Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/706995
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 JULY 2016 VIII Event Planning Your wedding checklist There's a ring on your finger. Now what? Read on: Perfect planning starts here. MAKE the announcement: Some couples just don't feel right if anyone knows their big news before their parents and other close family members do. If possible, tell both sets of folks in person. If your parents don't live nearby, put in a special phone call. Delve into dreams: Sit down with your fiancé and talk ideas. Think about the style you'd like, whether it's a beach bash, a sit-down dinner in a ballroom or a ceremony on a mountaintop. No talk of money. Yet. Rough out the timing: While you don't have to set a firm date now, it's smart to have an idea of what month or season you want to marry in. Then you'll know how long you have to get things organized. Because your wedding's size determines where you'll hold the party, how much it will cost (prices usually rise per guest) and whether travel will be in- volved, creating a guest list is one of the most important things to do. So make your list; your fiancé and both families should do the same. You can, and likely will, cut later, but this first number will be your base. Now talk money: It's rare these days that the bride's parents pick up the whole bill, so decide on your bottom line. Find out from both sets of parents if or how much they can contribute. Get organized: Buy a notebook and sepa- rate it into sections for each budget category. This way you can write down the amount you want to spend on the item and then note your expenditures. As you near your limits, you can start to figure out ways to cut costs. Finding Your Venue Ceremony who and where: Plan at least eight months ahead: Malta's main wedding venues can be booked years in advanced on those special days. Sundays will be cheaper than Saturday evenings. Think again about those wedding dreams, and see how they mesh with reality. Perhaps you envision an outdoor garden. Fine, but what if you can't find just the right place or the weather is an issue? A historic home can be very expensive to rent. Check bridal magazines. Then start scheduling visits. Hiring Your Vendors Photographer and videographer: The best ones usually book weddings many months in advance, so get on this one early. Get recommendations from friends, then research what kinds of shots you'd like to see – for- mal portraits and dancing shots or a candid, journalistic format. Always ask to see other wedding albums the pro has done. Quick tip: Not sure what kind of album you want? Look for photographers with a looser style and many package choices on offer. You don't have to make up your mind right away. After the wedding, you may even want to get creative and make your own album. Musicians: Arrange to hear musicians perform before you sign them on. Make sure they agree to stick to the playlist you give them. Find out how they will dress and how many breaks they will take. Hiring a deejay is usually less expensive than a live band, but not always. Flowers and décor: Once you have your reception site booked, you can decide on table arrangements and other decorations. A hotel ballroom might be a relatively blank slate. Ask your florist to incorporate tons of greenery to make fewer flowers look like a lot more. Caterer: You want to know how dishes will taste and look and how flexible the caterer is with menus and prices. Don't be afraid to bargain; you can cut costs by limiting the number and kinds of hors d'oeuvres served at cocktail hour. Buying Your Gown Erase the emotion. If you were the girl who pinned towels in her hair to play bride, you may need extra help with this step. Pulling the emotion out of the event and remaining level- headed as you shop for your dress will help you stay within the bounds of both budget and practicality. If it helps, bring your mum and a down-to-earth pal along with you. Know what kind of shopper you are. Some brides relish the hunt for the ideal dress, and happily book a number of appointments at bridal salons. They like having a salesperson who offers ideas and selects gown styles for them. Others would really love to just slip into a specialty boutique and find their dress hang- ing there on the rack. Don't second-guess yourself. Think you've found The One? Then you probably have. Look no further – and relax. It's not strictly necessary to know wedding place and time details before you shop. Don't forget to have the groom rent formalwear for himself and his groomsmen. Invitations When you pay a caterer by the head, every guest is a ka-ching on the total bill—not just for the food and drink, but also for tips and taxes, which rise accordingly. Here are some ways to keep the list under control: • Don't invite the whole office—either just ask your boss and your closest friends at work or no one at all. • Don't dig into your old address book for blasts from the past; stick to those people you see regularly. • Rein in parents. They can invite their friends, but they don't have to ask the garden club and the tennis buddies and the former neighbours. Your invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks before the big day, so work back- ward from there to be sure you order in time. The basic invite announces the hosts of the wedding (whether that's the two of you, your parents or a combination) and the place and time of the ceremony. It may include a card that gives the reception details, a reply card and envelope. Have a sample of the invite in hand before deciding to use it – and proof- read! Never include registry information with your invitation.