2010 Weddings

I'm getting married February. 10, 2010 and i got engaged last month. There is a reason why we picked that date, but it takes too long to explain. We also need to get married so he can join the Air Face. We have a two month old girl together. I have no idea as to what I am doing. I need someone to give me a very detailed list of things to do. Here are the basics if it helps:

Our budget is $3500-5000
Its not exactly traditional in the sense that my dress is a black and white polka dot halter dress all 50's style. I am big on vintage, always have been, so we are mixing vintage with modern. I would like to know what is what I need specific songs for, cheap favor ideas, and... well... everything. We aren't religious but our families are. We have a MOH and a best man, three maids and groomsmen, one ring bearer and 7 flower girls (I have 7 nieces and I know all of them would cry for days if they couldn't be in this)

Any help is appreciated. I have a wedding planner, but I have no idea about what she says to me. I don't understand wedding lingo. Use small words with me, please!!!

Hello theteazerjerrie,

Congrats on your upcoming wedding.
It sounds like your going to have a big wedding, so the wedding party is going to be a total of 18 people right? It can be done but your going to have to work really fast.
You already have your dress & know you want a vintage theme, the next step is finding a place to have the wedding and / or reception.
You need to get those invitations out asap?
Do you know what the wedding party is going to wear? Since your going with a vintage theme how about a vintage style black dress for the ladies that they can wear again? They can make any black dress look vintage with their hair style, jewelry & shoes.  
Once you have all the attire figured out the next step should be food, drinks, entertainment, baker, florist & photographer.
A few things not to waste money on would be center pieces, most reception venues will have some sorts of center piece even if its only a candle in the middle of each table. Nobody is going to remember your center pieces anyway.
As for favors, skip them. Every wedding I've ever been to atleast 75% of the guests leave their favor sitting on the table at the end of the night.
And dont waste your money on being waxed or having your make up done by a professional.
Are you planning on doing any DIY such as the invitations, flowers, pictures? 
Do you have any other colors? 
The more you share the more advice we'll be able to give you.
Looking forward to hearing back from you.    
  

Personally if I had a wedding planner and I she didn't make any sense to me I would tell her so. No sense in paying a wedding planner if you can't work with them.

Take a breath and start talking w/ your wedding planner. If you can't get anywhere with her then hire her and save your money. Then sit down and write out what you KNOW you have for your wedding and the cost, and then write down your WANTS and see what is do-able and what is skip-able.

My wedding colors are red, black and white. I have a caterer, photographers (yes I have two, my dad does it for free, but I am hiring another to help out), a DJ/limo driver, and a venue that my mother thinks is awful. Its old and in a tiny town, but for the whole event, ceremony included, its $250. My Maid of Honor has to get his tux and I don't know what's going on with the other three. I don't have a single flower girl dress and I'm meeting with a woman who does amazing cakes for a cheap price because they are for her portfolio. But it's the other things I am worried about. I don't know where to go or what to do. I want to do the stationary stuff myself, but my mom thinks it'll be cheaper to buy them. I'm not sure about decorations and my fiancee is determined to do all the flower arrangements.

All I need is advice on where to go and what normal protocol is. And what the hell is a bridal luncheon? The last wedding I went to, I was just a guest and that was last year. One before that was my sister's wedding in 1997 and I was again, a guest. I had nothing to do with either of those and weddings are unfamiliar territory. What else am I supposed to do? How long should the ceremony last? Am I supposed to have music playing all the time? I want people to remember a beautiful ceremony and a fun reception. How do I do that?

Congratulations on your engagement!!

The first thing you need to do is talk to your wedding planner! A good wedding planner can answer all your questions and calm any fears you may have. If he/she can't do that, you may want to consider finding a new wedding planner.

The first think you need to do is have your bridal party get their attire in order. As for flower girl dresses, you don't have to go to a bridal shop if you want to cut on cost. Try a department store for matching dresses for the girls. Since the holidays are approaching there should be quite a few to choose from sticking with your black, red, white theme.

Having someone do an inexpensive cake for her to use in her portfolio is a good idea...just make sure that the cake not only looks good, but tastes good too!

Your mom might be right when it comes to the stationary, that is something you will need to price out to determine what is more cost effective. Doing the flowers yourself is not a bad idea, but might be time consuming, make sure you plan enough time to get everything done. Research local places that sell flowers wholesale, you should be able to get a better price. They can be as simple as a 5" high round or square vase in the center of the table, use floral foam inside the vase and just make sure that you pack in the flowers leaving no empty spots. And make sure that there are different levels to the flowers, some a little taller than other. Then just sprinkle some rose petals on the table and you have a very elegant centerpiece.

As for the ceremony, it really can be as long or as short as you want. Music does not need to be playing the entire time, but you can have a special song played maybe during the lighting of the unity candle if you would like (besides the music you will walk down the isle to).

Like I said, this is all stuff that your wedding planner should be helping you with.

Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any other questions.

Leanne