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When we first got engaged, my FI and I quickly booked our reception site as well as the ceremony site (so that we could set the date!) Then we quickly booked our photographer! She kindly warned us that her rates were going up, but if we booked with them ASAP, she would honor her original rates.
Good luck planning!
While my wedding won't be for another year and half, we are looking to get as much done as early as possible as well! Before the one year mark comes around, we plan on having sent our STD, having engagement pictures take, the venue's booked, photographer booked and catering booked. The BIG 3 (venue, photography and catering) all book up early so we wanted to have those asap. Its all the fun stuff that takes time, so have fun with that! Create your own invitations by downloading cool fonts, design a monogram, make a one of a kind cake topper. Teachers are the BEST with this kind of creative stuff 
Check out this website for some really cute DIY ideas http://diyweddingplanner.com/
Hi there!
I am getting married the same weekend. I am locking down vendors, even though people often tell me they don't have a 2010 calendar yet.
The next thing I was thinking of doing is an aisle runner. I'm going to paint our names and the date on one.
I'm also stallking the Knot Trash to Treasure board and the Weddingbee classifieds so I can find nice things at a good price.
Now that you have picked a date, you can also do STDs.
You could start putting together a wedding website if you haven't already.
It's not too early to start thinking about music. You could start compiling a play list. (I've been trying to get my fiance to do this, but he keeps insisting he has a year to get it together.)
Happy planning!
Any and all bookings can be done early. The sooner you start shopping around, the more time you have to find people you love to work with.
On crafty stuff, just depends on you. If you're sure you won't change your mind, anything can be done early. I made my card box pretty early on, cause I wanted to make something and that seemed like a pretty simple way to start. STD's are definitely good to get done early, since they're the first thing that HAS to be done. Invites are good to get a start on too, if you have a guest list worked out. It's a total pain to address the invites, so knowing you can do just a few a night would make it easier. If you're doing any part of the invites yourself, it's nice to have time on that too. Tying god knows how many little ribbons can get old fast. Favors are next on my list.
What other things are you thinking about doing? I'm going to have some kind of wish bowl, and intend to DIY it, and that makes a good thing to get done early. Any OOT bags? That could be a good thing to start on.
It really depends on you. The more things you do early, the more risk that you'll change your mind and wish you'd done something different. But on the other hand, the more you do early, the less you have to worry about later. So do anything you want!
BrlSdQB2kKGrHqUOKjsEvPZQCg1BL0P8qPdSw_.jpg (12.4 KB, 39 downloads) 2 years old
WOW! I love all these bees! In minutes I have so much support and so many ideas! You gals are awesome.
I think I will begin:
-Collecting addresses in a spreadsheet format (tracking them all down will be a task!)
-Finish designing invites and buy envelopes before I print ANYTHING! (I have read all the advice)
-I just emailed a photographer. (I am hoping he can take a picture of us with our dogs for our save the dates)
-I am working on a "survey" for our guestbook where each guest fills in ideas, drawing ect...so I can decorate/find a binder!
-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold">@ Miss. Choc Chip...designing my own cake topper...how have I not even thought about that yet!
-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold">@ soontobemrsc...I also just went on youtube (a great way to hear songs without paying to download) and emailed myself the link to song I want to use so I can start a email to myself and click on the song links when I can't remember what the songs sound like. Here are a few quick favorites already!
*Forever by Ben Harper
*1,2,3,4 by Plain White Ts
* Shes Got a Way About Her by Billy Joel
-I finally decided on inexpensive, cute favors that will double as escort cards...I might as well cut the cardstock for those and buy decorative papers and just not glue them together yet.
-I just signed up for a free wedding website from momentville.com. I can now bug the wedding party about emailing me a photo of them!
**I feel so much better now with everyone say "GO FOR IT!" so I will get my planning on! Woot Woot!
If I can learn how to use my new camera phone I will try to post these sweetest little favors I will be making. I got the idea from a Valentine I received this year made by a child's parent. It has space to write names and table numbers so I can write those up closer to the wedding but have all the paper prepped. If I keep the papers in a tub they won't get dirty or faded!
YOU GIRLS ROCK MY SOCKS! :)
Let's see if this works. There are 5 little kisses inside.
My Fiance laughs at me sometimes for trying to plan things so early, but he knows how Type A I am. (Plus, he won't admit it by my enthusiasm is TOTALLY wearing off on him!)
Also, if you know your bridal party and you want to make something crafty as a thank you for them (or parents) it wouldn't hurt to get started now.
Good luck with the planning, I'll be coming down the aisle just seven days after you. :D
We booked our venue in April to finalize a date and I have:
-save-the-dates ready to be assembled (still need some addresses)
-started making tissue packets: filling glassine envelopes with 2 tissues, adding ribbon and cutting card stock and adding embelishments
- bought my favor boxes
I searched the internet endlessly for DIY ideas for:
-flower girl baskets
-ring bearer pillow
-coasters
I know just what I want and will buy one at a time. I also know where I am getting my napkins and matchbooks from and with what design.
Things I am thinking of DIYing:
-aisle runner
-card box
-guest book/well wishes cards
Whew! Its seems like a lot now that I see it written down!
So far we have:
-Booked vanues
-Booked photographer
-Assembled my guest list (still waiting on FI's)
-Chose wedding party (FI still has to ask some of his side, but they will agree)
-Make appointment to purchase wedding gown (I am really excited about this appt!!)
-Decided to do our own flowers and food
-Created a prototype for our programs (this is WAY early, but who cares)
-Make appt. for e-photos
I'm DIYing:
-Invitations
-Programs
-Flowers
-Food
-Toasting glasses, memorial vase, and sand vase with glass etching
I did a ton of stuff early... then took a nice long break from planning until a few months ago..
1. Venue .... booked and made deposit
2. Person to marry us - booked
3. Music for both ceremony and Dj for reception- booked
4. Photographer - booked
5. Did the guest list - that was hard to do :)
6. Florist - well I am DIYing my flowers but I picked a website to order from and decided on what kind of flowers I wanted..
7. Decorations for ceremony - worked on chair bows for isle chairs, silk flower arrangements, and other decor... all DIY
8. Pre bought invites - supplies and made them myself (made them a week or two before I mailed them out)
9. Bought gifts for attendants and parents - i knew what I wanted to give them, so I just went ahead and bough it...
10. Bakery - I did this just a few months ago (my wedding is in two months.) I figured out what we want and booked - just have to give them the guest count..
I am so glad I spread out the DIY stuff, otherwise that is a lot to do all at once... :)
I've done a lot early too! I'm getting to the point where I'm afraid I will run out of things to plan and start wishing there was more to do.
Here is what we have done so far;
- Booked ceremony/reception menu
- Booked photographer
- Booked quartet for ceremony
- Booked DJ
- Mentally decided on menu, including cake (tasting is in August, I can't wait)
- Scheduled time to meet with officiant
- Started researching and ordering BM gifts (monogrammed totes, jewelry)
- Booked rehearsal dinner
- Purchased BM dresses
- Determined bridal party
- Ordered and sent out STD's
- Wedding website
- Determined guest list
- Ordered invites for the wedding as well as the rehearsal dinner (volume discount)
The big thing I am going to focus on now (hopefully) is getting into better shape - am planning to try dresses on for the first time at the end of June!
Hey,
I am getting married on 03/20/10 too! But I haven't done anything except spend a majority of my dad looking at wedding websites. Looking is much more fun to me than starting. 
I have an appointment for the venue next month. But uhh... looking at what some of the bees have gotten accomplished, I probably should do less looking and more doing. 
I did things kinda reversed
picked venue, picked bridesmaid dresses, bought wedding dress, bought favors, then invitations (had them done early!) and now i've moved onto "trivial" stuff like water bottles and stuff. Do the biggees first as long as you don't change your mind! It's hard to do favors without knowing how many guests. I winged it and i might be lucky
firstdress.jpg (36.1 KB, 62 downloads) 1 year old 
Save some money and work on DIY invitations now. When those are out, you can work on fun little details and DIY ceremony and reception decor.
Get anything done that you can. Do not worry about time. The more you get done now the less you will stress later on. Just don't go and send invitations too far in advance.
I definitely recommend getting all your major vendors figured out ASAP. And then, start figuring out what you want to do for the small details and things like paper products. Plan ahead and you'll be in great shape!
Get as much done whenever you can! Time flies! And don't let anyone say anything because you doing things early either! I had several people tell me something like 'Oh you're getting it done early. Aren't you?' or just simply said they can't take a reservation 'that' early. It might be a characteristic of a small town. But man, I'm trying to plan here! 
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Hello Bees!
This is my very first post even though I have become a weddingbee.com stalker since I found you about a month ago! I am getting married 3/20/10 in Gilroy, California. I have a venue booked with food, dj and ceremony included. I am a busy, poor teacher but crafty too! I am wondering which things are best to do over a year in advance...
Invitations, STDs, favors, ???? What are you working on first???
:)
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