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Wedding Organizing Ideas

by Jessica M. Denmark

Overview

Organization is key when planning a wedding. Keeping focused on the final task -- the wedding day -- can be hard when overwhelmed by the many and sometimes overlapping facets of wedding planning. Starting off organized with precise tasks and action steps begins the process in an orderly fashion.
Check It Off the List

No matter how many weeks, months or years until the big day, brides and grooms can lose track of time. A checklist, complete with dates ranging through the months, weeks and days, acts as a to-do list during the duration of wedding planning. Standard time lines start about a year from the wedding day and give a general point when specific planning begins, such as announcing your engagement a year from the wedding or finalizing the guest list four or five months out. If a wedding is less than a year from the engagement, the usual time line obviously must be adjusted.

File It Away

Compiling a binder of ideas or concepts for the wedding only gives couples something to show to vendors as designs and examples, and keeps the ideas close at hand for quick reference. A three-ring binder or loose file folders in a file tote allows for maximum portability with minimal confusion. Collateral such as catering menus, photography packages and contact information should be filed for easy access and referral. Attaching the vendor's business card to the divider or file keeps the needed information in a convenient location. Once decisions are made, images or signed agreements can be inserted in that category and made available with ease to vendors. For instance, inserting swatches of the fabric for the bridesmaid's dress will make it easier for the florist to find matching items. There should also be a contact section that includes the phone numbers and emails for all bridal party members, a complete list of guests, seating charts or arrangements, and any other pertinent information.
Resources - Online and Printed

With the Internet at the world's fingertips, even wedding planning and organization has gone online. Many of the most popular sites, such as Martha Stewart Weddings and The Knot, also have related published materials, such as books and divided binders, as well downloadable templates, checklists, worksheets, images and create-your-own-website opportunities so that guests can log on and view a couple's wedding planning process. There are downloadable applications for PDAs and cell phones such as Apple's My Wedding for Iphone which provides over 100 items for a "to-do" list and customizable dated tasks or Palm's Wedding Helper that tracks budget and guests as well. Blogs are an innovative way for brides and grooms to share their planning process. Bloggers are obliged to viewers to share their scheduling and planning as well as their issues and conflicts, which can keep couples on track and inspired by the sharing and community of the blogging world.