We're Going to Be One Happy Family...Or Else!

 

A very unique book written by a nationally respected marriage and family therapist who has worked with couples and families for over 30 years. Learn why a mother bought 25 copies for EVERYONE in her family to get everyone on the same page during the most intense, public, family event. Learn more

Wedding Discounts for Marriage Preparation

 

Want to literally save hundreds on your wedding? Do good by your upcoming marriage and let vendors give you discounts for your efforts. See qualifying purchases and participating vendors!

Wedding Discount Program Details

GETTING married is cake compared to BEING married

 

We make time to eat, sleep and go to work. Somehow the most complex, life long relationships are assumed to magically work. We offer many options for marriage preparation for the secular, religious, the talkative personality, the laid back personality... Learn more

 

The Wedding Planning Checklist

Bridal Checklist

 

A wedding planning checklist like you've never seen! Logistics are one thing, but the emotional landmines couples fall into can derail the simplistic, linear wedding planning checklist agenda.

No matter whether parents are paying or not, our Principles for Parents will help:

• how to clarify wedding plans and decisions between parent/child
• reduce wedding planning conflict
• prevent wedding planning conflict
• avoid "assumptions" that cause problems down the road

 

Start with these two articles then move into the checklist:

• Wedding Checklist Landmines - how your wedding planning checklist can bite you when you least expect it.
• Priority setting for major wedding decisions and being team with your fiance

 

Stage: Engagement

(in The Hour of Bliss you haven't yet had to deal with the messy new world where you are no longer a private couple but you've just made 'in-laws".)

 

• Setting the wedding date ...it isn't nearly as simple as you'd think
• Setting the Guest List
• Which comes first the budget or guest list? Why this is SO IMPORTANT!
• Stress and Mistakes with Relatives
• Mistakes to avoid with your friends
• To invite children or not to invite children...the difficult decision
• What the guest list can teach you about marriage

Wedding Budget

• Who Pays, What Power Do They Get, and How Does Money Impact Wedding Planning Decisions
• Wedding budgets- How to make one, things to think about
• Handling the who pays issue
• The Couple Decision
• The Approach (or Non-Approach) of the Parents
• How are decisions made and who is a stakeholder?
• Expect the Unexpected

Wedding Vendor Quotes : How to get them, what are the averages by category?

Setting the wedding location and reception

• Download ourl priority worksheet to get the ball rolling

Find an officiant

Select wedding party

• How to chose your wedding party
• What the Wedding Party Selection Process Can Teach You About Marriage
• Wedding party stress advice

Start shopping for dresses - most of us do! Keep in mind where you're location will be, the time of day, how hot/cold you normally get, how much footwear is important as you'll be standing all day - a long dress means you can wear ballerina slippers, shorter dresses mean nice, expensive, usually uncomfortable shoes

 

Stage: 9-11 months before the wedding

 

 

• Send Save the Dates, or just let people know when you see them, email them, or if you send a holiday card mention the date (and a website if you have one)
• Find and book a caterer (if your reception spot doesn't have one)
• Book entertainment (unless you're not having any, or just using an IPOD to save money!)
• Find and book a florist (unless you're going to Sams Club or the farmers market a day or so before your wedding. Keep in mind DIY flowers take a lot of time and may cause a lot of stress. It would be best to have a friend dedicated to flower assembly if you go this route.) I also found a very cool DIY flower website, fresh farm flowers for a lower cost! Follow our link to support our website if you chose to buy them: FiftyFlowers - Wedding Flowers, Roses and Arrangements
• Book the photographer and/or videographer
  • Wedding Photography: Memory Saving Or....?

 

Stage: 6-8 months before the wedding

 

• Buy a wedding gown (most of us have probably done this earlier!)
• Find and book a cake baker (or go to Sams Club if you're on a tight budget)
• Find and book transportation (if you need this and it's in your budget)
• Find and confirm ceremony music
• Find and order bridesmaid dresses (especially important if you have procrastinating bridesmaids)
• Start the wedding registry
  • How to "engage" in the materialism of your registry with your marriage.
• Confirm the rehearsal dinner (almost like the wedding itself. Who is paying? Who is invited? Who is hosting?)

 

Stage: 4-5 months before the wedding

 

• If you're taking a honeymoon, start figuring that out
• Investigate formal wear, gets details, book it
• Figure out if you're doing a post-wedding brunch, start getting those details
• Order wedding favors. (Shop our sponsor for really fun, unusual, Wedding Favors and decorations by Beau-coup)
• Order wedding invitations
• Wedding Invitation Etiquette - don't fall into an emotional landmine!
• Unique Wedding Invitation Q&A
• Find and buy wedding bands
• Find any rental equipment you'll need

 

Stage: 3 months before the wedding

 

• Finalize Guest List
  • Let everyone know "this is it", no more additions
  • Get updated addresses, confirm spellings
  • You may want to create a spreadsheet to track wedding gifts
• Find all the other wedding helpers you may need
  • Ushers
  • Host/ess
  • Ceremony helpers
  • Perhaps a day-of wedding coordinator is a nice splurge at this point
• Mail invitations
  • Read about the inevitable RSVP Woes
• Find and book your hair and make up (if not doing yourself)
• Work with the host of the rehearsal dinner to coordinate

 

Stage: 1-2 months ahead

 

• Work on your wedding vows (if not using traditional ones)
• Find wedding readings if not using traditional ones
• Figure out any gifts you're giving to bridal party, parents, attendants, others
• If you want to do welcome baskets for out of towners start firming up details
• Enjoy any bridal showers, get thank you notes done quickly!
• Confirm marriage license details

Stage: 1-2 weeks before wedding

 

• Take the list of non-RSVP'ers, divide them by who they "belong to" and get calling or emailing!
  • Parents contact their guests
  • You each deal with your own friends
• Walk through the flow of the entire event, preferably with someone who has been to a lot of weddings. The "flow" of the wedding can make or break the entire event.
• Confirm seating chart if having one
• Confirm all vendors

 

Stage: 3-7 days before the wedding

 

• Make sure the men all have their formal wear (or details on when/where/how to pick it up)
• Confirm the rehearsal dinner details
• Pack for honeymoon and your day-of gear for the wedding
• Have all tips/payments in special envelopes for a trusted friend (often the best man) to deliver to the vendors on the wedding day

 

Get married!

 

Our goal is that you've balanced the American "My day, my way" philosophy with some pro-family and marriage friendly ways of working with your friends and family. Remember, everything that happens in the build up to the wedding day will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. The goal isn't to "survive" wedding planning to live happily ever after. The wedding planning "is" part of your happily ever after.