Weddingbee boards

Hi Bees!

So I'm just getting starting on planning everything (hoping for Oct 2010 wedding) and I'm starting to get concerned about handling all of the planning with my full-time job. I don't have a very flexible job - it's pretty corporate and there's no such thing as "long lunches" and "personal time off." I have very little vacation and sick time and I can't even really use the internet while at work (the horrors!) How did you all handle it? Mostly weekend planning? I'm also a little stressed because my wedding will be in Northern California (I live in Southern California). Luckily, both sets of parents live where we're getting married so they've offered to help out a lot. We'll be taking a lot of weekend trips up North! So what are your time saving tips or planning suggestions? Use lunch breaks?

**Editing to say - I am so thankful to still HAVE my job - we've had mass layoffs and I somehow made it through. So, I don't want anyone to think I'm whining about having to work, because I am grateful to be employed in this very rough and rocky economy! 

i'm working full time (tho i'll admit i had a break in my work schedule during the month when I got the bulk of it done). that said, i could have done that in less than a month if I didn't have the time:

a) troll for online local resources - the knot, locally published wedding magazines, etc for vendor referrals

b) assess what works for you / doesn't based on their website. send them email requests if necessary w/ questions that you have. you'll get a pretty good sense who you want to work with based on their responses (e.g. if they take a week to respond, do you really want to deal w/ that all through your planning?)

c) if there are vendors you know and trust, just go with them. no point spending the extra time looking for others. i did that for my cake (local bakery that i love, hair (my regular hairstylist).

d) figure out what's important to you and focus on those details. the rest - outsource!

don't forget: the mr can help out too! after all it's his wedding as well!

Yeah I work full-time and am just starting with the planning process. I'm also considering getting a second part-time job for supplement income. Am I crazy?

I'm working full-time AND I'm a full-time student in the evenings & weekends!

Ah! This helps so much to read all of these responses! So It IS possible! hehe.

It's actually interesting.. I was planning on starting grad school in January, but I got a letter yesterday informing me that the program has been closed for the spring semester due to budget cuts. I'm disappointed, but part of me thinks it was fate's way of saying - "woah lady, start grad school a little later!". I was sort of planning on finding a pt gig and going to school, but now I can stay at my job longer and make/save more money, and devote more time to planning this big old party!

So you all are my heroes!! Thanks for the reassurance.. and we all rock!

Yup, I started a new job an hour away from my house right after getting engaged so I'm working full time with 10 hours of commuting each week and since I won't have enough vacation time for the wedding/honeymoon, I'm also trying to work extra hours to earn "credit hours".  My FH has a very flexible schedule (the benefit of being on call 24/7) and so he has been extremely helpful through the wedding process.  He worked from home when I had my "test bunch" of flowers delievered, and he is more available to talk to people during business hours.

I should have written all of that in past tense though, because it has all paid off and tomorrow will be my last day of work before the wedding and I'll be off for almost 3 FULL WEEKS!!  

Hi SweatheartDealer,

I work full time as a nurse. I live in Texas, we are planning our wedding for September 2010 (hopefully) but the wedding is going to be in MN. Talk about hard to plan a wedding with little vacation time. Hang in there, you'll do just fine!! :)

Wow! This is amazing - it really sounds like the majority of bees are full-time gals, and lots of us are doing the student thing too. What awesome, accomplished women we are!! Thank you everybody for all of the tips!

I'm actually changing careers too, and I justify all this by saying I can't put off my life by planning one day.  It's an important day which is why we're doing the long engagement thing (2 years + 3 months).

I booked a lot of things in the summer and over breaks, and when necessary scheduled meetings during the semester when I didn't have class.  Right now I'm just about done with vendors, but I've worked on a lot of DIY this summer.  Some people make fun of me for planning so early but I don't want the stress while I"m concentrating on school.  My advice is to start early so you won't be stressed near the end.  Plan a long engagement so you have plenty of time to plan and save.  Don't pick a popular "trendy" date like I did.  My biggest stress so far has been locking vendors in early because they book up so fast for my popular date (10/10/10).  I didn't really have the luxury of time that I wish I did.

And seriously...involve your fiance in the planning (if he wants to of course).  It's his wedding too and he wants to see himself reflected in the wedding, not just you.  The only vendors I've booked without my FI there were the florist (he said "no pink" and let me on my way), and my hair/makeup.  He has also given his opinion on every aspect of the wedding so far and I really value his input (most of the time).  Sometimes annoying too :)  If you get stressed or frazzled from work, ask for his help...I'm sure he'll be happy to help if it makes you less stressed out!