Wedding Planning For Dummies, UK Edition E-Book

Dominique Douglas

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 641

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Plan your perfect wedding, at home or abroad. Planning a wedding doesn't have to be hard work. Take the pain out of the preparation and let Wedding Planning For Dummies help you design your dream wedding day - while saving time and money! Whether you're planning a traditional church ceremony, a quiet family celebration or a romantic destination wedding, this book offers all the budgeting tips, essential checklists and more that you need to make sure your special day runs smoothly. Content includes: * Budgeting for the big day. * Keeping it legal - getting all the legalities in place in plenty of time. * Preparing a guest list - who to invite, and where to draw the line. * Planning the schedule for the day, and any surrounding events (next day brunch, weekend plans). * Advice on choosing your dress, photographer, music, flowers, cake, wedding rings and more. * Destination weddings - the pros and cons of taking the plunge abroad.

Leseprobe

Wedding Planning For Dummies®

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, www.wiley.com

This edition first published 2014

© 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, West Sussex.

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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-1-118-69951-5 (paperback); ISBN 978-1-118-69948-5 (ebk);ISBN 978-1-118-69949-2 (ebk)

Printed in Great Britain by TJ International, Padstow, Cornwall

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Wedding Planning For Dummies

Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/weddingplanninguk to view this book's cheat sheet.

Table of Contents

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I: Getting Started with Wedding Planning

Chapter 1: First Things First

The ‘Ise’ Have It

Familiarise: Spreading the news

Fantasise: Envisioning your dream wedding

Prioritise: Deciding what’s really important

Visualise: Making a reality checklist

Organise: Breaking down the details without breaking down

Synchronise: Dispelling the timetable myth

Deputise: Choosing your team

Working with a Wedding Planner

Understanding different wedding-planning services

Interviewing prospective planners

Chapter 2: Avoiding Those Wedding-Bill Blues

Love is a Money-Spender Thing

Knowing What You Can Afford

Start Spreadsheeting the News

Controlling Costs

Comprehending Contracts

Making written contracts with suppliers

Forking out a little at a time

Covering your bash

Bargain-Hunting Online

Chapter 3: Making It Legal

Registering Your Wedding: Understanding UK Law

Playing by the rules

Civil ceremonies

Faith weddings

Drawing Up a Prenup

Playing the Name Game

Deciding whether to change your name

Updating your records

Unplanning a Wedding

Settling up

Deciding who keeps the ring

Part II: Preparing for Your Big Day

Chapter 4: Finding the Perfect Venue

Looking for Love in All the Right Places

Deciding on location

Considering popular choices

Choosing between ‘on-premise’ and ‘off-premise’

Doing your homework

Vetting the venues

Determining Whether You Need More Than One Space

The turning of the room

Ceremony here, reception there

Taking a Space Walk

Asking the right questions

Planning a Marquee Reception

Locating a marquee site

Choosing your marquee

Covering all the bases

Chapter 5: Setting the Scene

Knowing What to Contemplate Before You Decorate

Choosing a Wedding Designer

What’s in a Room?

First impressions

Up, down and all around: Ceilings, floors and walls

The drinks reception area

Dining area arrangement

Chairs

Tabletops

Bathrooms

Transitional spaces

Making the Most of a Marquee

Doing Your Guests a Favour

Chapter 6: Flower Power

Getting a Feel for What You Want

Finding a Fab Florist

Decorating the Ceremony Site

Choosing Personal Blooms

Bride and attendants

Mothers, stepmothers, fathers’ girlfriends and others

Grooms, ushers, stepfathers, mothers’ boyfriends and others

Little touches for little people

Decking Out Receptions

Making floral arrangements measure up

Styling your centrepieces

Additional floral displays

Making Your Own Arrangements

Keeping the Bloom On

Chapter 7: Planning a Destination Wedding

Understanding Why Couples Pick a Destination Wedding, and Counting the Cost

Finding a Faraway Venue

Understanding the Legalities of Marrying Abroad

Organising from a Distance

Checking Out a Typical Timeline

Thinking About Your Guests

Putting together the guest list

Telling guests what they need to know

Ensuring winning welcomes

Partying When You Get Home

Chapter 8: By Invitation Only

Preliminary Planning

Formalities First

Creating formal invites

Sending announcements

When things don’t go as planned

How Else Can We Put This?

Striking a less-formal tone

RSVP remedies

The non-printed invitation

Sorting Invitations for Other Events

Typefaces and Other Technicalities

Printing methods

Paper

Fonts

Ink colour

Envelopes

Proof it all night

Creating Your Own Invitations

Addressing Traditions

Outer envelopes

Inner envelopes

Fit to be titled

It’s a Postage Thing

Chapter 9: Toasters Are Banned!: Putting Together Your Gift List

Retail Details

Going Beyond Department Stores

Surfing for Gifts

Hinting and Hoping

What We Really Want? Well, It Rhymes with Honey . . .

Keeping Track

Giving Thanks

Dealing with Problem Presents

Chapter 10: Rings That Rock

Understanding Diamonds

Cut

Colour

Clarity

Carat weight

The fifth C – cost

If Diamonds Aren’t Your Best Friend

Judging gemstones

Real or not real? That is the question

Setting Pretty

Metal Matters

Equal Rights – Don’t Leave Out the Groom

Finding the Right Ring

Buying new

Analysing antique pieces

Chapter 11: And the Bride Wore . . .

Sizing Up Your Style

Selecting the right silhouette

Figuring out the neckline

Negotiating arms

Looking behind you

Deciding what lengths you’ll go to

Considering a train

Choosing the right white

Feeling your way through fabrics

Getting a taste of the icing on the dress

Getting the Goods

Tracking down the dress

Thinking about quality control

Getting the right fit

Delving Underneath the Dress

A little bra-vado

Perfecting your proportions

Dressing Your Tippy-Toes

Getting a Heads-Up on Headwear

Comparing types of veil

Hats, headpieces, crowns and trinkets

From Hair to Eternity

Making Your Face Wedding Proof

Accessorising: The Finishing Touches

Covering up

Going for hand-some gloves

Selecting your jewellery

Bagging it

Getting into the Dress

Caring for Your Dress After the Party

Preserving for posterity

Recouping your investment

Chapter 12: Attending to the Bridal Party

Choosing Your Entourage

Next Stop: Wardrobe

Choosing bridesmaid dresses to please all

Outfitting the guys

Making Mum look good

Dapper dads

Showing Your Appreciation

Chapter 13: Partying Before and After the Wedding

Surprising Your Spouse-to-Be with a Special Proposal

Knowing the traditions

Preparing for the big day

Five simple ideas

Throwing an Engagement Party

Showering the Bride

Reinventing the Stag Party

Planning the Hen Bash

Gathering for Pre-Wedding Celebrations

Revving up: The rehearsal dinner

Coming together the evening before

Wrapping Up the Day After

Part III: Ceremony Survival Guide

Chapter 14: Creating a Foolproof Wedding-Day Schedule

Putting Everyone on the Same Page

Working Out Transportation Timings

Creating the Master Schedule

Devising your schedule

Managing the schedule on wedding day

Receiving-Line Logistics

Chapter 15: Sensational Ceremonies Part I: Choosing the Type of Ceremony

Going for a Civil Ceremony

Opting for a Religious Ceremony

Church of England

Hindu

Jewish

Muslim

Roman Catholic

Sikhism

Chapter 16: Sensational Ceremonies Part II: Determining the Details

All Together, Vow!

Thinking traditional

Going for contemporary

Getting Ideas for Readings

They’re Playing Our Song

Music for the ceremony

A soloist, a choir or something in-between?

Now for the fun bit: Choosing the tunes

Getting with the Programme: Producing the Order of Service

Places, Everyone – Time to Rehearse

Having a quick run-through

Going over the rules and expectations

Part IV: A Rousing Reception

Chapter 17: What’s on the Menu?

Finding and Working with the Perfect Caterer

Savouring Your Options: From Concept to Taste

Setting up the tasting

Getting the best out of the tasting session

Creating a Memorable Reception Meal

Tucking into the postnuptial nibbles

Serving up a sumptuous sit-down meal

Bigging up buffets

When Dinner is Not Served: Nibbles and Nosh for Other Times

Creating a winning selection of canapés

Tea for two (hundred)

Other ways to munch: Breakfast, brunch or lunch

Midnight munchies

Considering Special Dietary Requirements

Chapter 18: Let’s Drink to That

Tending Bar

Speaking in bar code

In-house pricing

Venue-only options

Liquid logistics

Avoiding Traffic Jams

Considering the Bar Structure

Specialty Drink Stations for Blithe Spirits

Selecting Wine, Beer and Champagne

Wining when dining

Don’t worry, beer hoppy

Bring on the bubbly

Chapter 19: A Piece of Cake

Setting the Recipe for the Perfect Cake

Finding a cake designer

Totting up tiers and toppers

Selecting the confection

Size matters

Slicing and pricing

Cake on Display: No Drooling, Please

Cutting the Cake

Saving the Top Tier

Chapter 20: And the Band Played On

Setting the Tone

Welcoming guests to the drinks reception

Making a dramatic entrance into the wedding breakfast

Accompanying the wedding breakfast

Taking your first dance

Dancing with parents

Making special requests

Dancing till dawn

Booking the Band

Tracking down bands

Shortlisting bands

Getting in tune

Spinning with a DJ

Part V: Pics and Trips

Chapter 21: For Posterity: Photos and Videos

Getting Focused

Taking Your Pic

Finding a photographer you click with

Choosing a photography style

Calling the shots

Figuring out fees and packages

Choosing which shots to enlarge

Compiling the wedding album

Scheduling the formal photos

Videotaping Your Day

Casting for a filmmaker

Thinking like a movie director

Get on the mic

Safekeeping the Past for the Future

Chapter 22: Handling the Honeymoon

Determining Your Honeymoon Style

Researching Destinations Online

Working with a Travel Agent

Making Your Money Travel Farther

Hitting the Road (or Sky): Tips for Before You Travel

Going Abroad

Part VI: The Part of Tens

Chapter 23: Ten Top Tips for Perfect Planning

Set Your Budget

Find Your Venue

Create a Timetable

Brainstorm Ideas with a Mood Board

Select Your Suppliers

Create a Contact Sheet

Make a Master Schedule

Keep an Eye on the Big Picture

Work Together

Get Some Help

Chapter 24: Ten Tricks for Saving Money

Start with a Budget

Cut the Guest List

Reduce the Hours

Limit the After-Dinner Bar

Avoid Overtime

Dress for Less

Skip the Fancy Details

Go for an Orchestra in a Box

Do Easy Things Yourself

Get Married Off-Peak and Mid-Week

About the Authors

Cheat Sheet

More Dummies Products

Guide

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

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Introduction

Awedding, whether it’s a quiet civil ceremony or a pull-out-all-the-stops extravaganza, requires equal parts creativity, planning, diplomacy and nerve. We admit that the whole ordeal can seem overwhelming at times. After all, getting married is a profound rite of passage. But we’re here to tell you: please don’t panic. You’re in good hands (as long as you have this book in your hands)!

The mission of Wedding Planning For Dummies is to demystify and simplify myriad details that go into the Big Day, inspire you with wonderfully innovative ideas to personalise your wedding celebration, instil confidence in you to pull off a memorable ceremony and reception (no matter what your budget or wedding style) hopefully enable you to have some fun while doing it.