T-16
THE HERALD, Sharon, Pa., September 27, 2011; ALLIED NEWS, Grove City, Pa., September 28, 2011
Family Features
Preparing for the big day
means planning a multitude
of details; everything from the
flower arrangements to that
something blue must be de-
cided upon well in advance of
the ceremony. Here are some
tips to help ensure your big
day goes off without a hitch.
The Big Decisions
The decision to get mar-
ried is the first of many big
decisions you will be making
in the weeks and months to
come. Here are some things
to consider right away:
μ
Pick a date.
Talk with
your fiancé and family (and
your fiancé’s family) about po-
tential wedding dates to en-
sure the important people in
both your lives will be able to
take part.
μ
Select your guests.
The
number of guests you invite
will directly influence the cost
of your wedding.
μ
Set a budget.
Budgeting
for your wedding is crucial, as
this will have a great impact
on every other aspect of your
day, as well as your honey-
moon. Plan for a little wiggle
room for unexpected expens-
es.
μ
Choose a location.
Be-
cause most popular bridal
spots are just that – popular –
you may want to start search-
ing for a location quickly.
μ
Organize the bridal par-
ty.
Make careful decisions
about who you want support-
ing you leading up to the big
day, and who will be dis-
played in front of everyone in
your life.
μ
Pick a style.
Many
brides choose wedding styles
that are reflected in their
save-the-dates, invitations, cer-
emonies, receptions and
thank-you cards. Choosing a
theme and color scheme in
the beginning will help nar-
row down options later.
μ
Hire a caterer.
Take into
account the dietary needs of
your guests by offering a vari-
ety of menu options, includ-
ing a vegetarian dish.
μ
Order the cake.
Whether you choose a large
multi-tiered cake or cupcakes,
remember to keep your bud-
get in mind-and pick flavors
you and your fiancÈ truly en-
joy.
μ
Make the announce-
ment.
Decide how you want
to let the community know of
your planned nuptials. Do you
want to take professional en-
gagement photos? Do you
plan to contact your local pa-
per? Will you include a link to
a wedding day website on
your save-the-date or your
wedding invitations?
μ
Get the gown
. On your
wedding day, everyone will
be awaiting a glimpse of your
gown. Listen to your instincts
and choose a gown that “feels
right” and reflects your per-
sonality and style.
μ
Dress your party.
Once
you have chosen the wedding
dress of your dreams, speak
with your fiancé about his
wishes for his suit, as well as
the bridal party attire.
μ
Hire a photographer.
Choose your professional
photographer wisely. With a
walk down the aisle,
father/daughter dance and
toast, your father is sure to
get photographed, but your
mother might get overlooked.
Make sure to ask the photog-
rapher to get shots of your
mother throughout the day as
well.
μ
Choose your flowers.
Once you set the date, dis-
cuss with your florists which
flowers are in season to help
narrow down your selection.
You may love tulips, but if
you have a winter wedding,
they may be hard to come by,
and may be more expensive.
μ
Book the entertain-
ment.
Do you want a DJ or a
live band? Talk with your fi-
ancé about your music prefer-
ences, as well as the types of
tunes you want played at your
reception to keep your guests
on the dance floor.
Before the Big Day
μ Create a website for
your wedding to keep guests
informed of events and for
easy access to registry infor-
mation. Provide accommoda-
tion information for those
guests traveling from out of
town.
μ Insure your rings
against loss, damage, theft or
mysterious disappearance. Ac-
cording to a survey conduct-
ed by Jewelers Mutual Insur-
ance Co., 44 percent of
married women either don’t
insure their engagement ring,
or don’t know for certain
whether their engagement
and wedding rings are in-
sured. For a free, no-obliga-
tion jewelry insurance quote,
visit
www.insureyour
jewelry.com.
μ Make sure your mar-
riage license, travel documen-
tation and insurance informa-
tion are ready to go and
stored in a safe place in ad-
vance of the wedding day.
μ Practice reciting your
vows and speeches until you
A to-do list for brides-to-be
Getty Images
Choose a gown that “feels right” and reflects your per-
sonality.
See
ENGAGED?,
page T-18