You’re getting married next summer. Think it’s a little early to plan your perfect wedding? Think again. Venues and caterers are already booking up.

But before you charge out to book a hall, order flowers and create the ultimate in wedding menus, we suggest you sit down, take a deep breath and look at the bigger picture.

Ask yourself what is important to you. That requires you to look honestly at your intended and yourself and determine the expectations you both will have from the day. Should it be formal? Religious? Infuse heritage and culture? Involve family? Only when you determine what you want out of the day can you even start to plan your perfect wedding.

And plan is the operative word.

While it might not sound wildly romantic, think of planning the perfect wedding as if it were a work project that you are overseeing. Set specific deadlines, schedules, timetables, goals, and divide the tasks. Breaking everything down into smaller jobs will make everything less overwhelming and much more manageable.

To plan your perfect wedding, you are going to need nerves of steel and anywhere from 9 – 12 months of preparation time.  Remember, you’re on a timetable and you’ll need to stick to it.

Yes, there’s a lot to do. But if the two of you plan it together, you’ll both learn how well you work as a team on a big project. And sharing and working together on something this important is actually indicative of your future happiness. There will be give and take, and you’ll hit some snags, but it will also be one of the greatest experiences of both your lives. And if things get too overwhelming, you can always consider hiring a wedding planner. A wedding planner can be your best friend. Not only will a wedding planner relive you both of some of the stress but they can save you time and money.

Here’s a look at what you’ll need to do to plan your perfect wedding starting now.  

9 – 12 Months before Your Perfect Wedding Day

Up first: choose your wedding date. Whether you plan to be married in a church, temple, pagoda, at home, etc., make sure you clear the date and time with your clergy.

Announce your engagement in local newspapers.

Set a realistic budget. Take the time to talk with your fiancé (and your parents if they’re paying) about the budget and style of your wedding, reception and wedding-related parties, and who pays for what.

Enlist help. Consider hiring a wedding planner. If your budget won’t stretch that far, consult with one for an hour or two and get some much needed advice and guidance. Then ask relatives and close friends to assist you in specific tasks – choosing the band, interviewing caterers, locating a reception site – look for guidance from them in areas where you feel you really need support.

Compose your guest list. Plan to send Save the Date cards or emails to let out-of-town guests know your wedding is in the works so they can make travel plans.

Reserve your reception site.

Choose your wedding attendants.

Select your wedding gown, shoes and accessories.

Decide on bridesmaids dresses and choose your color scheme.

Determine the theme or mood that you‘d like to establish with the food, table settings, flowers and entertainment at your reception.

Interview caterers, musicians, florists, photographers, videographers and bakers. Get written estimates of their costs. Keep records of your discussions and their bids in a notebook or with wedding planning software.

6 Months before Your Perfect Wedding Day

It’s time to choose your caterer. Remember to get a written contract.

It’s also time to choose your musicians. Once again, remember to get a written contract.

Book your photographer and videographer. We’ll say it again; remember to get a written contract. 

Select your baker and order the cake.

Choose your florist.

Shop for wedding rings with your fiancé.

Decide on your honeymoon destination. Work with a travel agent to book your travel and accommodations.

Select your wedding invitations.

4 Months before Your Perfect Wedding Day

Register for gifts at one or more bridal-gift registries.

Help both mothers to coordinate and shop for their wedding-day attire. Make the most of the day and take them to lunch.

Select music for your ceremony and reception.

Choose readings for your wedding and write your wedding vows.

Plan a rehearsal dinner for members of your wedding party, your family, and out-of-town guests. Reserve the location.

Make appointments for gown fittings.

Check the requirements for a marriage license.

Reserve your wedding-day transportation and any other wedding-day rental needs.

Make sure contracts and arrangements are complete with all of your service providers.

Make appointments for a hairdresser and makeup artist for the big day.

Arrange hotel accommodations for members of the wedding party who live out of town.
Reserve a block of rooms for other out-of-town guests, and let them know the rooms are available. Remember to ask for any group discounts or special packages.

Carefully prepare directions, including simply drawn maps, if necessary, to help guide guests to the wedding and reception, and to hotels. For guests who will travel a long distance to your wedding, consider assembling an information package on fun things to do and see while in town.

Begin addressing invitations and announcements.  Invitations should go in the mail six to eight weeks before your big day.

Give the caterer or other food suppliers a close idea of the number of guests you expect.

Make sure all reservations are in place for honeymoon travel.

Select your “going away” outfit and special items for your trousseau.

Check with bridesmaids to make sure they have their gowns and are getting them adjusted.

Shop for gifts for your bridesmaids.

Offer to help your fiancé select gifts for his attendants.

Make a date with your photographer for any formal portraits you desire.

Make an appointment to have your hair done just before your portrait session and again the day or so before your wedding. Consider including your bridesmaids in a “day of beauty” before your wedding, with manicures, hair styling, massages and makeup sessions.

2 Months before Your Perfect Wedding Day

Mail out your wedding invitations and announcements.

Have wedding portraits taken.

Send bridal portrait and wedding announcement to newspapers for publication.

Make your final choices on the music that will be played during your wedding ceremony.

Meet with the musicians who will provide entertainment during your reception and let them know what you want and when you want it played. Remember those nerves of steel and don’t be shy to voice your preferences, from everything to the volume, favorite songs you’d like to hear and even songs you don’t want to be played.

Plan your rehearsal dinner and a brunch or fun activity for out-of-town guests to enjoy on the day following your wedding.

Purchase special accessories for your wedding-day attire.

Plan a luncheon for your bridesmaids.

Finalize honeymoon plans. If you’re traveling overseas be sure to double check that your passports are current and that you have any and all necessary visas.

Gather necessary birth or baptismal certificates you may need for your wedding license.

1 Month before Your Perfect Wedding Day

Get your wedding license.

Have a final fitting of your gown and make sure your attendants have theirs.

Check that your menu selections and service plans are locked in place with your caterer.

Purchase a special book to keep track of wedding gifts as they arrive.

Keep writing those thank-you notes on a daily basis!

If you plan a formal dinner for your reception, it s time to draw up a seating plan and make up place cards.

Check with your florist to confirm dates and times of flower deliveries.

Review your wedding-day transportation plans and make sure drivers are clear about addresses, times and number of passengers.

Make name or address changes official on documents, including driver s license, Social Security forms and financial accounts.

Meet with your photographer to specify the formal shots you want taken of the bridal party, as well as specific, candid shots you d like taken during the reception.

Review the video plans with your videographer.

2 Weeks Before Your Perfect Wedding

Keep writing those thank-you notes for wedding gifts!

Pick up your wedding rings. Make sure any special engraving appears precisely as you wished.

Begin packing for the honeymoon.

One Week before Your Perfect Wedding

Make final checks with all your vendors: musicians, florist, photographer, videographer, limousine, service, caterers and baker.

Ask a friend or a family member to arrange for wedding gifts that may be brought to your reception to be delivered to your home or another safe spot.

Wrap gifts for bridal attendants and have them ready for the rehearsal dinner.

Purchase  travelers checks and reconfirm honeymoon travel and hotel plans.

See that checks are written and ready to be handed out to vendors at the agreed-upon time.

Inform your caterer of the final number of guests. Confirm that out-of-town guests are set with hotel accommodations, transportation and wedding-day directions.

The Day before Your Perfect Wedding Day

Take time to relax and enjoy a massage, manicure and pedicure.

Traditionally, this is your day for rehearsal ceremony and rehearsal dinner.

Have fun!

Turn in early for a good night’s sleep.

Your Perfect Wedding Day

Allow plenty of time for dressing, makeup and hairstyling.

If you plan on photography before the ceremony, allow ample time so you’re not rushed.

Relax, breathe, and remember: This is your special day, the result of all your careful planning. Now it’s time to enjoy.

Refuse to let any glitch get to you. Savor every moment of this sacred day. Let your happiness shine through and have a perfectly wonderful wedding day!

Planning a wedding is a lot like buying a house. You do the research, crunch the numbers, think ahead – and you put the best possible team around yourself to help you get exactly what you want. When wedding disasters happen, it usually comes down to poor planning. And many smart, capable couples just plain and simple don’t think through some of the basic details that will make or break their wedding. That’s what a planner is for.

We want every couple to have a happy wedding. So for everyone out there who may be getting married, and is trying to do it on their own, here are some common wedding pitfalls you can absolutely avoid with careful planning.

1. Nothing is as it was supposed to be. You talked to the caterer a hundred times, the florist at least a dozen, and you thought the person in charge of the reception hall was practically your new best friend. How on earth did they get it so terribly wrong? Like everything, the devil is in the details – and it all starts with the contract. Make sure you have signed contracts with all of your service providers and all of their deliverables, estimates and costs in writing. Know your rights when it comes to your service providers – and read every contract carefully before signing.

2. The Wedding doesn’t fit the Couple. Plan your wedding for who you are, not who you wish you were. Some brides get so caught up in the romance of it all, for example, they choose gowns that are right for someone else, but not them. Or they have gowns altered well in advance of the wedding hoping they will be a size they haven’t been since grade school. Or they choose menus that sound good – but won’t be enjoyed by them or their guests. Your wedding will be perfect if it reflects the “you” that your friends and family love.

3. The Wedding doesn’t Happen. Yup, a wedding not happening actually happens. The most common reasons? Well, some are obvious, like one party or the other changing their minds. But there are other  reasons why weddings get cancelled on the day. Like the bride, groom or a witness showing up drunk. Doesn’t seem like too big of a big deal? It is. By law, marriage commissioners and members of the clergy cannot allow the marriage to proceed.   And don’t forget to get your marriage license in advance of your wedding. You will need the proper ID, including a copy of your birth certificate and a certificate of divorce if it applies. No marriage license, no marriage.

4. The Attack of Bridezilla. She is not mythical. She exists and is known to frequent Last Minute Land. It’s a terrible place where seating plans, music lists and speeches don’t materialize until, yup, you guessed it,   the last minute, if at all. She often forgets to pre-book her decorator, meaning her family is busy decorating on the day instead of enjoying their time together. She also sometimes has such high expectations of the day that nothing short of actual unicorns descending from the heavens could meet them. But all Bridezillas disappear at the first sign of relaxation and genuine enjoyment of the day, no matter what is going on or wrong.  Guests won’t remember the little things that weren’t perfect. They will, however, remember it as flawless if the bride is gracious, having a good time, and ensuring her guests are well cared for.

5. Couples lose at Weather Roulette. Some couples hold outdoor weddings but forget to make any kind of weather contingency. Did you know that in Calgary, June is the rainiest month?  Far too many couples learn that the hard way. Make sure you have tents and everything you need for a flawless back up plan if the weather turns against you. And if it does rain, know this: superstition says rain on your wedding day is good luck. Imagine what kind of luck you’ll have if it snows. And yes, in Calgary, it can snow in June.

There’s no question, a wedding is a lot of work. But it’s worth it. And if you can avoid the more common pitfalls, you’re on your way to a wedding day that will bring you many happy memories throughout the years.

Many eco-conscious couples are opting for green weddings, reflecting their love for each other and for this beautiful blue planet we call earth. A green wedding is a statement about who you are and the values you will share as a couple. A green wedding can also add thoughtful, even unexpected touches, some of which will save you money, and all of which will delight your guests.   Here are a few tips to get you started.

Wedding Gowns – A vintage gown isn’t for every bride – but it’s a great option for some. Haute Couture from a bygone era can add an added layer of romance or fun and at a price you can afford. It is possible to find designer gowns in virtually pristine condition at a fraction of the cost for which they retailed. Check upscale vintage shops – but before you do, you might want to start even closer to home. There may even be a family heirloom dress that can be made into something that reflects both beautiful you and the women of your family or his.

Prefer a new gown? Think about styles that can be used again or easily altered for other functions.  Colours other than white are becoming more and more popular, and choosing eco-friendly fabrics like silk keep you environmentally friendly.  If you’d like to keep your dress as a wedding dress, make sure it’s cared for and stored properly after use so you may pass it down to other women in your family or close circle who might treasure it as you have.

Invitations: Use invitations on recycled paper that are processed without chlorine and encourage guests to recycle them.  Consider using a soya based or water-based ink and instead of an envelope, use a reply postcard instead.  Some couples are going high tech, creating a website with wedding details such as directions, hotels, etc., to lessen their printing needs. For a truly unique and sublimely environmental green wedding option, check out Canadian company Botanical PaperWorks.  Your guests will remember your wedding with seed-embedded plantable wedding invitations printed on 100% post-consumer waste that burst into wild flowers when the invitation is planted.

Wedding Registry – Want the gifts you receive to do some good in the world? Search out environmentally friendly retail options, like cooking.com. They will donate a percentage of sales for wedding registries to your charity of choice at no additional cost to you or your guests.  The I Do Foundation also has additional great ideas like Wedding Favors for Charity.

Confetti – Lots of people don’t even bother with it – churches and other venues often don’t even allow it. But if you do want confetti, Botanical Paperworks also has plantable confetti that is available in assorted colours and shapes.  Beautiful all the way around.

A Sustainable Menu –Select a catering company that will provide you the option of organic, seasonal, locally grown food.   Wines of Canada provides information on organic wines that are available in Canada.  Serving seafood? Go for wild and non-endangered species.  If there are any leftovers, consider donating these to a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Insist on a caterer who uses chafing dishes, recycles aggressively and who can prepare and serve your catering without disposable materials.

Flowers – Ask your wedding event planner or florist to source a local wildflower grower to create bouquets and table arrangements.  You might even consider edible, organic flowers such as nasturtiums, orange blossoms, lavender, roses, jasmine, hibiscus or honeysuckle for bouquets and centrepieces.  Ensure, of course, there are no pesticides before you encourage your guests to chow down on the decor!

Energy Conservation – Conserve power by planning an outdoor wedding. But you’re having an evening wedding, you say?…no problem.  Create a beautiful and dreamy atmosphere using lots of candles.  Candles made of soy and citronella are earth-friendly and ultra romantic.

Photos & Video — Go digital.  Digital photos are enviro friendly and easy to share. Also share your special day with everyone by uploading your wedding video to YouTube.  What about those who can’t make it to your earth friendly wedding?  Or perhaps you have decided on a small wedding.  Consider sharing your wedding day as it happens with a wedding webcast — the ultimate green wedding!  LiveStream or ustream.tv are two webcast services that will let all your friends and family who can’t be there to participate in the celebration.

Honeymoon – Travel Green Hotels Canada and GreenHotels.com in the U.S. have great options for eco-friendly hotels.  And while you’re at it, don’t forget the carbon offset options when flying.

It takes a little bit more planning to have a green wedding, but all of the unique and memorable touches will make your day that much more special for you and your guests. A green wedding can be as chic, sophisticated, homey, or romantic as you’d like it to be – and it’s a great way to kick off your new life together.

When bad weddings happen to good brides, it often comes down to the wedding planning. Many brides vastly underestimate the time it will take to plan and execute their wedding, which can lead to all kinds of stress, conflict, and additional costs. In fact, the average bride spends thirty hours a week on wedding planning – that’s almost like having a second full time job!

Many, of course, hire professionals who can handle the wedding planning, taking the pressure off of the bride. For those thinking of going it alone, here are five things every successful wedding planner does and every bride must do – and do well – to plan the perfect wedding:

Organize – The perfect wedding starts with a detailed project plan. Look at the wedding date and work back to understand what has to happen when. There are two things that are invaluable to planning the perfect wedding: a wedding information binder and a tickler file.

The wedding information binder is sometimes called a “wedding bible” because it contains copies of all pertinent information, including contracts, lists and contacts. It may have a variety of other tabs as well, and should include tabs for all important elements, including the cake, wedding dress, catering options, and all other potential contractors, like possible photographers, videographers, makeup artists etc.

A tickler file contains date-stamped folders in which important, time-specific items requiring action are kept. Those items might include to-do lists, invoices, bills, etc.

Multi-task – There are an astonishing number of details that need to be coordinated during the wedding planning process, many of which must progress at the same time. Inevitably, for whatever reason, there are always undesirable tasks on any list. They must be done, however, and there are ways of ensuring things stay on track.

One is to set aside a specific amount of time per day and another is to set specific goals for the day or for the week. Try accomplishing one easier thing before tackling something harder or more stressful. And don’t forget to delegate where possible.

Build the right team – Brides who plan their weddings themselves will need the help of their wedding parties in ways brides who will have a wedding planning professional simply will not. Many brides put dear friends with no planning or organizational skills in charge of their weddings – and that is a mistake that harms both the wedding and can even end friendship.

Brides who are planning their own weddings must choose friends for their wedding parties who don’t mind working. Close friends who won’t want to work may not be the right fit for this particular honour.

Communicate Clearly – Excellent communication skills are a huge asset in wedding planning. Ensuring everyone is on the same page at the same time is absolutely vital. Never be afraid to ask a “dumb” question. If something isn’t clear, keep asking questions until it is. Never assume anything and ensure everything is confirmed in writing.

It is more likely than not that members of the wedding team (including the wedding party) are not in the same location and do not have access to one key file. There are, however, online time and task management services that brides can use to keep everyone easily updated, most paid, some free. CreativePro Office is one example of a great, free online tool that will allow brides to assign tasks to her wedding party and keep track of project updates.

Remain Calm — Things happen. Flights get delayed, people get sick, mistakes get made. The trick is to have contingency plans for everything, and have good people in the wedding party who can step in to help if and when things go wrong. Don’t panic and listen calmly to everything being said and engage others in thinking about the best possible solutions to the issue at hand.

It is absolutely possible to pull off the perfect wedding without a wedding planning professional’s help. Some weddings can be planned in fewer than one hundred hours but most require more – sometimes many more — hours.

Just remember to build in lots of extra time, dust off every possible organizational skill, enlist the help of the wedding party and expect the unexpected. Everyone will remember the event as perfect if the bride remains gracious, no matter what goes wrong.