Inexperienced and In Charge

Date twins! I got The Knot wedding binder and it helped a TON. It has a lot more detail than the WeddingWire checklist and helped me make sure I'd thought of everything. I also love paper so I was able to print out all the contracts and have them in one place.

I think it helps me mentally to actually check something off the list or take out pages that do not matter. I've started making packing lists and checklists for each day leading up to the wedding (destination-ish wedding so everything has to make it to NY from MI).

I'm SO excited but also so nervous. We still have to figure out suits, wedding rings, and I need to get my dress altered. I need to DIY my decor soon too but my invitations come in tonight. It's getting real!

I use a graphic lined journal in bullet journaling style. I also use wedding wire as a check list but have been told the knot has a really good check list. I’ll toss everything in a “brain dump” on one page and then reorganize it on the next.


I’m also dorky and use stickers, washi tape, and colored pens.

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I am loving all the forums here on WW! So helpful! I'm going to get a wedding binder to help stay feel more organized on paper, instead of having a whole Google Drive full of different documents.

Well, I appreciate you taking your semi-pro advice and helping all us clueless brides on here! The more help, the better!

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I do have a bridal party that I'm very close to Unfortunately, two of them are going to two different colleges far away and are very busy with schoolwork and jobs, and the other one works two jobs and is currently very stressed about some of her life stuff, so I don't want to add anything to all of their plates. I know they would be happy to help, but I also want to be considerate of their time. They are helping out lots by sending feedback through our group chat on some of the decisions I'm making

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These are really smart and helpful tips! Thank you so much, Leslie. It's smart to keep track of all the payment stuff, as well. I will definitely be consolidating all that information.

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Date twins!!!

I read the first two sentences of your post and immediately went to Amazon and got the Knot binder! If I would've known it existed sooner, I would've been all about that! Thank you so much for opening my eyes lol.

We finally got his suit last weekend, but we still need to figure out groomsmen, wedding rings, a videographer, and a lot of the other nitty gritties. Every time I think about the planning, part of me wants those 99 days to go slower (although most of the time I'm upset that it isn't here already )

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I am in looove with your journal. I have a severe weakness for journals... I'm not allowed in the office section of stores because I always end up buying a bunch of journals that I never fill. I like the "brain dump" concept, because sometimes that's really all my mind can handle. Thanks for your help!

What’s helped me a lot were Jamie wolfers videos on YouTube!

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This was the book I got : Here I also like the way it feels on the outside. I bought one similar from Target and the outside felt weird.

I'm the same way with office supplies and journals that I never fill 100% I actively try out all different types of things and this seems to work the best. When I find something that works, I fill the book with no problem. That's where the graph paper seems to stand out for me.

Happy to help, let me know if I can do more!

Where is your FI in all this? It's his wedding, too, so he should be doing half the planning. And I don't mean things like going to tastings after you have set them up. I mean he should take charge of certain aspects of the wedding so that you don't have to worry about them at all.

I opted out for a wedding planner since Im a little more hands on and like the details of everything. The checklist on weddingwire helps alot. I’ve also hired a decorator who’s very experienced and has given me sound advice and insight things. As many others have stated, get a binder keep track of all of your contracts, deposits, payments and deadlines etc. I also have an excel sheet that I have formatted for my totals and information regarding my vendors so my day of coordinator will have all of the information consolidated. Do the best you can and tackle a little at a time. You got this!

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This is only so helpful though haha. I mean some guys are not as great at planning. I know my FH just does not care about some things. But I've put him in charge of his own ring, communicating with the groomsmen, working with his parents, and finding the suits for the guys. He also mans the budget and makes sure we are on track. Just because the guy isn't at the front of planning doesn't mean he isn't helping. My FH definitely has to calm me down from my freak outs on occasion. That deserves a gold medal alone!

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I'm glad I could help! I actually got mine last May (we got engaged in October) but I felt like it gave me my marching orders.

Yup, I'm getting ready for all the little things I need to remember. I'm going to go on Pinterest or look for blogs that talk about what they wish they had had the day of. Like for my brother's wedding, they didn't have enough pairs of scissors when trying to decorate. Or making sure we have our clothes in a different bag for when we leave for the hotel. Those kinds of things are where I'm thinking I'll miss something!

And honestly, if you need someone to talk to, let me know! I'm planning most of this myself and have never attempted anything to this scale before. You've got this!!

Hi! My mom is uninterested in wedding stuff because she wanted me to elope and I recently moved to a new city for work so I don't know anyone within a few hundred mile radius. I've probably been to 5 weddings in my lifetime so I also don't feel like I'm too experienced in this department. I've made an excel spreadsheet and listed all vendors that are needed. Once I book them, I notate the cost and cross it off my list. Within my spreadsheet, I've listed every single expense for the wedding, whether its $5 or $5000, so I can keep a tab on what we're really spending on this thing. As far as the logistics of the day: Do you have a bridesmaid that's been in a lot of weddings or a friend that just got married? They could probably offer some guidance in the way things should flow the day of. If you can't find an answer to something, ask someone on here! Someone should be able to help you Happy planning!

View Quoted Comment This is a woman who is not great at planning and doesn't care about a lot of the details. So by your logic, her FI should do most of the work, and give her a medal if she calms him down when he has a freak out.

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He definitely tries his best! I have to give him very small, minute things to handle at a time though because although he wants to help, he is AWFUL at planning. I don't care about the details, but I'm a very organized mind and I can see how different parts need to come together. He, on the other hand, bless his soul, takes an hour to write an email. His brain is not wired for this kind of thing (I take this as a blessing -- we balance each other out very well). I could totally give him half the work and he would be more than happy to take it from me, but it would take him way too long and be EXTREMELY painful for him to do all the nitty gritties. While I'm inexperienced, I don't mind all the emailing and browsing and whatnot.

I make sure to keep him in the decision making, and he is the one who communicates with his groomsmen. With his hours at work, it's been hard for him to even stay on top of the pre marital counseling homework that we get each week. I'm also at a computer at my job where I'm mostly waiting for customers before I can actually do anything, so I have more freedom to plan and communicate in my skill set.

Sometimes I do wish he could do more (it's unavoidable when I'm at the peak of wedding stress), but I know that it's just not his strength, and I'm marrying him for who he is, not who I want him to be He is constantly going out of his way to make my life easier during all this -- going shopping for me, doing the chores, asking if I need anything -- which is valued support.

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I will have to check that out, thanks for the suggestion!

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Thanks for the encouragement! I'm an excel nerd, so I have a lot of those, as well. I think sometimes I get a little too carried away with formatting, but it's been making it easy for everyone involved to be on the same page!

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Yes, my FH is the emotional support I need, too They are very good at that!

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I like how you think with the details! And I've definitely been reaching out to fellow married gals for advice. In the stage where I'm soaking in all the advise I can get! Happy planning to you too!