Wedding Planning Made Easy

Wedding Train: Decide on your chief bridesmaid (maid of honour) and best man. This is not a title, but a function, much like chief of staff. This decision should be be based on who is most available and knowledgeable, rather than who is your bossomest buddy. You have to make your closest friends understand this. Select members of your wedding train. Again availability is key. You don't need key players who won't be available for rehearsals.

Budget: Determine your budget. Look at what you can really afford, not based on what your friend told you she spent on her wedding. Stick to your budget.

Wedding Planner: Get a wedding planner - can be found in some book shops, or if you cannot find one, get a fresh notebook and pen and keep it with you at all times. If you can afford it, hire a professional wedding planner.

Look Around: Start attending more weddings to get ideas and feel of what you want. Take notes if you can. based on your budget, copy brilliant ideas that save you money.

Network: Get numbers of your friends, sisters friends or anyone who recently got married in your neighborhood, they are usually excited to help and will be good pointers, a veritable treasure trove of ideas. Learn from their mistakes. The more sources of information, the better.

Colour Scheme: Choose the colour theme for the wedding.

Dressing: Decide if you are sowing your gown, renting or buying from abroad. Start sourcing and order immediately. Same with your train. Are you sponsoring or they will pay for themselves?

Decoration: Get a list of 3-4 recommended decorators and go to functions they decorating to see their work. Get their quotes.

Cake: Start looking at cake designs, and decide on a cake based on your theme. Place order early.

Invitees: Decide on the number of people you are making provision for at the reception. Seek advice so as not to over estimate. Get a list of 3-4 or more caterers and get quotations. If possible attend functions where they are catering to sample their food.

Venue: Start scouting for venue and book immediately. Some venues are fully booked for months, except you want to settle for a week day.

Music: Decide on the music. Will it be live band or DJ, again get list of options and sample.

Hair: Decide on the hair stylist you will use, and what style. You may do a practice run by trying out the style beforehand, to avoid surprises.

Make-Up: Decide on a make-up artist. If you have not used one before, get recommendations. See her work, and if possible, try her out before the D day, to be sure she uses a colour shade that suits you.

Maintain a good skin tone by eating healthy (fruits, veg e.t.c) and drinking plenty of water. Drink plenty of water it will help your skin.

Avoid stress as much as possible, and when faced with a challenge, ask for help.

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