Plan Like a Pro

(Family Features) An engagement is a moment to cherish and celebrate, for sure, but it also signals the beginning of a whirlwind of activity leading up to your big day. While the task list is long, if you tackle your wedding planning one step at a time, you can create the wedding of your dreams with the flair of a professional.

Set a budget
Although looking at something as practical as numbers can feel like a jolt from the euphoria of celebrating your engagement, starting your planning from a realistic vantage point will pay off in the long run. You’ll be able to avoid disappointment by simply skipping over venues or caterers you can’t afford, and knowing how you stand financially can ease some of the stress that goes along with planning.

As you create your budget, be sure to take into account the big elements (venue, dress, cake, photographer, etc.) and the smaller details, too (guest book, bridal party gifts, flower girl basket, etc.). As you allocate your budget across the categories, think about the features that matter most – the aspects of your wedding that make you most excited. It may be a to-die-for dress or an amazing meal to share with your guests – it’s your wedding, so it’s all up to you (and your beloved, of course).

Explore your style
Whether you’ve dreamed of your big day since you were a little girl or you’re newly contemplating your dream wedding, this is your chance to create an event that captures your personality and style. Today’s weddings are far less traditional than decades and generations past, so the sky is nearly the limit for orchestrating a day that reflects your own version of wedding bliss. You’ll need begin with some basics, such as how big the event will be (25 guests or 300?) and where you want to be married (your hometown, his or someplace else entirely?). Then think about whether you want a casual or formal affair, and what style best reflects you (modern or classic, rustic or retro?). If you don’t know for sure, there are plenty of magazines and online resources to lend inspiration and ideas.

Determine a timeline
Lots of details need to come together before you can set a firm date, but knowing approximately when you want to hold your wedding is a good starting point for most couples. This gives you some flexibility to work around venue availability, conflicts for those you want in your wedding party and so on. Determine a season or even a month and then start honing in on the exact date. Once you have a final date set and confirm the location, you can work backward to determine milestones such as mailing invitations, providing menu selections and confirming your floral order.

Dive into the details
Once you have your preliminary homework done, it’s time to dive into the real fun. Extend formal invites to your wedding party, consider their attire, register for gifts, and interview and hire vendors. Look for ways to make each moment special, such as planning a girls’ day out with your bridal party and loved ones while you shop for a dress. Also remember essential steps like insuring your ring and applying for a passport if you’ll need one for the honeymoon.

Find more tips for planning the wedding of your dreams at elivingtoday.com.

Wedding planning 101

First comes the proposal then comes the wedding planning. There are dozens of decisions that need to be made before it’s time to walk down the aisle, which can be overwhelming for brides and grooms.

To help make it less stressful, these tips from Macy’s can help couples through the entire wedding-planning process, from on-trend apparel and accessories for the entire wedding party to all the essentials to create a perfect registry.

Dressing the Ladies
When it comes to bridesmaid dresses, the mix-and-match approach is trending in popularity. Start by deciding on a color palette, such as lilac, champagne and petal pink. Then have each bridesmaid choose her favorite style within that range of hues. Bring it all together by choosing a uniform look for makeup, shoes and accessories.

There is no better time to thank the ladies than the morning of the big day. A few thoughtful gifts can go a long way, such as matching robes, tumblers to stay hydrated throughout the day and cosmetic cases to stow makeup essentials.

Dressing the Gents
Similar to bridesmaid dresses, groomsmen attire can be dependent on the venue and overall event aesthetic. While a suit can fit the bill for a country club wedding, a city affair may call for the sleek finishes of a tux. Tuxedo accessories, such as cuff links or bow ties, make great groomsmen gifts and are classic pieces they can use time and time again.

Creating the Perfect Registry
When building a registry, it’s never too early to start. People want to give gifts as soon as they know a couple is engaged. Start by taking inventory of what you already have, what you need and what you want to upgrade. It’s also recommended to update the registry regularly so there are enough gifts to choose from, especially if there is an engagement party and bridal shower coming up. To get started, some popular registry items include stand mixers, craft beer glasses, Dutch ovens, bath towels and vacuums. For extra guidance, couples can speak to advisors who can help with the full registry building process at Macy’s stores.

For more wedding ideas and inspiration, and to find the right attire and gifts for your wedding planning, visit macys.com.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

5 Tips to Plan Your Wedding Like a Pro

(Family Features) It may be that your budget doesn’t allow a wedding planner, or maybe you’ve just dreamed of this day for so long that all of the hands-on planning makes you giggle with glee. Either way, there are steps you can take to make your big day go off without a hitch, so flawlessly it seems as though it was planned by a professional.

1. Set a budget and stick to it. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and get carried away with your spending. A planner’s less emotional approach leaves less room for letting extras chip away at your wedding fund, but planning your own wedding is a whirlwind of emotion. Your best weapon: set a realistic budget and hold yourself to it. Remember there are hundreds of ways (and at least as many websites and idea boards online) to achieve everything you envision if you’re willing to get creative and be a little flexible.

2. Define your priorities. The truth is you’re going to encounter some curveballs while planning your big day. A venue will get booked out from under you or a photographer’s bid will come in significantly higher than you anticipated. Working with your fiance to define what matters most can help you make adjustments to overcome whatever obstacles you encounter. If the venue is your biggest priority, maybe another date will work. If the photography is the piece of your wedding day that you’ll treasure most, know that you’ll need to trim in other places.

3. Make yourself accountable to deadlines. Timeline may just sound like a fancy way to say “to-do list,” and in some ways that’s true. But a timeline carries an important distinction: the recognition of when, not just what, must be done. Create your timeline with every major planning category (transportation, cake, etc.) and every step and corresponding deadline (research limo companies, secure bids from limo companies, book limo, confirm limo reservation, etc.)

4. Expect exceptional service. Wedding planners have experience vetting and weeding out subpar vendors, and while you may not have the luxury of practice on your side, you can still set the bar high. A friendly but professional approach will take you far, as will an organized and decisive mindset. Avoid growing too chummy, but conversely avoid bringing out bridezilla-like demands. Lay out your expectations, determine whether the vendor can adequately meet or exceed them, listen to your instincts and solicit references to verify your impressions.

5. Set your inner OCD free. Planning a wedding is the perfect time to indulge any obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Create a binder to keep track of all your wedding planning. It’s a great place to store photos and magazine pages of looks you like so you can share them with vendors, but it’s also the spot where you can accumulate all of your contracts, receipts, contact information and other documentation. When a guest or vendor calls with a question, you can put your hands on the information you need in mere minutes, keeping stress at a minimum all around.

Planning a wedding requires discipline and patience, but the payoff is big – among the biggest in your life, in fact. Take a business-like approach to planning the details, then plan to enjoy your day to the fullest. Find more tips for all of life’s special moments at elivingtoday.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images