I know I'm forgetting something, but what??

Obviously with the hundreds of other things on your mind you're bound to forget a few things that might have people feeling left out or could leave you in a bind so we've compiled a little list of the top things brides tend to forget amongst all that wedding planning.

1. What are you doing right after the wedding?
Most newlyweds aren't boarding a flight directly after their reception so where do you plan on spending the night? Do you want the party with all your friends to continue at a club? Or do you just want to get a good night's rest? Make sure to plan this in advance so you aren't wasting time planning in the parking lot outside your reception venue.

2. Pack an overnight bag
If you're flying out the next day, you don't want to mess up everything in that luggage (especially if you folded everything neatly according to our ___________ blog) by digging in it for a travel outfit. Pack a separate small bag, and see if your maid of honor or a friend can drop it off at the hotel early so you don't have to worry about it being in the getaway car, etc.

3. What are you doing the day after the wedding?
Where are you going? Flying? Driving? Do you need your passport? Make sure everything you need is packed in advance, and that your bag is already at your hotel. If you're not going on a honeymoon right away, enjoy the weekend, and tackle thank-you's the next week.

4. Who's taking care of your presents, toasting flutes, extra favors, leftover food, etc.?
Have a plan set for your parents or whoever to take home the extra food and maybe have a get-together the next day to eat it up, or have someone drop it off at a local shelter or soup kitchen. And make sure whoever is taking your presents and memorabilia has a key to your place. Also, most importantly, have someone pick up your dress from the hotel, or if you changed before you left the reception have them take it home and get it cleaned and preserved, if you choose to do that. The sooner the cleaners works on any stains the better.

5. Decide where everything goes
When you meet with us, we have a detail meeting where we discuss exactly how you want the room set for your big day. We'll discuss options for the bar, your favors, your departure item (anything but sparklers), etc. so that way we both know what's happening the day of and can keep things flowing smoothly.

6. Extra decorating
We take care of the centerpieces for you, but if you want to add something extra to the cake and food tables (shells and net for a beach-themed reception?) bring it in to use early, and we can set it out for you! Our bathrooms each have a nice vase filled with silk flowers, but if you want to add some mementos (framed pictures, signature candle scent, etc.) you can.

7. Gifts for the wedding party
These people have dedicated a lot of time, energy, and money of their own to help in your special day so it's nice to honor them with small gifts of thanks. Typically the bride buys for her bridesmaids, her parents, his parents, and the groom himself. Then the groom buys for his groomsmen, his parents, her parents, and the bride. Just something small that says "I love and appreciate you" (for the girls it can be the jewelry they wear in the wedding, a clutch, a personalized picture frame--your budget, your friends, your choice).

8. Marriage certificate
Different states have different laws about how far in advance you can request a marriage license as well as when and where you can pick it up. Make sure you, or someone you trust, is in charge of picking it up and getting it to the wedding venue so you, your groom, your officiant, and your witnesses can sign it. Generally your officiant will mail this off for you, but if they won't, make sure you know where it's going and that it gets there so everything is legal.

9. Confirm everyone's timeline
One week before the wedding check with your venue, your limo company, your caterer, your baker--everyone involved. Make sure they're all on schedule and on the same page. Also check with your bridal party; make sure they know what time to arrive to the wedding venue, what time pictures start, when the ceremony begins, etc. Day-of wedding coordinators can be miracle workers; if your venue doesn't provide one consider asking/hiring one of your organized friends to perform the task. That way they're keeping everyone on schedule, and you can worry about looking beautiful.

Engagement pics

There is at least one friend who posted their engagement pictures on Facebook, and you were in shock over how gorgeous they turned out. Now it's your turn to start thinking about your own engagement pictures, and you're ransacking your closet (and his) to find something perfect so you too can be the envy of girls on Facebook.

Here are a few tips we've gathered from looking at our own friends' pictures and separating what worked from what didn't:

1. Pick out colors that go well together. Your outfits don't have to be matchy-matchy (two black shirts with jeans and black Converse...snooze), but if they look well together in person then they'll look well together in photos. (Still worried? Ask your fashion major friend or ask your artistic cousin to come over and help coordinate.)

2. Don't be afraid of bold, bright colors. Black is slimming and safe, but it tends to be drab in photos. If you want something safer think about a pink top and have him neutrals (gray or tan). I have also seen a few where couples have worn white (she's in a white dress and he's in a white shirt with jeans or khakis), but white can be just as drab as black so be careful.

3. If you're having someone do your makeup on your wedding day, have this day set up as a practice session. You'll want extra makeup on anyway, and makeup artists are trained to understand good lighting and help bring out your natural beauty for photos.

4. Have a cute dress but it's covered in tiny sailboats? Why not wear it and have your photo shoot down by the lake? Print can be just as fun as the bold colors, but make sure it's the right kind of print for your body shape. To balance out the patteren have your man in something solid.

5. Going with the sailboat dress and having it by the lake is called having a "theme." It's cute and will help your photos looked planned and well-thought out; last thing you want is for friends to look at your photos and "disaster" is the first word that pops to mind.

6. Options! What girl doesn't like a few options? Bring at least one other outfit, if not two or three, to show your photographer and get his/her opinion on set before changing.

7. Have fun with accessories. Pick ultra-feminine options to soften a casual look, and again, try out bright colors. I have seen couples get away with minimalistic shoots, wearing white and no jewelry, but, again, that can be a risk.

8. Try out some layers. Put a cardigan or a blazer over that dress. Have him wear a button-up under a sweater.

9. Above all, wear something you like! Don't try to be someone you're not and don't try to stick your fiancé in a suit if he prefers jeans and t-shirts. People viewing your photos will be able to tell you're uncomfortable, and you'll have these around forever so you want them to look good and reflect who the two of you really are.

Alcohol

Over the past decade receptions have become much grander. In the past the bride and groom had cake and punch and that was it. Now it's all about the food and alcohol, and when it comes to both you want to impress your guests, but you don't want to spend a fortune. Here are a few tips on how you can have alcohol at your reception without breaking the bank.

1. Create a specialty cocktail. While this seems like it might be more expensive, it can actually limit the amount of alcohol going in to each drink. One bottle of vodka could yield 50 servings of your drink (mix with juices, triple sec, etc.) or it could only fulfill 25 vodka tonics.
2. Get the most popular liquors like vodka and gin and don't offer scotch, rum, etc.
3. Instead of a champagne toast, have guests raise a glass of whatever they're already drinking.
4. Try having a beer cocktail as your signature drink. Beer is cheaper than liquor and when mixed with a little bit of flavored vodka and a liquer it's just as delicious.
5. Or just have a beer and wine bar, cutting out liquor all together.
6. Make your own sangria. Pick a cheap red wine and add brandy, triple sec, apples, plums, grapes, and lemons or a cheap white wine and add triple sec, green grapes, kiwi, green melon, and pears. You can also add sugar to taste. With all those extra goodies in there guests won't notice that you only spent $7 per bottle instead of $30.
7. Think about choosing a venue (like us) that allows you to bring your own alcohol and doesn't limit you to using their bartender. That way you can stock up on "wine Wednesdays" deals and look for other deals liquor stores offer.
8. Buy a few bags of 9 oz punch cups instead of renting a bunch of glassware. If you're having an open bar guests won't care what type of glass their drink comes in. If you're having a cash bar they still won't care. Alcohol is alcohol.

You're engaged!!...now what?

He's popped the question, you've said yes, and now everyone has questions: have you set a date? where's the reception? who's catering? where are you getting your dress? Chances are you don't have the answers to half of the questions being thrown at you, and that's ok! Below is a timeline to help you keep you oganized and, more importantly, to help ease the stress of all the planning.

15 to 9 months before (depends on how long of an engagement you're having):

• Start a wedding folder. Put everything and anything that inspires you in here from pictures of dresses and cakes to scraps of fabric.
• Work out a budget. It's so important to know who's paying for what and how much everyone is contributing so you can know where to distribute funds (bigger dress and less food or more food and a less elaborate dress?)
• Decide who is going to be a part of your wedding party. Do you want an even number on both sides? Is his mom pressuring you to include his two female cousins? Decide who's in and who's out, and maybe figure a way to nicely tell your new mom-in-law that you're having your sorority sisters stand by you and not cousins that you've never met.
• Come up with a head count. Make lists of who's invited from both sides (get addresses). Remember that only 50-70% of invited guests will actually attend.
• Finalize a date and a venue. Are you having the ceremony and reception at the same place?
• Find an officiant. His uncle? your grandpa? your pastor? Make sure they know what's expected of them and that they tell you what they expect. (Will they be doing your pre-marital counseling?)
• Start researching photographers, music, florists, and caterers.
• Throw an engagement party! Enjoy this time with friends and family whether it's at a restaurant or someone's house and have some fun.

8 months before:

• You've researched the photographer and videographer, now it's time to book one you love.
• Choose the entertainment. Does your venue allow bands or dj's? Do they have mp3 player connection so you can save on costs?
• Meet with your favorite food providers. Does your venue allow outside catering? Does it have to be from a caterer or can your favorite restaurant or Aunt Sue bring the food?
• Go buy the dress. You can never try on too many. You'll know it's the one. Be sure to bring along your mom and a few bridesmaids and ask his mom if she'd like to come to at least one of the fittings.
• If you have guests coming from out of town be sure to book a hotel for them, preferably one that is close to your wedding venue. You're not obligated to pay for their room (be sure to coordinate with them since they are making an effort to be there for your special day).
• Register. Pick out at least 3 different stores you want to register at. This will give guests lots of options for the shower(s) and wedding.
• Launch a wedding website. This is great for people to log on to and stay updated on wedding events. You can post how your fiancé proposed, when and where you buy your dress, and of course put all important dates and events on here.

7 to 6 months before:

• Order your invitations. Custom-made or homemade? Using your own printer or handwriting them? You may want to get your girls together and throw an invitation making party. Provide champagne (not too much, no mess-ups), snacks, and lots of laughs.
• Start planning the honeymoon. Do you want relaxing, adventurous, exotic? Make sure your passports are up-to-date and schedule time at the doctor for any necessary shots.
• If you haven't already, shop for the bridesmaids' dresses. Do you want them all in the same style and color? Do you want different styles but the same color?
• Meet with the officiant and make sure everyone is on the same page and that you have all the necessary documents.
• Send out save-the-date cards or emails (becoming increasingly more popular).
• If you're having an outdoor event be sure and reserve all things necessary for that (portable toilets, eletrical equipment, chairs, tables)
• Book a florist, unless your venue includes the centerpieces and bouquets.
• Arrange transportation. Low to the ground vehicles like limos can be difficult in tighter gowns (unless you plan on changing before your departure). Maybe consider a trolley or a minbus. These can provide more an "aww" factor from your guests when you show up to the reception.
• Start composing a timeline for the day-of. How do you want to be announced? Do you want to go directly in to your first dance? If you're unsure how things should go, talk to married friends and see if they liked how their reception flowed. If you've hired a coordinator, they can suggest what they've experienced and how smoothly things have gone.

5 to 4 months before:

• Book the rehearsal dinner venue and menu.
• Check on the wedding invitations if they're still being made. Ask to see samples from your stationer and revise them, if necessary.
• Order the cake. Go to several taste testings and decide if you want each layer to be a different flavor, if you want the cake to mirror the look of your invitations, etc.
• Send a guest list(s) to whoever is throwing your shower(s) so they can start planning. You may even want to have the shower(s) during this "slow" time.
• Start looking and purchase shoes for your dress. Are you trying to avoid paying to have the dress hemmed? Does that mean you'll need 6" heels? Is your husband much taller than you? Are you going to be walking down a grass or carpet aisle? Do you want shoes you can wear again?
• Try out hairdressers and makeup artists. Make a few trial appointments (maybe on the day of one of your showers or before a big party) and take pictures so you can look back at them later and decide which will look best with your dress.
• Choose songs. Your first dance, the father/daughter dance, dinner music, dance music.
• For out of town guests plan a welcome basket to greet them in their hotel room. You may want to include an itenerary of wedding events, a list of nearby restaurants, a map of attractions, fruit, or a sweet smelling candle.

3 months before:

• Finalize the menu and flowers.
• Order your favors. Do you want something edible? Something lasting they will have for years? A candle? Lots of options that can reflect your personality and show guests that you appreciate them taking time out of their schedule to celebrate with you.
• Make a list of who you want to give toasts (aside from the usual), or you do you just want to leave the floor open for whoever to speak? Be sure to check with everyone you want to speak and be sure they're comfortable with that.
• Finalize the readings and musical interludes at the ceremony. Make sure everyone is comfortable with their assignments.
• Purchase undergarments and have your second fitting. Save any pieces that are cut off from your dress to be wrapped around your bouquet or for something sentimental later.
• Finalize the order of the ceremony and reception (if you haven't already).
• Print menu cards and/or programs, if you want. If they're not in the budget considering making them yourself on the computer.
• Purchse the rings. This will give you some time to have them resized later, if necessary.
• Send your event schedule to the necessary vendors and, again, make sure everyone is comfortable and understands how you want things to flow.

2 months before:

• Meet with the photographer and discuss shots and locations.
• Sit down with the band or dj and discuss the music on your list (come prepared with any songs you want to avoid and any must-plays).
• Send the invitations.
• Touch base with all vendors to make sure everyone is still on the same page and to answer or ask any last minute questions.
• Enjoy (not plan) a bachelorette party!

1 month before:

• Start calculating your RSVP's. You may need to call/email those you haven't heard from.
• Get your marriage license.
• Mail the rehearsal dinner invites (unless your in-laws are taking care of this themselves).
• Visit the dressmaker for your final fitting.
• If you're having a bar, make sure there's plenty to go around for all your guests.
• Send out as many final payments as you can.
• Confirm times with hair and makeup and all other vendors.
• Email and print directions for transportation vehicles (that limo or trolley driver may not have been to your venue before).
• Assign seating for the reception (if you're not doing open seating). Use sticky notes on a poster board so you don't have to erase when you move someone.
• Purchase bridesmaids gifts to present at the rehearsal dinner (this can be something to wear the day-of: jewelry, hair piece, clutch, etc.).
• Write your vows, if you're doing your own. Work on memorizing if you want to do that too.
• Get your hair cut and colored if desired.

The week of!:

• Reconfirm arrival times with vendors.
• Delegate small wedding-day tasks: who's bustling your dress? who's going to carry your things?who's in charge of getting the gifts from the venue to your house/car/etc.?
• Send a timeling to everyone in the bridal party.
• Make arrangements for the dress to be delivered or pick it up.
• Supply your photographer with a list of specific moments you want captured.
• Set aside checks and tips in envelopes for the vendors.
• Book a spa day, if only to preserve your sanity, and a mani/pedi appointment the day before.
• Send the final guest count to the caterer and the venues.
• Break in your shoes. Turn up the volume and see how they feel while dancing to "We are Family."
• Assemble and distribute the welcome baskets.
• Pack for your honeymoon.