Marriage: The Art of Wedding Planning

Samantha Sidey • Sep 30, 2014
Marriage: The Art of Wedding Planning

Wow. A lot has happened recently. After a lot of research, you decided how much to spend on an engagement ring, where to buy it, and you pulled off the perfect proposal.


You’ve said ‘I do’ and you both can’t wait to get married and start planning for your big day.


Now what is it that you actually need to do?


Decisions, decisions!

When it comes to planning a wedding, the process can seem overwhelming at best. There is the guest list to agree upon (‘do we invite your Aunt Norma who is twice removed?’); the floral arrangements (that moment when you realize that your dream flowers will take away from at least ten percent of your wedding budget); the caterer…


Should I go on?


Taking a deep breath and tackling your wedding to-do list, starting with your top priority, is a great way to begin the wedding planning process.


Book It

From the venue to the photographer, the best thing you can do to keep calm and carry on is to book ahead. Remember, most companies and venues are booking a year or two in advance as it is.


Find A Place for Everything

One of the most valuable pieces (besides your wedding ring) of advice we can offer you when planning for your wedding is how important it is to be organized. You will be dealing with florists and caterers and photographers, oh my! And each contact needs its own place.


There are some valuable online resources to keep you organized and on track, and they are definitely worth trying on for size, such as: TheKnotWeddingWire; and Pinterest, to name a few.


There are also a variety of wedding planning books available in many different stores.


In order to stay organized and on top of things, a few things need their own space, such as:

  • Receipts of transactions
  • A record of telephone conversations
  • E-mails from important contacts, such as the florist, DJ, etc.


Best Practices

I asked some of my best friends what their best pieces of wedding planning advice is, and here is what they had to say:


Time Is Precious

“I would say first and foremost, you never have as much time as you think you do. Do not leave things until the last minute. Make a plan. Choose a theme/style and make lists of things so you don’t forget or get confused with information and/or options overload.”


Say Yes To The Dress (sooner rather than later)

“Choosing your dress is very important and something that shouldn’t be left until the last minute. Do that along with booking a venue and caterer early. Don’t leave anything you have to book in advance until it’s too late.”


Get By With A Little Help From Your Friends

“Ask for help and don’t be afraid to delegate. Include your bridesmaids/groomsmen/friends and family, and allow them to be as involved as you need them to be while you are planning for your big day. From setting up tables and chairs (if necessary), to making decorations and wedding favours, they are there to support you, and will ideally want to be as involved as they can.”


There Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

“Make sure the wedding day, and all of the events leading up to it, are about you and your partner. Period. From the moment your partner proposes, try to enjoy all of these special once in a lifetime experiences.”


Advice for the Grooms

As a prospective groom, there are some things that you may choose to take care of on your own, as well as some things that will require you to work with your partner, your family and your friends, among other people involved in your big day. There may be individual tasks such as picking a best man and groomsmen; while other tasks might have you and your partner working side by side, for example, when you are choosing your venue, your honeymoon location, the caterers, and perhaps, a photographer, to name just a few.


Two Heads Are Always Better Than One

What better occasion to work together as a team, then planning for your own wedding. Leaving tasks such the flowers, wedding favours, and decorations for your partner is nothing to be ashamed of. Chances are, one of you will enjoy those tasks more than the other. The same goes for budgeting, seating plans and dealing with vendors, for example. Acknowledge each other’s strengths and interests, and work with that knowledge in order to designate preferred wedding planning tasks. This will ensure a more enjoyable experience for the both of you as you’re tackling what seems to be a never ending list.


I asked a few of my male friends, who have been recently married, what their best piece of wedding planning advice was. Here is what they had to say:


Divide and Conquer

“When it came to our wedding ’to-do’ list, my fiancée and I thought it would be best if we worked together on it, each choosing to take on different tasks based on our strengths and interests. For example, my fiancée loved sorting out the hundred and one details when it came to the colour scheme and flower arrangements, which I couldn’t be bothered by; while I created a budget and kept records of receipts, etc. organized and on file.”


What’s Your Forte?

“My fiancée didn’t pressure me to take on responsibilities that she knew I wouldn’t be interested in. Instead she asked me what I might like to do to help, and the odd time she would ask me for specific advice or help. I was more than willing to help out and make it easier on her when it came to planning.”


Be There for Each Other

“Two days before our wedding, we were arguing over some final details. We were both tired and over worked. I sat my fiancée down and took the time to talk about the fact that we were in this together and on the same team, as opposed to being on opposite ends of the field, which is how she described herself as feeling for the weeks leading up to the wedding. It was important to take that time with each other.”


Put A Kimberfire Ring On It

For any and all of your wedding jewelry needs, do not hesitate to contact us at Kimberfire, no matter where you are in the process, no matter how close or how far you are from the wedding.


Share Your Wedding Planning Advice

We encourage our readers to leave a comment below. Please let us know what some of your best wedding planning practices are!

Samantha Sidey - Kimberfire

Samantha Sidey is a social marketing intern at Kimberfire – a brilliant way to buy diamond engagement rings, fine diamond jewelry, and loose diamonds in Toronto, ON and across Canada. She is a believer in life-long learning and will always be concerned about the environment and animal rights. Healthy living and fitness, as well as adopting a happy lifestyle complete with a unique sense of style, is important to her. While she constantly finds herself wishing for more time in the day, some of her hobbies include baking, running, hiking, and yoga. Samantha also has a passion for all things reading and writing. She hopes to continue to inspire her readers through her writing, and is excited to share her journey with you as she is driven to distraction by all that glitters.

About Kimberfire

A brilliant way to buy high-quality engagement rings, diamonds, and jewelry. View and inspect your carefully selected diamond virtually (via Zoom), or in our offices in Toronto, Canada. We ship worldwide.

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