Create A Wedding Planner Binder For Your Homemade Dream

Planning a wedding can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. One way to stay on top of everything is to create a wedding planner binder. This allows you to save money, organise your ideas and customise your plans. You can buy a pre-made wedding planner, but creating your own means you can tailor it to your needs. This could include sections such as:

- Budget

- Guests & Invites

- Ceremony

- Reception

- Attire & Beauty

- Photographer

- Florist

- Miscellaneous

- Wedding Party Contact Information

- Wedding Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner

Choosing a binder and getting supplies

You can opt for a cute binder in a pretty print, or one with a clear front cover so you can customise it yourself. Alternatively, a classic white binder is always an option. You'll also want to consider the size of your binder. If you're planning on filling it with lots of brochures and wedding magazines, you'll need a bigger binder. Thicker binders are also useful, with 1.5 inches being a good size.

When it comes to the rings of the binder, some people prefer when they are attached to the back cover, rather than the spine, as the pages at the back can get squished when the rings are attached to the spine.

Once you've chosen your binder, it's time to gather your supplies. As well as dividers, you'll want to get pens and highlighters (the more colours the better!). You can also get creative and make your own dividers using colourful card stock, white card stock, a circle punch and a pen/marker. Other useful supplies include a printer, clear sheet protectors, a clear zip pouch, envelopes or zipper pouches, and sticky notes.

Setting up the binder

Next, you'll need to divide your binder into sections using dividers or coloured page protectors. You can divide your binder into the following sections:

• Wedding party contact information
• Wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
• Budget
• Guests & Invites
• Ceremony
• Reception
• Attire & Beauty
• Photographer
• Florist
• Miscellaneous

You can also add sub-sections within each section for finer details. For example, within the "reception" section, you can have sub-sections for decorations, food, and cake.

Now, add lined paper to each section so you can jot down notes as you plan. Also, include some folders or clear sheet protectors in each section to hold important documents, such as contracts, pictures, business cards, etc.

Finally, add some personal touches to your binder, such as tissue paper that matches your colour scheme, or magazine clippings of your dream wedding dress.

Your wedding planning binder is now ready to get you to the finish line!

Adding important information

Now that your binder is all set up, it's time to start filling it with all the important information you need to plan your dream wedding.

Step 3: Start Adding Important Info

Place the most important info at the front of the book. Start with a calendar and a wedding planning checklist. Your budget should also go towards the front of the binder. Planning a wedding can be expensive, so keep a close eye on your budget throughout the process.

Step 4: Fill It In As You Go

In the early stages, use your binder to store ideas and inspiration. As you get further into the planning process, the more specific your binder should become. It's easy to overload your book with to-do lists and business cards, and that's okay, as long as you keep your binder neatly organised.

Step 5: Incorporate Your Digital Inspirations

It would be crazy to think that people are planning weddings without some digital assistance. The easiest way to keep your physical and digital assets cohesive is to periodically print out your spreadsheets and add them to your binder. If you make additions on paper, make sure to copy them over to your spreadsheets. The same goes for your Pinterest boards—choose some favourites and incorporate them just like you would a magazine cut-out.

Other Tips to Make Your Wedding Binder Work for You

A wedding planning binder should make your life easier. If it starts to feel like a burden, you're doing something wrong. Keep your planning book organised at all times and follow these tricks to make it even more helpful:

• Include envelopes or zipper pouches for carrying colour swatches, size charts and fabric samples.
• Keep sticky notes on hand to flag certain pages and leave reminders to yourself.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help! Delegate some tasks to your bridal party so you can take some things off your plate.

Filling in the binder

Step 1: Set up an overview for your binder

At the front of your binder, include the items that you will reference the most. You can include subsections with dividers for an easy-to-use overview. For example, you could have a section for the wedding party with contact details, and a section for the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

Step 2: Print a calendar

A calendar is an essential part of your binder. Wedding planning is a busy time, so make sure you write down all vendor appointments, fittings, and important dates.

Step 3: Print a checklist

A checklist is another vital part of your binder. You can find free wedding planning checklists online, or create your own. Checklists will help you stay on track and ensure you don't forget anything important.

Step 4: Set up dividers

Use dividers to create sections for all the important categories. You can also add sub-dividers within each section if you want to get really organised! Here are some category ideas:

• Venue: Information, décor, rental information, contracts, etc.
• Vendors: Subsections for each type of vendor, such as caterer, florist, photographer, etc.
• Ceremony: Officiant information, décor, rental information, etc.
• Reception: Food, cake, décor, music, seating chart, etc.
• Attire & Beauty: Bridal gown information, groom attire, bridal party attire, hair and makeup artist information, etc.
• Budget: Include a full budget breakdown and track all payments.
• Guests & Invites: Guest list and addresses, wedding party contact information, hotel information, etc.
• Photographer: List of desired photos, vendor information, business cards, etc.
• Miscellaneous: Honeymoon plans, registry information, rehearsal dinner information, etc.

Step 5: Add paper and sheet protectors

Include lined paper in each section for notes, and add clear sheet protectors to hold important documents, such as contracts, business cards, brochures, and magazine clippings.

Step 6: Include printables and helpful tips

There are many free wedding planning printables available online, such as budget planners, vendor contact lists, and photography checklists. You can also print out helpful blog posts and tips to include in your binder.

Step 7: Use sticky notes and reminders

Sticky notes are a great way to flag pages and leave reminders for yourself. You can also use them to give advice or words of encouragement to the bride-to-be!

Now you're ready to get busy and get organised! Enjoy the process of filling in your wedding planner binder, and don't forget to keep it updated as you plan your special day.

Incorporating digital inspirations

In this digital age, it would be crazy to think that people are planning weddings without some digital assistance. Here are some ways to incorporate your digital inspirations into your physical wedding planner binder.

Firstly, the easiest way to keep your physical and digital assets cohesive is to periodically print out your spreadsheets (e.g. guest lists, budgets, etc.) and add them to your binder. If you make additions on paper, ensure you copy them over to your spreadsheets when you get the chance.

You can treat your Pinterest boards in a similar way. Instead of printing out everything you've pinned, choose some favourites and incorporate them just like you would a magazine cut-out. Alternatively, create QR codes that link to your various Pinterest boards and spreadsheets, and print those out. By scanning the QR code with your phone, you can quickly access some online inspiration.

Google Docs is another great tool for wedding planning. You can share files with others that are updated in real-time, which is especially useful when working with your wedding coordinator, MOH, family members, and other vendors. You can also access Google Docs anywhere by downloading the app or logging into your Google account via a web browser. This allows you to refer back to something while you're on the run.

Although digital tools can be very helpful in the wedding planning process, it is still beneficial to have a physical wedding planner binder for staying organised and taking a more hands-on approach.

Frequently asked questions