A Practical Wedding Planner by Keene, Meg -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Introduction Chapter 1—Figuring Out What You Really Want

APW Basics So You Liked It (and You’re Gonna Put a Ring on It) Priorities, Priorities, Priorities Venn Diagram of Emotional Goals Our Wedding Mission Statement All the Wedding Things (Many of Which You Don’t Need) Wedding Planning Priorities Extra Credit: Bringing In the Family Putting It in Order How to Have a Fun Wedding The Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good

Chapter 2—Guests First, Budget Second

APW Basics Don’t Start by Cutting Your Guest List

Questions to Discuss with Your Partner The Guest List Spreadsheet

Sidebar: Wedding Party Basics Setting Your Budget

The Sky Is the Limit Taking It to the Bank A Post-it Note Does Not a Budget Make The 123s of Budget Setting The Devil Is Not in the Details

The Myth of the Wedding Budget Pie Chart Real Wedding Budget Pie Charts

Chapter 3—From the Ballroom to the Beach: Location and Logistics

APW Basics Figure Out What You Want in a Venue Traditional Versus Non-Traditional Venues

Traditional Venues Non-Traditional Venues

How to Find a Traditional Venue

Venues and Catering Costs Whittling Down Your Options

All-Inclusive Venues Finding Non-Traditional Venues Sidebar: Destination Weddings

What Is (and Isn’t) Included? Sidebar: Ideas for Non-Traditional Wedding Venues How to Throw a Wedding in a Non-Traditional Space

Rentals

Finding a Rental Company Order Lots of Glassware (and Other Rental Tips) Table and Linen Sizes Renting a Tent Other Items You Might Need to Rent

Sidebar: Questions to Ask at a Venue Walk-Through

Chapter 4—Vendors, Friendors, and Doing It Yourself

APW Basics Hiring Vendors: Who Comes First? How Vendor Pricing Works Where Are All the Awesome Vendors Hiding? Don’t Forget to Vet Your Vendors Wedding Vendor Contracts What to Do If Something Goes Wrong Hiring a Photographer Alternative Methods for Capturing the Day

Hire a Non-Pro DIYing Your Photos with the Help of Family and Friends

Who Is Going to Plan and Run This Thing?

Hiring a Wedding Planner Hiring a Day-Of Coordinator Venue or Catering Managers Do All of Your Weddings Look the Same? And Other Questions to Ask

Wedding Stage Manager—Your DIY Wedding Planner Sidebar: What Your DOC (or Wedding Stage Manager) Does Hiring an Officiant

The Four Basic Types of Wedding Officiants

Hiring a DJ DIY DJing Hiring a Band Hiring a Hair Stylist or Makeup Artist Yes, You Can Wield the Hairspray Yourself DIYing Your Makeup: Your Regular Routine . . . Plus . . . And Everyone Else Sidebar: Tipping Your Vendors So You’ve Been Reading This Book . . . and Decided You Want to Elope

· Just a Few Ways You Can Elope · Marriage License: A Mini-Checklist · Un-Plan Your Elopement

How to Reschedule or Call Off Your Wedding

Chapter 5—Cheers! Feeding Everyone

APW Basics The Many Ways to Feed Your Guests How to Find a Full-Service Caterer

What Full-Service Caterers Do Sidebar: What to Look For in a Traditional Caterer Think Outside the Box Food Service Options Sidebar: Accommodating Food Restrictions and Allergies Alcohol Service Options

Sidebar: Standard Wedding Bar Options Restaurant Weddings Sidebar: Wedding Cakes: Flour, Butter, Sugar (and Cash) Non-Traditional Catering, from Food Trucks to DIY

Sidebar: The DIY Catering Checklist Who’s Taking Out the Trash? And Other Staffing Issues How Much Food Do You Need? Sidebar: How to Buy Alcohol for Your Wedding

Food Trucks

Food Truck Issues to Consider

Yes, You Can Have a Potluck Wedding Sidebar: Catering Hack Ideas Self-Catering

What You Need to Self-Cater Meal Planning Sidebar: Self-Catering Planning Documents You’ll Need

Chapter 6—Getting Everyone to Show Up (and Have a Good Time)

APW Basics Save-the-Dates Invitation Wording and Etiquette Sidebar: A Note on Child-Free Weddings

Sidebar: The Gently Feminist Guidelines for Addressing Wedding Invitations People Are Terrible at RSVPing (Help Them Help You)

Thank-You Notes What to Include in a Wedding Website Sidebar: Hotel Blocks Registries Aren’t About You, Exactly Sidebar: A Note on Giving Gifts Social Media and Weddings

To Share . . . Or Not to Share . . . Is That the Question?

Wedding Vendors and Image Usage Rights Sidebar: Party, Party, Parties!

Chapter 7—In This Hot Outfit, I Thee Wed

APW Basics Wedding Dresses: Scam or Not? Traditional Wedding Dresses

Sidebar: Dresses by the Dollars The Alterations Game Wedding Dress Timelines: Separating Fact from Fiction Sidebar: Bridal Accessories: From Sparkle to Bangle to Pouf Body Image, Sizing, and Wedding Dresses Sidebar: How to Have an Empowering Wedding Dress Shopping Experience When You Wear a Plus Size (or Any Size)

Not All Wedding Dresses Come from Wedding Dress Stores

Major Retailers and (Non-) Wedding Dresses Buying and Selling Used Dresses Vintage Wedding Dresses Sidebar: Things to Keep in Mind When Shopping for a Vintage Wedding Dress Buying a Dress from China

The Perfect Bridesmaid Dress Does Not Exist Traditional Bridesmaid Dresses

When Your Bridesmaids Are All Across the Country . . .

Bridesmaid Dress Alternatives

Sidebar: How to Make Mismatched Outfits Work

Suits, Suits, Suits

Types of Suits, or What to Do with All the Buttons Sidebar: Rental Tuxes and Affordable Suits Buying a Suit That Fits Suit Colors and Fabrics Sidebar: More Casual Groom Style

Androgynous Styling Options, Suits for Women, and Other Gender-Queer Fashion Choices

Chapter 8—Sparkles and Spreadsheets: A Realist’s Guide to Wedding Decor

APW Basics Don’t Plan Your Wedding Backward Get off the Internet and into Your Venue Creating a Decor Plan The Relaxed Color Palette Glitter Fabulous Is Totally a Style You Can’t Do All the Projects (So Pick a Few That Matter) Sidebar: DIY and Decor Management The Big Ugly Space Problem Advice for More Decor Situations

Outdoor Spaces Low-Light Spaces Venues Where You Can’t Attach Things to the Walls

Sidebar: Affordable Decor Materials

Chapter 9—Picking Flowers: Florists, DIY, and When the Bloom Is Off the Ranunculus

APW Basics When to Use a Florist

Finding a Professional Florist Working with a Florist Sidebar: Where to Buy Wedding Flowers

Flower Chart Floral Hacks

DIY Bouquets and No-Big-Deal Centerpieces Floral Consulting and DIY Flowers

DIYing All of Your Wedding Flowers

Chapter 10—Ceremonies, Vows, and Why We’re All Here

APW Basics Pick a Thesis Sidebar: Legal Requirements Putting the Words Together

Pick a Structure Fit In the Fun Stuff Sidebar: A Checklist for Officiating a Ceremony

The Building Blocks of a Wedding Service

Sidebar: Wedding Ceremonies: Many Cultures, Many Ways

Wedding Vows: Engrave Them on Your Heart

To Write or Not to Write Breaking Down Vows into Parts How to Write Your Vows

Interfaith Services: The Basics Sidebar: Religious Wedding Vows Sidebar: Secular Wedding Vows

Chapter 11—Gettin’ It Done

APW Basics Being Laid-Back Requires Advance Planning Once It’s Planned, Pass It Off Sidebar: How Long Is a Wedding? A Wedding Timeline Is a Gift to Your Guests Sidebar: Sample Timelines Sidebar: The Gap Between Religious Ceremonies and Receptions Making a Floor Plan

How Much Space Do You Need?

When to Have a Seating Chart

Escort Cards, Name Cards, and How Seating Assignments Work Creating Your Seating Chart with Minimal Tears

Sidebar: Planning a Wedding Weekend Shuttles, Buses, and Vintage Cars The Wedding Rehearsal The Rehearsal Dinner Getting All the Stuff There, and Back Again Sidebar: Day-Of Emergency Kit The Wedding Planning Binder

Conclusion: From Here to the Stars Appendix

How to Throw a Wedding in a Non-Traditional Space Potential Rental Items Checklist DIY Catering Checklist Potential Floral Item List DIY Flowers Shopping List DIY Bar Alcohol-Buying Calculations DIY Bar Alcohol-Buying Shopping List DIY Bar Setup List Final Site Visit/Venue Walk-Through Checklist Last-Minute Things You Might Have Forgotten (Two Weeks Out) Last-Minute Things You Might Have Forgotten (Night Before) List of Documents to Have in Your Day-Of Binder Sample Spreadsheets Guest List and Seating Chart Budget Venue Search Pack List Important People Vendor List Working Timeline Decor Setup Instructions Find More Resources on APractialWedding.com

Acknowledgments Sources Index About the Author

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