Planning A Wedding: A Guide To Creating Your Own

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but creating a wedding planner can help you stay organised and ensure that your big day goes off without a hitch. A wedding planner can be a physical binder or a digital document, whichever works best for you.

A physical wedding planner is a homemade booklet where you can keep track of all your wedding plans. It can include sections for checklists, receipts, and pages for all your wedding inspiration. You can decorate your binder with colours, pictures, and anything else that suits your style.

A digital wedding planner can be created using checklists, spreadsheets, Word, Excel, or Google Docs. There are also online tools and apps that can help you stay organised, such as WeddingHappy and AllSeated.

Whether you choose a physical or digital wedding planner, the key is to keep all your wedding information in one place and to start planning well in advance.

Choose a binder and gather supplies

Choosing a binder and gathering supplies is the first step in creating a wedding planner. The binder you choose should be thick and preferably one where the rings are attached to the back cover rather than the spine, to avoid squishing and bending the papers at the back. You can choose a binder in a colour or with a print that matches your wedding theme or personality.

Next, you'll need to get your hands on some divider tabs or folders, pens and highlighters. If you want to get creative, you can decorate your binder with embellishments, stickers or drawings. You can also add your own personal touch by including items such as tissue paper that matches your colour scheme.

If you want to be extra organised, you can use coloured pens, stickers and fun dividers to categorise your content. You can also use page protectors, which can be useful if you're using a lot of images or items with irregular sizes, such as fabric swatches.

• Lined paper
• Envelopes or zipper pouches for storing swatches, business cards, etc.
• Clear plastic sleeves or sheet covers
• Hole punch
• Calendar
• Wedding planning checklist

Set up your binder

Now that you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s time to start assembling your book.

Start by adding a cover insert with a fun design that includes the names of the bride and groom. If you’ve already set a wedding date, you can add that too.

Use your dividers to create sections for all of the most important categories. A typical wedding planner binder has sections like:

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

If you’re part of the Marie Kondo cult, you can show off your expert organisational skills by adding sub-dividers within each section. In the “reception” tab, for example, you can have subsections for decorations, food, and cake. Under “vendors”, you can create subsections for your photographer, florist, and DJ. Organise your sections and subsections however you like—you’re probably the only person who’ll ever look at this book.

Some brides find it easier to give the photographer, florist, and music/entertainment their own tabs. Some even go as far as creating a section for every individual element. If you want to be extra-organised, you can create separate tabs for everything from bridal party gifts to thank-you notes.

Add lined paper to each divided section. That way, you can make notes while you plan. Include a few folders or clear sheet protectors into each section, too. This gives you a place to hold important documents, such as receipts, for safekeeping.

Add important info

Now that your binder is organised, it's time to start filling it up! Place the most important info at the front of the book. Begin 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.

You can also add a wedding budget worksheet to make it easy to outline a budget and point out how much money you can spend on each aspect of your special day. It's also a good idea to print out your spreadsheets (like guest lists, budgets, etc.) and add them to your binder.

You can also include a few folders or clear sheet protectors into each section, which gives you a place to hold important documents for safekeeping.

Incorporate digital inspiration

It's no secret that we live in a digital age, and wedding planning is no exception to the influx of technology that has transformed our lives. Couples now have countless online resources at their disposal to help streamline the planning process and make it more interactive and engaging.

Utilise Online Platforms and Apps:

Wedding planning websites and apps provide a centralised hub for all your planning needs. They allow you to keep track of your progress, manage your budget, and share information with your wedding party. These platforms enable seamless collaboration between the couple, the wedding planner (if you have one), and other vendors. Popular wedding planning apps include WeddingWire, The Knot, and Zola.

Go Paperless with Digital Invitations and RSVPs:

Digital invitations and RSVPs offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional paper invitations. They can be easily designed, sent via email, and shared through social media platforms. Online RSVP systems also make it easier to collect and organise responses, automatically updating seating charts and other key details.

Virtually Tour Venues and Preview Decor:

With technology, you can take virtual reality tours of potential wedding venues, allowing you to visualise your big day and make more informed decisions. You can also virtually preview different decor options and layouts, making it easier to create your dream wedding reception.

Gather Inspiration and Ideas:

The internet is a treasure trove of inspiration. Browse through countless online galleries, social media platforms, and wedding-related content to discover unique themes, decor ideas, and colour schemes. Pinterest and Instagram, in particular, are invaluable sources of wedding inspiration. Create secret boards on Pinterest to keep certain elements of your wedding a surprise, and invite your bridesmaids to pin to your board for added fun.

Stay Organised with Digital Tools:

Use digital tools like Google Docs or Excel to create and manage your guest lists, budgets, checklists, and timelines. These tools allow for real-time collaboration and easy sharing with others. You can also use online tools to track wedding expenses and ensure you stay within your budget.

Incorporate Interactive Elements:

Add interactive features to your wedding planner, such as QR codes or augmented reality. For example, create QR codes that link to your Pinterest boards or wedding website, allowing easy access to your digital inspiration. You can also use augmented reality filters and props in photo booths, providing a fun and memorable experience for your guests.

In conclusion, incorporating digital inspiration into your wedding planner can make the planning process more efficient, organised, and fun. By utilising technology, you can streamline tasks, gather inspiration, and create a wedding that reflects your unique style.

Keep it organised

Keeping your wedding binder organised is essential to staying on top of your planning and ensuring your big day goes off without a hitch. Here are some tips to keep your binder in check:

Dividers

Use dividers to create sections for the most important categories, such as wedding party contact information, the ceremony, reception, attire and beauty, photographer, florist, and miscellaneous. Within each section, you can add sub-dividers for more specific topics. For example, in the "reception" section, you could have subsections for decorations, food, and cake.

Paper & Protectors

Use lined paper to make notes during planning meetings and phone calls. Include clear plastic sheet protectors to hold important documents, such as contracts, safely.

Receipts & Communication

Keep all your receipts in one place, and print out email communication with vendors so that everything is in one place.

Regular Maintenance

Regularly tend to your binder to ensure it stays organised and doesn't become overwhelming. Check off tasks as you complete them, and remove any information on venues or vendors that you have rejected, to keep the binder streamlined and easy to carry.

Digital Assets

Print out your digital assets, such as spreadsheets and guest lists, and add them to your binder. You could also create QR codes that link to your Pinterest boards and spreadsheets, and add those to your binder for easy access.

Extras

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 for yourself.

Frequently asked questions