Wedding Planning Tips

My very best friend is having a winter wedding and she asked me to be her MOH back in February. So, I did everything she asked for and beyond. I contributed $500 to her $2800 wedding dress, I personally hand-wrote 120 invitations, I arranged both her bachelorette party and her fiance’s bachelor party, and I traveled to Michigan to pick up her nieces that would be the flower girls.
After all of this, her wedding planning took a break around the middle of August. I decided to go see my aunt in London and come back to the states around the end of October, since the wedding is early December. I came here (London) towards the middle of August, but a week ago, my friend called me and asked if I could come back by the end of September because she needed me to plan some more things.
I told her that I had to stay with my aunt and that she should ask her other 5 bridesmaids, but she just shouted and hung up on me. So, 2 days ago, she called and told me that I should come or else I would be kicked out of the wedding party. I was pretty pissed at how she was acting, but she is one of my closest friends and I really want to be there for her. And it’s not like I’m not coming back.
Now I’m in a conundrum. Any ideas?

This sounds in my opinion much worse then what it really is soo please read my explanation first…My SIL is first of all NOT my favorite person or one who I would ever talk to if not for her being my SIL. She’s a good person but has too many idiot qualties to deal with. I however promised my fiancee that she’d be a BM because he loves her and knows she would have ben devasted if she was not. I needed another BM anyway to make it even with GM so I didnt mind. However now is found out that she is prego. And even more then that no one knows exactly how prego she is or will be at the wedding. She told everyone that she was about 2 weeks into october, and at the time she told us she was 2 months along. After she supposedly had a Dr. apt they said her due date is June 17. Lets do the simply math here…someone who got prego at the end of august/beginning o sept. can NOT be due in June. Her husband is an idot and has no idea how it all works and believes eveything she says anway. My MIL is supposed to go to her upcomming ultrasound but who knows if she will. The dresses that my girls are wearing are NOT going to fit let alone look good on anyone who is at least 7 1/2 months prego (wedding is April 5). I want everyone in my bridal party to match and I am not making any exceptions for anyone especially her. Personally if I were her I would have offered to give up my spot when I first found out just out of politness…but she has no sense of manners so I know that will never happen. Now my MIL keeps bringing up this dress that my SIL had worn to a wedding before that would possibly cover her up but is 1) totally the wrong color..it’s burgandy and our colors are choclate ivory and wasabi. And 2) isnt the same as the other girls. My SIL dsen’t understand when people drop hints about things so it’s not even like if I make her feel akwared about it or anything that shell get it and drop out. I would let her do a reading or something but I just dont want a girl who looks like shiat and is HUGE in my bridal party. Even if it were MOH who is my BF I would want her to step out too..so it’s not cause it’s just her. It’s just extra aggrivating because it is her. What can I do?

So he popped the question…now what?

If you’re among the nearly one million brides-to-be who received an engagement ring over the holidays, it’s time to ring in the new year by scratching the first few items off your wedding day “to do” countdown. Kick start your 2009 wedding plans now!

Here are the first three items that you must cross off your wedding planning checklist before you can accomplish anything else.

Step 1: Determine Your Budget

Your budget will determine the type of wedding you can have – from how many guests you invite, to where and when you host your wedding, right down to the specific blooms in your bouquet, so you need to start here. Sit down with everyone who is going to contribute to the wedding-day piggy bank and discuss how to logically divide the tab and arrive at a total number.

Step 2: Find a Site and Set Your Date

Remember – many reception sites book over a year in advance, so you really can’t decide on a wedding date until you have officially booked your venue with a signed contract. Find as many reception sites that meet your budget, capacity and overall style quotient as you can. Use our wedding reception site search to find venues in your area, and narrow down your list. Then schedule appointments to tour each wedding venue and meet with the manager.

Step 3: Start the Guest List

You don’t need to have the list finalized just yet, but you’ll need an estimate from both sides of the family (and yourselves) right away to avert countless planning headaches down the road.  Once you’ve talked with all financially contributing parties to determine your total wedding budget, you can estimate how many people you can afford to invite to the affair.

Now that you’ve tackled the first three steps, this complete weddings guide will walk you every step of the planning process, from setting the theme and style, to booking your vendors, to managing every detail.