Sam's Wedding Binder: Planning Guide For The Big Day

Planning a wedding can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, but creating a wedding planning binder is a great way to keep all your ideas, plans, and inspiration in one place. In this blog post, Sam Gagen, who has been engaged for a year, shares her tips for creating the perfect wedding planning binder. From choosing the right binder and dividers to printing checklists and gathering inspiration, Sam covers everything you need to know to create a binder that works for you and helps you plan your dream wedding. So, if you're recently engaged or helping someone plan their special day, read on for Sam's step-by-step guide to creating a wedding planning binder.

Choosing a binder and organising the layout

The first step to building your DIY wedding binder is to buy the necessary materials. You'll need a binder—a three-ring one is standard—binder paper, and a hole punch to insert things like printed bills. It's also recommended that you get plastic dividers to help organise the binder, and insertable folders to hold some materials. Depending on how creative you want to get, you may also want to add stickers and fun-coloured pens to help you stay organised.

When choosing a binder, it's important to consider the size. If you're already collecting brochures and magazine cut-outs, you'll probably need a bigger binder. You can also decorate your binder with pictures of you and your future spouse, or in the colours of your wedding.

Once you have your binder, it's time to start assembling your book. Add a cover insert with a fun design that includes the names of the bride and groom, and the wedding date if you've set one. Then, use your dividers to create sections for all the important categories. A typical wedding planner binder has sections like:

• Wedding party contact information
• Wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
• Vendors
• Photographer
• Florist
• Music/entertainment
• Attire and beauty
• Budget
• Guest list
• Honeymoon plans
• Reception
• Ceremony

You can also get creative and add sub-dividers within each section. For example, in the "reception" tab, you can have subsections for decorations, food, and cake.

Based on your checklist, there are a few different ways to organise your binder. One way is to organise different checklist items by month, addressing a new section of the book as your wedding grows closer. Another way is to organise your binder by the type of thing that needs to be done—for example, decor in one section, food in another, dress in another, etc.

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, such as a calendar, a wedding planning checklist, and your budget.

Tips for Staying Organised

• Tidy your binder regularly and attentively.
• Keep receipts organised, and print out email communication with vendors so that everything is in one place.
• Check off items on your to-do list as you accomplish them.
• Periodically print out your digital spreadsheets and add them to your binder.
• Keep sticky notes on hand to flag certain pages and leave reminders for yourself.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help! Delegate tasks to your bridal party or friends to take some things off your plate.

Using Pinterest and Google Docs for inspiration

While Pinterest and Google Docs can be very helpful tools in the wedding planning process, a physical wedding planning binder is also necessary. Pinterest is great for inspiration and ideas, whereas your wedding binder should be your go-to for organisation and action.

Here's how you can use these tools to plan your wedding:

Using Pinterest for Wedding Inspiration

Pinterest is a great place to start gathering wedding inspiration and ideas. You can create one or multiple boards for your wedding vision. If you want to keep certain elements of your wedding a surprise, you can create secret boards. This is also useful if you're planning a wedding but are still waiting for your partner to propose.

Another useful feature is the ability to create contributor boards. You can invite your bridesmaids to pin to your board, which is a fun way to involve your wedding party in the planning process, especially if they live far away.

However, it's easy to get carried away and end up with thousands of pins that you'll never use. Once you start finalising plans, go through your boards and save the pins that you want to incorporate into your wedding. You could even create a photo collage and add the pages to your binder.

Using Google Docs for Wedding Planning and Organisation

Google Docs is ideal for sharing and collaborating on files in real-time with your wedding party, vendors, and other people involved in the planning process. You can also access your files anywhere, either through the app or by logging into your Google account via a web browser. This means you can easily refer back to something while you're on the go.

• Wedding budget
• Checklist
• Day-of timeline
• Contact lists
• Decor inventory
• Song lists
• Venue research
• Guest list (with addresses and RSVPs)
• Thank you card tracker

Why a physical binder is still necessary

While technology has made wedding planning easier, a physical wedding planning binder is still necessary for several reasons.

First, a physical binder is a great way to keep all your ideas, plans, and inspiration in one place. It can be challenging to keep track of everything when it is spread across multiple digital platforms. With a physical binder, you can easily refer back to your ideas and ensure that everything is in one place.

Second, a physical binder allows you to stay organized and keep track of all the details. Wedding planning involves numerous vendors, contracts, and correspondences. A physical binder helps you keep all these important documents in one place, making it easier to refer back to and ensuring nothing is missed. It also helps you to stay on top of your budget and track payments.

Third, a physical binder is a great way to store inspirational imagery, such as Pinterest boards, magazine cut-outs, or mood boards. This can be helpful when meeting with vendors, as you can easily reference your vision and ensure everyone is on the same page.

Additionally, a physical binder is a great way to keep track of your guest list, addresses, RSVPs, and gifts. This makes it easier to send out thank-you notes and ensures you don't miss anyone.

Finally, a physical binder can be a fun project and a way to express your creativity. You can design the cover, add fun dividers and subsections, and make it your own. It can be a fun way to get excited about your wedding and a keepsake to look back on after the big day.

While digital tools can be helpful, a physical wedding planning binder is still necessary for staying organized, keeping track of details, and ensuring your wedding vision comes together seamlessly.

The importance of a wedding planning checklist

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but a wedding planning checklist can help you stay organized and ensure you don't forget any important details. Here's why a wedding planning checklist is so important:

Stay Organized:

A wedding planning checklist helps you keep track of the numerous tasks and details involved in planning a wedding. From selecting a date and venue to choosing a wedding party and creating a guest list, there are a lot of moving parts. A checklist ensures nothing slips through the cracks and helps you stay on top of deadlines.

Save Time and Effort:

With a wedding planning checklist, you can prioritize tasks and make efficient use of your time. By breaking down the planning process into manageable chunks, you can focus on one step at a time, preventing overwhelm and ensuring you don't spend excessive time on any single task.

Keep Track of Deadlines:

Many wedding-related tasks have specific timelines, such as sending out save-the-dates and invitations, ordering attire, and confirming vendors. A checklist helps you stay aware of these deadlines, so you don't end up rushing or forgetting something important.

Budget Management:

A wedding planning checklist often includes budget-related tasks, such as determining your overall budget, allocating funds to different categories, and tracking expenses. This helps you stay on top of your financial plans and make informed decisions about where to allocate your resources.

Customization:

A wedding planning checklist can be customized to your specific needs and preferences. You can add or remove tasks, include additional details, and adapt it to fit your unique vision for your wedding. This ensures that your planning process is tailored to your dream wedding.

Stress Relief:

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but a comprehensive checklist can provide a sense of control and peace of mind. Knowing that you have a system in place to manage all the details can reduce anxiety and help you enjoy the planning process and your special day.

Dividing your binder into sections

Step 1: Identify Key Categories

Start by identifying the key categories that you want to include in your binder. These categories will form the basis of your binder's organisation. Some suggested categories include:

• Budget
• Guests & Invites
• Ceremony
• Reception
• Attire & Beauty
• Photographer
• Florist
• Miscellaneous

Step 2: Create Sub-Categories

Once you have your main categories, you can further divide them into sub-categories. For example, under "Reception", you can have sub-categories such as:

• Decorations
• Food
• Cake
• Music/Entertainment

Similarly, under "Attire & Beauty", you can have sub-categories like:

• Bridal Gown
• Groom's Attire
• Bridal Party Attire
• Hair and Makeup

Step 3: Use Dividers and Tabs

To physically divide your binder into sections, use dividers and tabs. You can find these at any office supply store. Create a tab for each main category and use sub-dividers or coloured card stock to indicate sub-categories. This will make it easy to flip to the correct section when you need to access information quickly.

Step 4: Include Paper and Protectors

Don't forget to add lined paper to each section so that you can take notes during meetings or phone calls. You can also use page protectors or clear sheet covers to store important documents, contracts, pictures, business cards, etc.

Step 5: Customise and Decorate

Your wedding binder doesn't have to be boring! Decorate the cover with a fun design that includes the names of the bride and groom and the wedding date. You can also add some flair to the inside with stickers, coloured pens, and other creative touches.

Frequently asked questions