You have a job. You have a life. Now you have a wedding to plan. Nine tips to help you get it all done (without messing up!).
By: Jennifer Lazarus
It's 11 a.m. on a busy weekday morning at your job, and you have a mountain of paperwork on your desk—but you're surfing the Net for a caterer for your wedding reception. The big day is getting closer, and you have a lot of preparation still to do. Are those the first twinges of panic you're feeling? If you are feeling panicky, you're definitely not alone. Brides are spending an average of 37 hours per month planning their weddings, and a large majority admit that at least some of it takes place on the job, according to the Association for Wedding Professionals International. Here, some strategies to help you get it all done.
1. Meet with Your Boss
Once you and your fiancé have set a wedding date, you'll know just how much time you have for planning your wedding. Now you can try to estimate the amount of time you'll need out of the office so that when you sit down with your boss you can present an organized picture of your plans. When recent bride Kim Vapenik got engaged, she went into her boss' office to show off her engagement ring. "After the hugs, I told her the wedding would be in five months, so she knew right away that I was going to request personal and vacation days," Kim says. With advance notice, it all worked out. "It's tough for a boss to turn you down if you ask for something a week in advance, but it's easy to say no if you ask just two hours in advance," says Doug Sundheim, president of Clarity Consulting, a firm specializing in executive leadership coaching, and co-author of the book The 25 Best Time Management Tools & Techniques: How to Get More Done Without Driving Yourself Crazy (Peak Performance Press).
2. Brace Yourself for the Crunch
The heaviest wedding-planning activity takes place at the beginning of the engagement period, when you’re setting your budget and deciding on your reception venue, and then again toward the end, when you’re attending to details like the seating chart and shopping for guests’ favors. So you’ll want to get organized, right from the get-go. Keep Bridal Guide’s “Countdown Calendar” on hand, to get a good sense of what lies before you. Check things off the list as you accomplish them (good for the morale!). Remember that during the busiest times in the process, you will probably need to devote all your free time to planning. "In the three months prior to my wedding, I dedicated every waking, nonworking hour to wedding planning. I knew in advance that it would be this way, so that made it easier," says Liz Sadler, who got married in 2005.
3. Get Organized
Successfully managing a project, like a wedding, is all about organization, says Sundheim. And there are plenty of tools available to help you do just that—and minimize the possibility of wasting precious time. Many brides like to use wedding-planning books that have helpful checklists and worksheets.
4. Do Your Research
Sarah Lusardi, a wedding planner and owner of NY Engagements, LLC, in Westchester, New York, says that being well-prepared is the best way to stay out of trouble. She suggests keeping a binder that includes separate folders for all the information you gather about your wedding ceremony, reception, vendors, bridal party, guest list and finances. As your wedding-day draws closer, get another binder to hold separate folders that contain contact information for all your vendors (including cell-phone numbers), final tallies for guest lists, seating arrangements, schedules and any other pertinent information that you just may need for your wedding day.
5. Create Free Time
Get to the office early (yes, you can!). If you’re at your desk before everyone else gets in, you’ll have a chance to send out some e-mails to vendors and get the ball rolling. Make a couple of follow-up calls on your coffee break. If you commute to work (by bus, train or ferry), make use of this time to go over contracts or to update your to-do list. Have a doctor’s appointment? Take along samples of wedding photographers’ work to go over while you wait.
Next: Power Up Your Lunch Hour, Make Use of Technology, and More ►
