Dear The Bridal Guru,
Our daughter is finally engaged and they have picked a date: October 15, 2016. The wedding is more than a year away. So my question to you is when can I start planning her wedding? How soon is too soon?
Excited Mother
Dear Excited Mother,
It’s hard to say, how soon is too soon because it depends on the time span between the engagement and wedding. It appears you have about 16 months. My recommendation is to starting planning now. October has become almost as popular as June. So go ahead and get the major players out of the way, meaning booked. Book all the venues you will need: ceremony, reception, even rehearsal dinner. Book your caterer, coordinator, florist, event designer, photographer and videographer. You may want to speak with your cake people as well. Some only do a limited number of cakes each week. Start looking at wedding gowns. It takes nine to twelve months depending on the design and designer to get your daughter’s wedding gown. You need to allow time for alterations. And factor in time if you want a bridal portrait of your daughter in her gown before the wedding.
Later, closer to the wedding, you can choose the food, the cake flavor, flowers, guest favors, and so on. Just book the wedding professionals you need now for that popular date. Don’t wait too, too long with the colors as they will probably affect the choice of the bridesmaids’ dresses which must be ordered well in advance.
One easy way to find the best and most reliable wedding professionals near you is to look at local bridal magazines, like Premier Bride of Mississippi or a Premier Bride magazine in your area. Check out their websites, too: www.premierbridems.com where you find out more about these many wedding professionals.
The more you can do now, the less stress you will have later. That means you and your daughter can both enjoy the planning process together and her wedding. It’s a special time for you both. Cherish it!
The Bridal Guru
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For wedding professionals near you, check out www.premierbride.com
Alabama brides, go to www.pbalabama.com.
New Orleans brides, go to www.pbneworleans.com