Monday, October 23, 2006
On your mark, get set go. . .
Brides to be! Engagement season is upon us! So to get a headstart on the planning process, check out the checklist below.
WEDDING CHECK LIST
Nine to twelve months before
□ Start gathering ideas about the type of wedding you want. Think about the size, time of year or whether it will be formal or casual.
□ Set a budget.
□ Hire a wedding coordinator if desired.
□ Set a wedding date.
□ Send out save the date cards.
Six to nine months before
□ Complete a guest list. Make sure you have the complete and correct addresses for your guest.
□ Choose your attendants.
□ Start shopping for your dress and accessories (veil, jewelry, and shoes).
□ Book a celebrant.
□ Book a caterer.
□ Order wedding cake.
□ Book florist.
□ Book music for ceremony and reception.
□ Book photographer and videographer.
□ Plan and book honeymoon.
□ Reserve rental equipment (chairs, tables, tents etc.).
Four to six months before
□ Arrange wedding day transportation.
□ Order stationery and book a calligrapher.
□ Register for gifts.
□ Purchase wedding rings.
□ Reserve groom’s attire.
□ Choose attendants’ attire.
□ Purchase bridal lingerie.
□ Order favors.
□ Book a room for wedding night.
□ Choose gifts for wedding party.
□ Reserve accommodations for out-of-town guests.
□ Sign up for dance lessons.
Two to four months before
□ Discuss details of menu with your caterer.
□ Go over the service with your officiant.
□ Arrange any premarital classes a required by your faith.
□ Choose readings for the ceremony.
□ Write your wedding vows.
□ Schedule rehearsal time and rehearsal dinner.
□ Try out make-up and hairstyle.
□ Mail invitations.
□ Write thank you notes as gifts arrive.
One to two months before
□ Discuss picture list with photographer.
□ Meet with musical entertainment go over play list.
□ Buy guest book.
□ Have programs printed.
□ Apply for marriage license and other legal requirements.
□ Contact local newspapers to print your wedding announcement.
□ Complete change of address information at the post office.
□ Begin the name change process, if you intend to do so.
Two weeks before
□ Have a final dress fitting with shoes, accessories and lingerie.
□ Confirm arrangements with florist.
□ Begin seating plan and write place cards.
□ Give the caterer a guest count.
□ Write toasts for rehearsal dinner and wedding reception.
□ Address announcements.
□ Break in wedding shoes at home.
□ Designate someone to look after your home while you are on your honeymoon.
□ Arrange welcome baskets for out of town guests.
One week before
□ Finalize seating plan.
□ Assign specific responsibilities, such as handing out corsages and boutonnieres, to members of your wedding party.
□ Pick up your wedding dress.
□ Confirm details with caterer, entertainment, florists, photographer and other vendors.
□ Confirm honeymoon arrangements, and give your itinerary to a friend or family member in case of emergency.
□ Pack for honeymoon.
□ Update caterer with final guest and vendor meal counts.
The day before
□ Confirm transportation arrangements for ceremony and reception.
□ Give announcements to an attendant for mailing after the wedding.
□ Have manicure and pedicure.
□ Rehearse the ceremony.
□ Hold a rehearsal dinner; give gifts to wedding party. If you choose give gifts to parents to thank them for their support.
□ Prepare tip and payment envelopes for officiant and vendors, and make arrangements for the best man to distribute them.
The day of
□ Relax and enjoy yourself.
□ Be sure to eat.
□ Complete bridal party hair and make-up; mother of the bride and bride should be last.
□ Take pre-ceremony photos.
WEDDING CHECK LIST
Nine to twelve months before
□ Start gathering ideas about the type of wedding you want. Think about the size, time of year or whether it will be formal or casual.
□ Set a budget.
□ Hire a wedding coordinator if desired.
□ Set a wedding date.
□ Send out save the date cards.
Six to nine months before
□ Complete a guest list. Make sure you have the complete and correct addresses for your guest.
□ Choose your attendants.
□ Start shopping for your dress and accessories (veil, jewelry, and shoes).
□ Book a celebrant.
□ Book a caterer.
□ Order wedding cake.
□ Book florist.
□ Book music for ceremony and reception.
□ Book photographer and videographer.
□ Plan and book honeymoon.
□ Reserve rental equipment (chairs, tables, tents etc.).
Four to six months before
□ Arrange wedding day transportation.
□ Order stationery and book a calligrapher.
□ Register for gifts.
□ Purchase wedding rings.
□ Reserve groom’s attire.
□ Choose attendants’ attire.
□ Purchase bridal lingerie.
□ Order favors.
□ Book a room for wedding night.
□ Choose gifts for wedding party.
□ Reserve accommodations for out-of-town guests.
□ Sign up for dance lessons.
Two to four months before
□ Discuss details of menu with your caterer.
□ Go over the service with your officiant.
□ Arrange any premarital classes a required by your faith.
□ Choose readings for the ceremony.
□ Write your wedding vows.
□ Schedule rehearsal time and rehearsal dinner.
□ Try out make-up and hairstyle.
□ Mail invitations.
□ Write thank you notes as gifts arrive.
One to two months before
□ Discuss picture list with photographer.
□ Meet with musical entertainment go over play list.
□ Buy guest book.
□ Have programs printed.
□ Apply for marriage license and other legal requirements.
□ Contact local newspapers to print your wedding announcement.
□ Complete change of address information at the post office.
□ Begin the name change process, if you intend to do so.
Two weeks before
□ Have a final dress fitting with shoes, accessories and lingerie.
□ Confirm arrangements with florist.
□ Begin seating plan and write place cards.
□ Give the caterer a guest count.
□ Write toasts for rehearsal dinner and wedding reception.
□ Address announcements.
□ Break in wedding shoes at home.
□ Designate someone to look after your home while you are on your honeymoon.
□ Arrange welcome baskets for out of town guests.
One week before
□ Finalize seating plan.
□ Assign specific responsibilities, such as handing out corsages and boutonnieres, to members of your wedding party.
□ Pick up your wedding dress.
□ Confirm details with caterer, entertainment, florists, photographer and other vendors.
□ Confirm honeymoon arrangements, and give your itinerary to a friend or family member in case of emergency.
□ Pack for honeymoon.
□ Update caterer with final guest and vendor meal counts.
The day before
□ Confirm transportation arrangements for ceremony and reception.
□ Give announcements to an attendant for mailing after the wedding.
□ Have manicure and pedicure.
□ Rehearse the ceremony.
□ Hold a rehearsal dinner; give gifts to wedding party. If you choose give gifts to parents to thank them for their support.
□ Prepare tip and payment envelopes for officiant and vendors, and make arrangements for the best man to distribute them.
The day of
□ Relax and enjoy yourself.
□ Be sure to eat.
□ Complete bridal party hair and make-up; mother of the bride and bride should be last.
□ Take pre-ceremony photos.
Monday, September 11, 2006
No Ordinarys Days
I have a cousin who was born November 24, 1963, at the exact moment in which Lee Harvey Oswald was shot and killed. The family legend has always been that, while watching the news on a television at the maternity ward nurse's station of St. Eugene's Hospital in Dillon, SC, a young nurse screamed just as Jack Ruby's bullet pierced Oswald's skin. My Aunt Pat, already in labor for some 20 hours before, jumped, my cousin Glenda pushed forth and took her first breath. Two days prior my aunt was in that very same hospital with false labor pains when she learned of President Kennedy's assassination. So for as long as I can remember, Aunt Pat has always told us, like so many other Americans, she remembers exactly where she was on that day in November 1963; making it no ordinary day.When I was in high school I took a job at a McDonald's in a nearby mall. Normally I took the bus to work but there were days when my mother drove me. On every occasion, we would get to the light just before the entrance of the mall and my mother would look at me, point to the gas station at the light and say "I was standing right there when I learned Bobby Kennedy had been assassinated." And, oddly enough, I could imagine my 23 year-old fresh faced mother's look of horror and grief as she heard the news. In telling me, she herself seemed to be transplanted back in time as she remembered day in June 1968; making it no ordinary.
Today as our nation remembers September 11, 2001, a new generation slowly and silently recalls where it was when fateful moment in time divided history making a clear demarcation of before and after, pre and post, prior to and since 9/11. We all remember, but we all go forward with more strength and resolve than ever.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
An introduction (of sorts)
Well this is the first post of my blog! Right now, I am planning my niece's birthday party. She is going to be 9 in November so the theme is "Cloud 9" and the colors are pink and green. When you have an aunt who is a professional event planner, then your 9th birthday party can not be like that of any other kid on the block. The party will be held at the Paterson Museum, which has Samuel Colt's original revolver, a replica of John Holland's submarine and the original silk mills in the Paterson Silk Factories. I will keep you posted on that. Until then. . . . . .
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