| Planning a do-it-yourself wedding is a great way to | | | | Buy card stock online or in a craft store. Using a |
| have a low cost wedding with lots of personal | | | | wordprocessing program, create a template for |
| touches. With the prices of wedding skyrocketing, | | | | your engagement announcements. Print the |
| more and more brides choose to do some of the | | | | announcements and send them to friends and |
| wedding details on their own. And thanks to the | | | | family. |
| internet and other wedding resources, doing it | | | | 10 Months Before |
| yourself has never been easier or more | | | | Make up Your Guest List and Decide Wedding |
| manageable. | | | | Colors |
| But, the tough thing about do-it-yourself weddings | | | | Since you've already determined the general size |
| is that it is big event planning and there's no | | | | of your wedding, go through and make up a list |
| getting around it. With wedding planning, there's a | | | | of friends and family for the guest list. Don't |
| lot to do and when you do it yourself, you're | | | | forget to consult your parents and your fiance's |
| responsible for it all. Planning a wedding where you | | | | parents. Narrow down the list until it meets your |
| take care of most of the details on your own can | | | | wedding size criteria. Select the main color palette |
| be overwhelming. Though doing it yourself is a lot | | | | for your wedding using online resources, wedding |
| of work, it doesn't have to be a stressful | | | | books or magazines. |
| experience if you can stay organized and do | | | | Begin Looking At Flower Suppliers |
| things as they come. | | | | Whether you decide to use real flowers or silk |
| To help you get going, here's a wedding schedule | | | | ones, you'll need to start looking at where you |
| for the do-it-yourself bride. Follow the guidelines | | | | can purchase your blooms. Many floral wholesalers |
| below and you'll find that you really can do lots for | | | | offer flowers for wedding in bulk and have |
| your wedding without getting overwhelmed by | | | | websites where you can look at their offerings. |
| the little details. | | | | Get an idea of what types of flowers you'll want |
| 12 Months Before | | | | to use and then how many stems you'll need. |
| Determine Your Wedding Budget | | | | Also look at the ordering process to see when |
| This is something that you and your fiance should | | | | you should to put in your order and when your |
| do together. You've probably already given some | | | | flowers will arrive. |
| thought to your budget since you've decided to | | | | Select Your Wedding Gown or Meet with Your |
| take on some of the wedding plans yourself. | | | | Seamstress |
| Once you make up your budget, every other | | | | If you're buying your gown from a bridal shop, |
| decision will be easier to make. | | | | select your gown and order it. If you are working |
| Decide the Size and Theme of Your Wedding | | | | with a seamstress to create your gown, select a |
| Sit down with your fiance and talk about the kind | | | | pattern and meet with your seamstress to |
| of wedding you want to have. Determine how | | | | determine when the dress will be finished. |
| many people you'd like to invite, keeping your | | | | Begin Looking at Invitations |
| budget in mind. Brainstorm a few possible dates | | | | Start looking at card stock and work out the cost |
| for your wedding. | | | | for do-it-yourself invitations. Begin working on a |
| Book Your Location and Caterer | | | | wordprocessing program to create a template for |
| The location rental and the caterer for your | | | | your invitations. Order the card stock and any |
| wedding will represent the highest cost. To save | | | | other paper accessories like envelopes and |
| money, look into using a public space (like a local | | | | response cards. |
| park or historic place) as the spot for your | | | | Now you have a general idea of what you need |
| wedding. Be prepared with your wedding budget | | | | to get done 10 to 12 months before your |
| and date when you talk to possible caterers. | | | | wedding. Keep on track for those first few |
| Work with the caterer to find the best use for | | | | months of wedding planning and you'll be able to |
| your money. Also discuss any rentals that the | | | | take care of most of the details without getting |
| catering company may be able to provide. | | | | stressed. Stay tuned for Part Two of the |
| Create and Send Engagement Announcements | | | | Do-It-Yourself Wedding Planning Schedule. |