Around 9 - 12 months before the wedding the wedding planning becomes a lot more fun. You’re really getting married!

 

·    Select your wedding gown and accessories.

·    Look for bridesmaids’ dresses and accessories.

·    Finish hiring wedding professionals. Sign contracts for services. The contracts for your photographer, videographer, caterer, florist, and musicians should be finalized at this time.

·    Decide whether to include children and guests of single friends.

·    Create a master guest list. Get the names, addresses, phone and email addresses of all invited guests.

·    Open gift registries and start selecting items for them.

·    If desired, create a wedding website.

·    Create a gift record so that you can record gifts as they are received.

·    Promptly write thank you notes for gifts as you receive them.

 

Contracts

 

I’m really able to help in this stage. I’ve looked at thousands of contracts. I’ll help ensure that you’re getting what you want, at the price that you want. Frequently a small but important detail is left out. If it can be fixed now, that’s one less item that is checked off the list.

 

Children

 

Depending on your cultural tradition, some weddings absolutely require the presence of children or it just wouldn’t be a wedding. Other weddings can be strictly adult affairs. It certainly costs less to feed a child at a wedding. They probably won’t want the wedding fare and would be happier with hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, and a make-your-own-sundae stand.

 

Thank you notes – they’re not so bad

 

Thank you notes are so important to the gracious person who gave you a gift. By far the most common complaint from wedding guests, is that they didn’t receive a thank you note. Since they’ve gone to the time and expense of sending you a gift, they want to know that you received it.

 

Thank you notes aren’t the sole responsibility of the bride anymore. Decide how the bride and groom will split the writing of thank yous. All of your thank you notes should be sent within 3 months of the wedding.

 

Whether or not you like the item, mention it by name, say something about how kind it was of them to think of you, and add a little something personal—like it was a pleasure having them at the wedding or you hope to see them soon. 3 – 5 sentences is all that’s necessary. In the case of duplicate gifts, don’t mention it that it was a duplicate, simply thank your gift sender and exchange the gift later if you like.

 

Here’s an example:

 

April 21, 2010   Dear Martha and Ted,   I can’t thank you enough for the beautiful serving bowl. It suits us to a “T.”   We were so thrilled that you could share in our wedding day and thank you for coming all that way.   Let’s arrange a get-together in a few months!   Thank you again for such a lovely gift.                                                                                   Susan and Rick Tallmadge

 

 

 

Pre-printed thank you notes with no personal message are never appropriate.

 

A separate thank you note is required for each gift. If your favorite aunt sends three gifts, write three thank you notes.

 

The next installment of wedding planning will be the 6 – 9 month list. Invitations, bridesmaids’ dresses, menu for the reception – lots of fun stuff.