have used before so i will probably go with them. It will probably smoothen the process since they have worked together before.

Officiant...Again, July is off season so I tHink I can wait a little longer. It means I have time to shop around for the cheapest one.

As for the photographer, i have a friend of a friend who is a photographer and I am going to see his work at the Bridal Expo in a couple of weeks time. Hopefully he is not booked for my wedding day.

I guess I already have some idea what vendors I want, just not sure when to pull the trigger. The two things I am most worried about right now is the photographer (if he is as good as my friend says) and the cake! I have seen very nicely decorated cakes with sub-par quality cake inside.

 

[princessplease]

You can never plan too far ahead. I''m three weeks after you, and have my DJ, music selection, photographer, venue, dress, my accessories, BM dresses, tuxes, flowers (I''m doing they myself), officiant (a friend is officiating), favors, STD''s, invites (picked out), and all of my DIY projects done. The only thing we don''t have done yet is the cake. I''m a huge details person, so I like to have everything planned out way ahead of time. And besides, I''m uber excited, lol! I''m also a grad student, and didn''t want to have to worry about favors and music during school time.

 

[cindygenit]

PP!!! U have everyting done!!! Soo unfair... why can''t i be like you?

 

[FrekeChild]

Can''t your FI figure out the cake thing out?

 

[princessplease]

Aw, cindy. Thanks. I really tried uber hard to get most of my work done before school. I think anything you do now will be perfect timing. You're less than a year away, so you'll be good on anything you do.

 

[marlie]

hi cindy...
i think if you can plan stuff, you should! get everything out of the way so you aren''t scrambling later on.

i''m the same date as princessplease...just a couple weeks after you. i''ve booked my venue, band and photographer. met with the florists and am waiting for their proposals. meeting with a videographer this week to get that straightened out. i''m excited for when the big decisions are done so that i can start visualizing the entire day as it comes together. i just felt like there was no reason to wait. but...i am getting married in the summer here and in nyc everything books up fast.

 

[cocolaw]

do whatever you want now!! the more you do now, the more you can focus on little, fun, meaningless details later

!!! for example, i spent a day comparing monogrammed cocktail napkins. the small details that nobody notices are the most fun in my opinion, and you will still have TONS of those even if you knock out the big decisions now.

 

[cindygenit]

Date: 8/10/2009 2:55:14 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Can''t your FI figure out the cake thing out?

U mean make it himself?

Tried to convince him but he said no way, Jose!

 

[cindygenit]

OK gals

Its time to call reinforcements (my girlfriends) this w/e and have a brainstorm about my wedding plans...

I also can''t wait to discuss flower arrangements!!!!

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Cindy, if you are after a good makeup artist i suggest to start looking NOW. My wedding is in March and i booked my third chioce because the first two already had several weddings booked for my day.

 

[cindygenit]

Really?? Frick!!!!!!

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Date: 8/10/2009 9:31:30 PM
Author: cindygenit

Really?? Frick!!!!!!

yeah, and since the ''good ones'' aren''t that much more expensive than the others, you might as well get a good one.

I used this list to go though a lot of potentials.

http://www.weddingwa.com/hair.htm

Gail Wilton, Clare Kenward, and Chelsey Wayte were my personal pics, and there are a few who specialise in Asian skin types too.

Good luck!

 

[cindygenit]

Hawaiianorangetree... How did you pick you make up artist?

Did you by their references, or did they show you pics of their work that you like etc?? Do you have to interview them?

Sorry for the newbie questions! I really have no idea

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Date: 8/11/2009 1:35:51 AM
Author: cindygenit
Hawaiianorangetree... How did you pick you make up artist?

Did you by their references, or did they show you pics of their work that you like etc?? Do you have to interview them?

Sorry for the newbie questions! I really have no idea

Ok, first i looked all the way through that list i gave you the link to and read some bio''s / looked at pictures etc.

Things that i considered that were important for me were:

1. What range of products do they use?
2. Does she air brush?
3. Can she do false eyelashes? (i have always wanted these!)
4. What other work does she do besides bridal? (fashion/catwalk/photography makeup)
5. Where they were willing to travel to.

I just got a ''feel'' for people through their websites etc.

The three in my short list all used products that i know of/use myself (Estee Lauder, Clarins, Mac.. some mineral products)
They all worked in Fashion/model/ photography makeup (Gail is like, God, when it comes to makeup in Perth, she has done lots of big names like megan gale, Mellissa George, Gemma ward, she works part time at channel 7, did the linneys campaign...) She just wasn''t available for my date

and i really liked all of the makeup examples they had on their web sites etc.

I didn''t interview face to face or anything, when i found that chelsey was available (was starting to feel a little desperate at this point) i just asked her a few specific questions, did she airbrush, had she covered melasma before (dark spots), could she send me some examples of her work.. i googled her too, came back with lots of photoshoots and model cards where she was the stylist/ makeup artist, and i liked what i saw. After she answered the few questions that i had i emailed her and asked if i could book her for my date.

I also looked on the Vogue forum and Gail''s and Claire''s name came up quite a bit.

I think it depends on what you want/ what is important to you, but i would start by looking at some websites and examples of peoples work to see what you like.

Oh and just for ref, i am paying $70 for makeup (reduced to $60 if 4 or more people are having it done) $10 for eyelash extensions and a $30 call out fee because she has to travel a fair way (i am at the end of the freeway).

 

[cindygenit]

Thanks so much for the info!!

So i guess you just do a test run a week before your wedding date?

And, what is airbrushing? I''m not familiar with that term...LOL

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Date: 8/11/2009 4:34:26 AM
Author: cindygenit
Thanks so much for the info!!

So i guess you just do a test run a week before your wedding date?

And, what is airbrushing? I''m not familiar with that term...LOL

Not too sure when the test run happens... the cost for mine is $50 though.

Airbrushing is when they apply your foundation with, well... have you ever seen a car be spray painted before?? It''s kind of like a mini version of that!! (no kidding)

Apparently your foundation goes on smoother and more even than what they can do normally (with fingers or sponge), the coverage is better, but it is also lighter.. so i have been told.

 

[honey22]

It''s never to soon to do anything IMO! Time will magically escape you, trust me!!!

We got started straight away on the following things, if you don''t want to order, start making decisions at least:

flowers
hair
invites
programs
vows !!!!
favours
bridal party gifts
IPod music (we are doing ourselves)
waxing appointments
colouring appointments

OMG, the list goes on and on! These little things are what takes up the most time!!!

 

[cindygenit]

Date: 8/11/2009 6:22:08 AM
Author: honey22
It''s never to soon to do anything IMO! Time will magically escape you, trust me!!!

We got started straight away on the following things, if you don''t want to order, start making decisions at least:

flowers
hair
invites
programs
vows !!!!
favours
bridal party gifts
IPod music (we are doing ourselves)
waxing appointments
colouring appointments

OMG, the list goes on and on! These little things are what takes up the most time!!!

Oh thanks so much honey

LOL your list is so... WOW

I''m not giving my bridal party any gifts! I''m paying for their outfits etc.

Favours and Invites are considered done, I''m doing them cheaply in Indonesia when I go back

Programs... Hmmm sound like a DIY project to me!

Thanks for the help... i need to make an excel spreadsheet and get started on my wedding planning