The key to the do-it-yourself process for weddings is to know upfront what you can do and can’t. Most creative people can do it all if they have enough time and resources, manpower.
Creating a checklist of all that is needed to pull off the “big day” is essential to helping you determine what items you can check off for yourself to accomplish and what you might need to hand over to a professional or your team of workers.
Here are some jobs you need to consider getting help on even if you have decided to take on a do-it-yourself approach.
Wedding Coordinator If you choose a non-traditional wedding site, like a hotel or historical site, which helps with all the planning from the cake to the flowers to the set-up, then oftentimes that includes the use of the booking coordinator for that day. He/she can coordinate everything and make sure that is in order. I would hesitate to advise the use of a friend or relative as the wedding coordinator, sometimes that can present more problems.
Reception Coordinator - Since people are so focused on the wedding, they forget that the reception is just as big of a production as the wedding. Have a "master or mistress of ceremonies" for your reception. They will introduce the wedding party, update the guests, and coordinate the flow of the reception. Many wedding coordinators do both jobs, or have an assistant helping at either one of the locations, wedding or reception. If everything is booked and on production schedule for the wedding, then you can get a friend or relative to do this job. However, whoever you choose a speaker, it is very important that you choose someone who is very articulate, positive/up beat, has a good deal of patience and great management skills.
Florist - Depending on your choice of flowers, you may need a florist. If you choose live flowers and use them in abundance for your wedding, hire a florist. Live flowers can sometimes be difficult to handle and preserve for the hours that it takes for you to walk down the aisle. If you are going to spend that much money on them, spend a little extra on a florist. However, if you are going to go with silk flowers, you can buy prepared arrangements from some stores, or a couple months before your wedding take a free/inexpensive flower arrangement class from a craft store (such as Michael’s Arts and Crafts).
Music - The decision to get help in this area depends on your budget, your choice of music, and your location. If you are low on funds, select or make CDs and have someone in your family DJ and oversee the music. You can also save money by getting a soloist (instrumental or vocal) instead of a band. If you have the budget, go all out for your band, but make sure that the location allows it. Also, make sure you have room. You would not want to pay the money for the band, but not have enough room for you and your guest to dance the night way.
Travel Agent/Honeymoon - There are great benefits to using a travel agent - property contacts, travel discounts, insight into the location, payment plans. Even though there are great benefits with going with a travel agent, sometimes the extra fees can be put to better use on the honeymoon. Here are a couple of travel sites that have package and a la carte plans:
www.travelocity.com
www.expedia.com
www.luxgetaways.com |
