Secret Diary of a Wedding Planner

Don't start organising your seating plan too early or you will have to make a multitude of changes. Try to wait until all your guests have responded to the wedding invitation. Equally you don't want to be doing this at the last minute. Try to strike a balance and aim to have your seating plan finalised at least a week before the wedding. Write the names of all your guests on Post-It notes, draw out the table plan on butchers paper and start moving the names around to see what works.

P.S. Give yourself plenty of time - this is not a ten minute task!

Photograph:

Feather + Stone

Inspiration gathered from:

Style Me Pretty | Cecilia Fox | Ruffled | Snippet & Ink | Bespoke Press | Caroline Alexander Photography | 100 Layer Cake | Green Wedding Shoes | Martha Stewart Weddings

If you know a family member or guest who can play a musical instrument well or has a soothing voice ask them to play the music at the ceremony. This way it’s a little more personal and could double as their wedding gift to you.

Photograph:
Todd Hunter McGaw

 

Take note of everyone’s shoe and dress sizes or measurements so that if you find the perfect outfit you can buy it on the spot.

Photograph:
Studio Impressions

I've made no secret of the fact that I've been helping plan my sister's upcoming wedding. Well now that the invitations have been posted and rsvp's are rolling in I can share with you the incredible design that Alischa from Bespoke Press came up with.

They are my favourite to date but I may be a little biased...











Photographs:
Bespoke Letterpress Boutique

 

If flowers are high on your importance list, avoid disappointment by finding out when your favourite type of flowers are season before setting the wedding date. Some flowers are very temperamental and have very short seasons or only bloom in extreme weather conditions so ask your florist for advice...remember they know best!



Photograph:
Antonietta's Photographics

Inspiration gathered from:
Martha Stewart Weddings | Carla Zampatti | Dasha Wright (via Snippet & Ink) | Pico Soriano Designs (via Snippet & Ink) | Amini Concepts

If you’re environmentally conscious have all of your stationary printed on recycled paper and use environmentally friendly inks.



Photograph:
Bespoke Letterpress Boutique

Around this time last year, the fantastic Polka Dot Bride updated their site to include a variety of new pages, providing brides and grooms-to-be with even more useful information and inspiration than you can "polka" stick at! (yes I absolutely just made a lame joke!)

One of the new additions was dedicated to those of us in the industry, Polka Dot Wisdom. Through this page we are able to share any tips and tricks and provide those in the throws of planning their wedding a peak behind the elusive curtain of the wedding industry.

I've been lucky enough to submit a few posts for their loyal followers to enjoy which can be seen at the following links:
Selecting The Perfect Vendors
A Day In The Life Of...Part Une
A Day In The Life Of...Part Deux

Be sure to regularly check in with Polka Dot Wisdom for your share or product launches, inspiration and useful industry knowledge.

Make your ring really shine by cleaning it with a soft baby toothbrush using a drop of morning fresh detergent in lukewarm water.



Photograph:
Antonietta's Photographics