www.DiamondHaven.com

Home

Diamond Library

Diamond Store

Shop for Jewelry

About Us

Contact

FAQ

____________

Privacy Policy

Site Map

----------------------

Articles Topics

(See also Resources Page)

Special Event Planning

Bakeries

Banquet Facilities

Beauty

Bridal Gowns & Accessories

Catering

Charters/Cruises

DJs

Fine Dining

Florists

Formal Wear

Gift Giving

Holiday Clothing

Honeymoon Destinations

Invitations

Party Organizers

Photography

Reception Halls

Resorts & Accommodations

Romantic Getaways

Shoes & Accessories

Spas

Special Events Coordinator

Special Occasions

Specialty Shops

Transport Rentals

Videography

Wedding Facilities

Wedding Ideas

Wedding Planning

Wedding Services

See the Articles Topics in the left column

We're looking for articles for this section. (see below)

____________________________________________

TODAY'S FEATURED ARTICLE

Wedding Planning

Plan Now To Ensure A Smooth-Running Ceremony

by Sylvia Dickens

You’ve said, “I will” and accepted the engagement ring. Your heart is pounding and you can’t stop the huge smile that wants to occupy your face. Your eyes glisten with joy. You feel warm all over.

What’s next? Well, obviously you tell everyone you know about your exciting news. They’ll ask when is your ‘big day’ and at this point, you probably haven’t even thought that far ahead. You’re in the moment. However, it’s important that you do think ahead. It takes time to plan a wedding if you want it to live up to your dreams.

As soon as the elation eases and you’ve gotten back into the groove of everyday life, that’s when you must make the decisions about your big day. First off, when would you want to walk down the aisle? If it’s a week from now, or even if it’s three months away, you’ve probably waited too long to make your plans.

Planning a wedding can take as much as a year, so where do you start?

Your first decision must be your wedding location. Will you get married in your local church, at a beautiful hall in a famous town, or in another country altogether?

You should know that many such places are booked as much as a year or two in advance, depending on the popularity of your destination. Investigate your options, make a decision, then book it now.

If you’re getting married overseas, you’ll need to check legal requirements, apply for visas and immunizations and passports which can take time.

Other things to consider a year in advance are which wedding coordinator you’ll hire, if you choose to use one. It’s best if you can get a name from someone you trust, like a family member or a friend.

Decide whether accommodations will be required for your guests. These will have to be reserved well in advance, along with any air travel. If you start planning early, you can negotiate special airfare discounts.

Book all the other services you’ll need: photographer, hairstylist, florist, caterer, entertainment and, of course, the person who will perform the wedding ceremony. Also, find several locations for the ceremony, in case of last minute changes.

About three or four months before your wedding, confirm the choices you’ve made so far. You want to be sure the photographer, caterer and other services are still on track.

There’s still a lot to do before your big day, but why wait until then to have some fun?

This is a good time to plan a few events for your guests. A get-acquainted party will help put everyone at ease so there aren’t those awkward moments at the last minute when strangers come together. Give them this opportunity to mingle. It can be a simple get-together, or you can plan it around a theme. If you plan to get married in a tropical location, make that your theme for this pre-event gathering. Serve umbrella-adorned drinks. Pass out colorful leis. Play some island music, or bring in a musician.

Another option is a golf tournament. Once your guests get on the course, they will be relaxed and will soon be carrying on lively conversations. On wedding day, they’ll be a happy lot.

At this point in the planning, you want to buy your plane tickets to make sure you will have the seats when you need them.

Ten weeks or so before the big day, send out your formal invitations to everyone on your guest list. Most likely they’ll already know when and where, but an invitation makes it official and acts as a reminder. Besides, some people like to keep them as a souvenir of your happy event.

You’ll also want to make sure any legal paperwork is submitted. Now would be a good time to order your wedding favors and gifts for your wedding party.

By getting all this done ahead of time, you can be well ahead of the game early on. As your wedding day draws near, you will have less stress, knowing these important elements are already in place.

During the last few weeks prior to the wedding, you’ll need to provide a final head count to the hotel or reception hall to ensure the catering and seating are sufficient. At this time, you should confirm any activities or entertainment that you’ve booked.

In the final week, review any last-minute details, settle your bills with all the vendors and service providers, and make sure a list of events and welcome packages are available for your guests. The welcome bags can include things like local maps of the area, sunscreen, and any other goodies that make sense.

Your day has arrived, you’re excited, and everyone is elated at the forthcoming marriage. Everything is on schedule, all the details are taken care of, your happy guests are seated and at last, it’s time to walk down the aisle. You remembered the rings, right?

------------------------------------------------------------

Sylvia Dickens is an award winning journalist who specializes in informational articles and ebooks. She also provides affordable diamond and precious gemstone jewelry at her Diamond Haven site: http://www.diamondhaven.com . Browse the online stores that she has reviewed and recommends. You can also read articles on different aspects of diamonds in her Diamond Library.