Time Saving Wedding Tips - Wedding Article

Today's Brides Don't Have to Wave A Magic Wand...
Time Saving Tips for Planning a Wedding

Most of us grew up knowing the fairy-tale story of Cinderella. A poor girl destined to do the dirty work of her evil step-mom and step-sisters, until her fairy-godmother rescued her. Of course the story ends with Cinderella finding true love with her prince and ....they live happily ever after.

Well, move over Cinderella, there's a new bride in town! Today's bride is not simply sitting around, waiting for her fairy godmother to find her. She is out searching for her own fairy-tale wedding, trading fairy godmothers for wedding planners and magic wands for the Internet. In fact, when you think about it, it is difficult to figure out just how Cinderella planned the perfect wedding without the tools available to the modern day bride.

Brides today are faced with planning a wedding within their already hectic schedules. There are many time-saving options for busy brides, although considerations such as personal preferences can determine if these time-savers are right for you.

The Bridal Show:
Local bridal shows can be the best inspiration for the bride who is
beginning to plan. Many new resources can be found while wandering the aisles of the show. Don't forget to wear 'comfy' shoes and bring friendly support to help collect all the information and 'free stuff' that you will be given.

Websites:
After attending a few bridal shows, put up your feet and relax. Take
advantage of the information you collected at the shows and preview
businesses from the comfort of your own home. You can see what the business has to offer: find pricing, see portfolios of work, and read testimonials, without leaving home! Sometimes you can choose wedding professionals just from their site, or eliminate some businesses that do not offer what you need.

The Internet:
While you have probably found your local businesses at the bridal show, the internet can still provide inspiration. 'Surf the net' for specific ideas or see what brides are doing in other cities, provinces, or countries! There are many sites for brides to "chat" on-line or post questions and advice on "bulletin boards".

Multi-tasking Service Providers:
Find service providers that offer several services within one location. For example, think of choosing a photographer that also offers videography. By booking this business you eliminate the need to look for two separate service providers and will probably save money by purchasing a 'package deal'.

Other examples:
1 - Bridal Salons that offer a selection of flower girl, bridesmaids, and
mother of the bride dresses, shoes, and jewelry.
2 - Caterers that also create wedding cakes.
3 - Decorators that set-up and remove the decorations for you.

E-mail correspondence:
Find wedding professionals who are willing to use e-mail after your initial booking or purchase has been finalized. Although playing 'phone tag' can be amusing, e-mails can be a more efficient and effective way to communicate for the bride on the go. If using e-mail as your primary way of communicating, ask how long it typically takes the business to respond. Please remember, however, that any immediate response, critical messages, or last minute changes should always be discussed in person with the service provider.

Your Bridal Party: What are friends for?
All to often, the busy bride searching for the fairytale wedding forgets
about her most important resource....friends! They all want to help you on your quest for the perfect day, so let them! Make a list of things that need to be done (but not necessarily by you) and delegate! Your bridal party can help make phone calls, prepare invitations, run errands, or can just 'be there' when you need them.

Location, Location, Location:
Consider choosing wedding professionals that are located near each other. Then you can book back-to-back appointments. This will not only save you time and energy (appointments can be made on the same day, freeing up days to relax!), but money (gas, parking) too!

Referrals:
Don't be afraid to ask your recently married friends which businesses they used. Sharing tips on excellent service providers does not mean your weddings will be the same. Rather, it gives you piece of mind that everything will run smoothly on your special day. Professionals in the wedding industry should be able to provide you with testimonials from their happy clients, along with a portfolio or samples of their work.

The Wedding Planner:
For the bride that truly has no time to research her own wedding, the
wedding planner has become a popular choice. A planner will get to know you and then match your style to service providers that they work with. Although wedding planners can organize and plan your wedding for you, be prepared to pay for this time-saving option. Today's bride has many options when planning her wedding. Modern conveniences are allowing brides to access information quickly and easily, while services and products are becoming more varied as new businesses appear. Whether you are the modern day Cinderella on the quest for a fairy tale wedding, or you are looking for something a little less dramatic, the above time saving tips should help you manage your time as you plan your dream wedding!