Wedding Planning Ideas: Write Them Down!

We’ve been re-arranging, decorating and cleaning our humble home recently. The blog Apartment Therapy and their guided “January Cure,” (a task-a-day kick start to a year of clutter clearing and nesting activities,) got us going and now we’re off on all sorts of projects and improvements.

When we get on this sort of kick, the ideas start flowing. There was one brilliant idea we were super excited about that was going to revolutionize our space and make our lives easier – but we can’t remember what it was.  During our burst of creativity and inspiration, we neglected to take out pad and pencil, (or Ipad and finger) and write it down. 

Write down how you see your decor, so we can get it just right, like this wedding canopy.
Write down how you see your decor, so we can get it just right, like this wedding canopy.

 

Do not follow our example with your wedding planning light bulb moments!  Write EVERYTHING down that inspires you.  Later on you’ll combine the decor idea from your co-worker’s cousin’s buffet with the recipe you read in Gourmet magazine at the dentist’s office, the classical music you heard driving after admiring a scene in a Bollywood movie with gauzy fabric and a zillion candles.  But it will only come together if you keep paper & a pen (or your favorite way to make notes- Ipad, voice memo, etc)

  • in your desk at work
  • in your purse
  • in the car
  • next to your fave spot to watch TV

Another great (and quite common) source of inspiration? Your dreams.  So don’t forget one more pad by the bed.  Sleep tight.

Live well and love well.

-Dinah

Limit Your Internet Wedding Planning Time! (otherwise you’ll go nutty)

English: iPad picture
English: iPad picture (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have an Ipad.  I love it! I have this great app called Flipboard that pulls together my favorite blogs and websites.  But if I start reading everything, I can get completely lost in happy ipad land, and then all of a sudden an hour later I realize that none of the laundry’s been folded, none of my phone calls have been made and, well, I’ve wasted a whole boatload of time.

It’s not a new problem – getting sucked in to something online.  Facebook? Twitter? Don’t get me started.  But the absolute worst (or is it the best) way to lose yourself online is the whole World Wide Wedding-sphere.  As a bride, I could hardly pull myself away, which was hard because my boss was mean and didn’t care all that much that I was getting married.

So here’s my advice.  Set a timer- no more than 30 minutes at a time. Could be on the computer, your cell phone, or even the plain old kitchen timer on your counter, but it will keep you from falling down the internet wedding rabbit hole.

Live well, and love well.

-Dinah

Bridesmaids & Groomsmen’s Gifts – Avoid Envy!

I’ll never forget a wedding rehearsal dinner I attended where the proud groom beamed as his groomsmen opened their gifts: (then brand-new to the market) ipod shuffles!  I stole a glance at the bride across the room gifting garnet jewelry to her dearest friends, matching the maroon dresses they’d wear the next day. Dresses they’d paid dearly for, and would likely be on their way to Goodwill within 48 hours of the bouquet toss.

Gifts that mean something will touch Bridesmaids more than matchy matchy jewelry.

The groomsmen were gleeful as they  tore open the little boxes from Apple like kids on Christmas morning, and high-fived one another.  The girls sat drinking champagne quietly.  Let this be a lesson, brides. Chances are, your bridesmaids already own lovely jewelry they can wear to your wedding. So what if it isn’t matchy matchy? They’ll all show a bit of personality. That leaves you free to give them something that really reflects how much you care, and is not made of Swarovski crystal. Best of all, you get to see your girls high-fiving at your rehearsal dinner. Christmas morning here we come!

Be well and love well,

-Dinah