Thursday, July 17, 2014

Wedding Planning 101

So it's been pretty much all wedding all the time around here in recent weeks and I'm not sharing a lot of detail online, hence the lack of posting here. I spend my days on the phone, online, booking, signing, copying, faxing, and paying. My head is filled with guest lists and due dates and timelines and all the many other decisions still to be made. I'm thinking Daughter2 will benefit from all I'm learning this go round when she's ready to plan a wedding.

I can't decide if there has been a little stress because of the logistical complexities we're dealing with or if it's because wedding planning is always a little stressful. Course it could also be related to the fact that we are a family of four who know what we want and we want it now.

If I had to guess I'd say probably a little bit of everything, but that last bit tends to be the one that keeps me awake at night.

We like what we like-ha! That's something we say in a joking way around our house, except we're not really joking. We all really do like what we like, and mostly that's a good thing because, whew! All.the.choices. No wonder so many brides feel overwhelmed. It honestly does help that my daughter knows her own mind when it comes to how she wants her day to look and feel.

And luckily I've got my trusty binder to keep me on track. There are all sorts of binders and organizational tools out there for the bride-to-be, but trust me... the mother of the bride-to-be needs one too.  I bought a plain white binder and found a cute printable for the front insert-


I printed a couple of engagement pics for the back-


Voila! A mother-of the bride-binder. A place to keep track of all my many papers, contracts, receipts, deadlines, and contact information. Every mother of the bride needs one.

We've finally pinned down, contracted, and paid deposits on most of the big things that need pinning, contracting and depositing. That includes the church, the reception venue, the catering, the dress, the photographer, the wedding planner, and the band. The bride-to-be and I will spend a few days in SC next month revisiting the church and reception site before meeting with florists, cake bakers, and the rental company. We'll also get to meet our photographer in person. Daughter1 found him via a friend's wedding photos and he comes highly recommended by absolutely everyone. His pictures are stunning, so I'm not worried.

In fact, while wrangling all of these vendors for the day and time has been a little challenging, there is not a single one I feel like I have to go behind and check up on. The wedding planner will do that as appropriate, but really we've got fabulous vendors so I feel like now that they're on board I can relax a little.

And I will.

Just as soon as we figure out the invitations and the welcome bags and my dress and forty seven other small details, but eventually I will relax. Actually hubs and I have a little vacay coming up, which sounds insane given the fact that we've got a wedding in less than six months, but when you think about it, a vacation in the middle of wedding planning makes perfect sense.

This will be a total vacation vacation. Not a let's see and go and do every minute kind of vacation. This will be a sit in a lounge chair-read a book or ten-swim-soak up the sun kind of vacation.


The kind every mother-of-the-bride needs five months prior to her first born baby girl walking down the aisle, and then right on across the country to set up a home of her own.

They grow up fast, but the sweetness remains.

15 comments:

  1. I would imagine that the logistical complexities makes it definitely harder to plan and stress comes along for the ride with all weddings. Love your binder. It is all so exciting.......
    Enjoy you vacation/vacation!

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  2. With three girls, of her own, my mom would have loved the organization binder. However, we did have lovely weddings.

    I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of the wedding.
    We had a photographer, who took awesome pictures.
    Only problem is, her dog got to the film.
    So we lost all those pictures.

    Enjoy your vacation!!

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  3. Ah, yes. The dreaded...I mean helpful and necessary, binder. Now you know why I get my bestie to step in and handle everything. She's a total wiz at this whole wedding thing and pays attention to every single detail. She's the one who kept us on track with everything like those crazy payment deadlines. I thank God for her every single day! The wedding is in SC? Down here in Charleston?

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  4. The binder is an excellent idea! I was mother-of-the-groom, since we have two boys and no girls. Much easier. We were only responsible for the rehearsal dinner, and to show up. I am enjoying your wedding posts, and Shannon's. Thanks for allowing us to be part of it, though your blogs!

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  5. Such fun planning a wedding. Sounds like you've got it all under control. We're also planning a wedding but on a pretty tight budget so our plans are much leaner, but still lots of fun.

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  6. My mom had a binder. It was NOT cute but it did do the job of keeping all that was wedding related together. I KNOW you are taking copious notes for all of us to benefit from. ;)

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  7. Oh, what memories you have surfaced for me. I had an exact binder and I made the slide in for the cover as well. I still have both binders from our daughter and son's weddings and love to get them out and relive all the planning that took place. I truly cannot imagine juggling the many miles but you certainly seem to be handling like a pro. Love hearing all about the planning.

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  8. I would bet that by the time you're done, you could become a professional wedding planner yourself. I'm sure every detail will be covered.

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  9. Glad you have a little rest coming soon. I am sure I will be asking for advice when daughter decides on a date.

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  10. Wow! Now you're starting to make me worry, if there's something I need to be doing. So far, I haven't had to do much of anything. My daughter seems to be taking care of everything. Actually, she's amazing me with all she's already done.

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  11. Oh how reading your post made me flash back on our wedding hysteria... Be glad your daughter knows what she wants... If you remember, mine just gave me some vague, mismatched pinterest pins to go by and then couldn't make a decision if her life depended on it. I eventually took over the whole thing four months out when I realized if I didn't there would be no wedding... But it was beautiful and the memories we made that day and preparing for it are priceless!

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  12. The wedding will be in South Carolina? With you "at the helm" and that location, I KNOW it's going to be a fabulous one. Enjoy your "vacation vacation".

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  13. It's going to be best wedding!

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  14. It sounds like everything is falling into place for the wedding! Go and enjoy that vacation :)

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  15. I have an accordion folder file for my "mother of the bride" papers. But, I'm just getting started (compared to you!) since I have a bit more time. We did say yes to the dress 2 weeks ago - and I'd love to show you a picture but it's one pic I can't put up on Facebook or elsewhere - and spoil the surprise. That's a no-no. Lauren LOVES it! I do too. I continue to check out Pinterest and Etsy. We are looking for the "right" bridesmaids dresses now. What did you all decide on?

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