How To's of Wedding Planning! - DIY Bride

How To's of Wedding Planning! - DIY Bride

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Every bride has her own dream wedding. Where to start is probably one of the hardest to do while the least you want to feel is burned out and pressured. So here's some How To's that will truly benefit you. Learn how to make your wedding a story.

The moment you announce your engagement, you could be hearing expectations on how great your wedding would turn out to be. And the day you give out your save-the-date cards or the wedding invitation, you'd surely want to hear a compliment, what more on the day itself right?

You could have an endless list of ways for your guest to commend your wedding - who wouldn't right? Consider some of these tips.

  1. Set up an interactive bar with wine, champagne and liquor tasting. Have a beverage expert offer your guests a sample and a little knowledge on the flavors.
  2. Get lively on the dance floor. Either get friends to teach guests different dances or hire dance instructors.
  3. Hire your favorite celebrity's impersonator to jazz up the moment by performing, interacting and doing photo ops.
  4. Think of unique and classic acts during events like caricaturists, fire dancers or singing waiters and hire these experts. Just think of how "guests will talk about the experience for hours afterward," says Maxine Andrew, of Instead of You Events, in San Francisco.
  5. Keep your flower girls and ring bearers and the youngest guests entertained. The parents and guardians would surely enjoy if someone is designated to take care of them. Get a puppeteer or magician or play kid's movies.
  6. Put up a "Starbucks" stall or a specialty after-dinner coffee bar manned to serve your guests cappuccino and other espresso drinks giving them option to personalize which delicious toppings they prefer to add fun.
  7. Assign an official wedding hashtag. Have it made as a standee with a photo of you and the groom at the reception where guests can take their photos and post in their social media.
  8. Photobooths are a hit where everyone can pose all they want and bring home the photos as souvenirs.
  9. Sweeten the dance floor with sweets falling down in mini-parachutes, the "Oscar's" way!
  10. End the festivities fabulously with a grand fireworks display with your wedding motif.

Even before you start the wedding planning, there will surely be family members and friends giving you feelers they want to be a part of your big day. To add, you think of either following tradition or creating your own. Keep in mind to follow your hearts on who will be there in your bridal party.

So go ahead, make your bridal entourage and you'll have plenty of activities and roles to fill in. Read on to get ideas on how your wedding can be an all-inclusive event of your family and friends.

  1. Pre-Wedding Activities
    1. Engagement Party - kickstarting your wedding events, usually this is a very intimate closest family and bridal party gathering hosted by your or your groom's parents.
    2. Bridal Shower - this is all about fun and gifts for you hosted by any of your friends or workmates, however these days also by your mom or your sister.
    3. Bachelorette Party - hosted by your maid or matron of honor with help from your bridal attendants, this is your time to bond with your girls.
    4. The Rehearsal Dinner - a celebration for your VIPs right after your wedding rehearsal usually hosted by your groom's family.
  2. Ceremony Proper
    1. Honor Attendants - you can assign to friends or family members who is not included in your official entourage whom you've asked to dress similar to your wedding party though could be a different shade and are seated near the front of the ceremony or reception.
    2. Ceremony Helpers - from the choir, or special song number to the readers and offerers, these roles you can assign to relatives, friends or work mates
  3. Reception
    1. Guestbook Attendant - great for cousins who's friendly and outgoing to get everyone to sign your book
    2. Program Attendants - from the emcee to song or dance numbers, you can be as creative as you want and can include as many of your friends or relatives you want
    3. Ushers and Usherettes - they can be your teenager nephews and nieces guiding your guests to their assigned tables and seats

Wedding is one of the most wonderful moments in your life so stay sane and follow these how to's:

  1. Research the web. You'll get a whole lot of resources online that can help you jumpstart your wedding planning until you have a clear view of what you want your wedding to be.
  2. Create a realistic timeline and checklist. You have to prioritize and give yourself deadlines. In line with this, your checklist will guide you on what needs to be done.
  3. Designate a go-to person who knows every detail of the wedding as much as you do. This can be your maid or matron of honor. You shouldn't be the "helpdesk" of your wedding.
  4. Delegate tasks to family or friends you trust. You can't do everything as much as you want to.

Your checklist should include the Wedding Day Must-Haves. A week before your wedding, get heads up on all vendors and prepare the important things you'll need on the day to save you from last-minute panic.

Here's a sample of the Ultimate Wedding Day Checklist from Martha Stewart Weddings .

It's important that you're fit and fab during your wedding. There are so many options for you from enrolling in a fitness program to religiously just follow fitness tips over the internet to creating your own health routine. But seriously, there's no fast way to lose weight so you'll have to be really committed on which option you prefer.

Here's the most basic and general ways for you to do so.

  1. Eat healthy food on time. Real food - not processed and canned foods. More on veggies and rich in protein. On time means breakfast, lunch, dinner and at least one snack daily. Do not skip meals.
  2. Exercise daily. If you're busy, well, make time for this. You gotta put in your work for at least 30 minutes of sweating. Apart from achieving your desired weight, you actually are burning calories which increases blood flow that helps in blood circulations giving your skin a healthy glow. On top of it, it can help reduce your stress.
  3. Get enough sleep. In times like this, don't compromise. Make it in your priority list to at least get 7 hours of sleep and no less. You'll need to be well-rested to get the energy you'll need for the next day's activities.
  4. Keep hydrated. Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. Hydration is linked to metabolism and skin health.
  5. Pamper yourself. You deserve this! Take the time to have your facial, manicure and pedicure and hair treatment.

Start with this Wedding Checklist because we certainly wish you a stress-free wedding!

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