Franklin Dean
Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but creating a wedding planner book can help you stay organized and ensure that your big day goes smoothly. Here are some tips to help you create your own wedding planner book:
- Gather your supplies: Purchase a binder, dividers, tabs, folders, pens, and highlighters. Choose a binder that reflects your style and personality and make sure it's big enough to hold all your planning materials.
- Set up your binder: Create sections for important categories such as wedding party contact information, guest list, budget, venue, attire, photography, and more. You can also add sub-dividers within each section for more detailed organization.
- Include important information: Start filling your binder with essential information such as a calendar, wedding planning checklist, and budget. Place the most important info at the front for easy access.
- Update your binder regularly: Use your binder to store ideas and inspiration in the early stages of planning. As you make decisions, update your binder to reflect your choices and remove any unnecessary information.
- Incorporate digital resources: If you have digital resources such as Pinterest boards or Excel spreadsheets, periodically print them out and add them to your binder. Alternatively, you can create QR codes that link to your digital content and add them to your binder.
- Make it fun and functional: Decorate your binder and make it reflect your style. Include envelopes or zipper pouches for swatches and samples, and don't forget to add sticky notes for quick reminders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Binder type | Thick, cute, with a clear front cover for customisation |
| Binder colour | Matches wedding colours/theme, e.g. classic white |
| Ring placement | Attached to the back cover to prevent paper damage |
| Dividers/sub-dividers | Separate sections/sub-sections, e.g. "Reception", "Vendors" |
| Lined paper | For note-taking |
| Folders/sheet protectors | For storing important documents |
| Cover insert | Include names of the couple and wedding date |
| Budget | Include full budget breakdown |
| Guest list | Include guest list and addresses |
| Wedding party contact information | Include wedding party contact information |
| Venue information | Include venue information |
| Vendor information | Include vendor information |
| Miscellaneous | Include honeymoon plans, registry information, rehearsal dinner information |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing a binder and supplies
Thick binders are usually more useful, with 1.5 inches being a good size. It's also worth considering where the rings are attached – if they're on the spine, the papers at the back may get squished and bent out of shape. If they're on the back cover, the papers won't get moved every time you open and close the binder.
Next, you'll want to get dividers to separate your binder into sections. You can use page protectors with coloured edges to mark the beginning of each new section. You can also use sub-dividers within each section for extra organisation. For example, you could have a "reception" tab with subsections for decorations, food, and cake.
Other supplies you'll need include:
- Pens and highlighters (the more colours, the better)
- Lined paper for each section, so you can make notes
- Folders or clear sheet protectors to hold important documents
- Envelopes or zipper pouches for carrying colour swatches, size charts, and fabric samples
- Sticky notes to flag certain pages and leave reminders for yourself
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Dividers and sections
Choose a Format
Decide whether you want to use traditional dividers that come with tabs or opt for page protectors with coloured edges to mark the start of each section. Traditional dividers are convenient if you want quick access to specific sections, while page protectors can be useful if you plan on storing loose items, such as fabric samples or magazine cut-outs. You can also use a combination of both within your book.
Select Your Categories
The categories you choose will depend on your unique needs and preferences. Here are some suggested categories to help you get started:
- Budget: Include a breakdown of your budget and track your spending.
- Guests & Invites: Keep track of your guest list, their addresses, wedding party contact information, hotel information, and invitation details.
- Ceremony: Store information about the ceremony venue, décor, rentals, contracts, wedding programs, and officiant details.
- Reception: Gather details about the reception venue, décor, music, catering, seating chart, and contracts.
- Attire & Beauty: Organise information about bridal gowns, groom attire, bridal party attire, hair and makeup artists, accessories, and contracts.
- Photographer: Create a list of desired photos, print inspiration pictures, and store vendor information, business cards, and contracts.
- Florist: Collect pictures of inspiration, colour palettes, vendor information, contracts, and business cards.
- Miscellaneous: Plan your honeymoon, registry, rehearsal dinner, and any other details that don't fit into the other categories.
Create Sub-Dividers (Optional)
For added organisation, you can create sub-dividers within each section. For example, under "Reception", you might have sub-dividers for decorations, food, and cake. This allows you to categorise information even further and quickly find what you're looking for.
Customise Your Tabs
Label your dividers clearly and consider colour-coding them to make locating sections easier. You can also add additional details to the tabs, such as checklists or important dates, to keep essential information at your fingertips.
Adapt and Refine
As you plan your wedding, you may find that certain sections become too bulky or that you need additional categories. Don't be afraid to adapt and refine your dividers and sections to suit your needs. Remove any information that is no longer relevant and add new sections as needed.
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Checklists and worksheets
Overall Wedding Timeline
A timeline will help you visualise the entire planning process, from 12 months before the wedding to the day itself. This can include key dates and deadlines, as well as a checklist of tasks to be completed by a certain time. For example, you might want to send out save-the-dates and start shopping for a wedding dress 10-12 months in advance. Closer to the time, you can finalise the guest list, plan the seating arrangement, and confirm all vendors.
Budgeting
Creating a wedding budget is crucial to ensuring you don't overspend. Your budget worksheet can include columns for each category of spending, such as attire, hair and makeup, accommodation, transportation, stationery, flowers, music, photography, catering, and the honeymoon. For each category, you can list the "budgeted cost" and compare it to the "actual cost".
Important Names and Numbers
Keep a list of all your key contacts, from the dressmaker to the baker, the florist to the photographer. Include columns for their names, contact information, and any relevant notes.
Parties and Gatherings
Planning a wedding often involves multiple events, from the engagement party to the rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, and bachelorette/bachelor party. Create a checklist for each event, including the date, time, location, guest list, and any other important details.
Gift Registry
If you're creating a gift registry, you can include a checklist of items you'd like to receive, as well as a place to keep track of what has already been purchased.
Attire, Hair, and Makeup
Use this section to plan and track your wedding attire, as well as the attire for the bridal party. You can also create a checklist of hair and makeup looks you'd like to try, and schedule trials with stylists.
Accommodation, Transportation, and Activities
If you're organising accommodation and transportation for your guests, create a checklist to ensure everyone is accounted for. You can also include a list of activities or excursions for guests, especially if your wedding is a destination event.
Stationery, Flowers, Music, Photography, and Catering
These are all important aspects of your wedding day and can be made easier with checklists. For example, your stationery checklist might include save-the-dates, invitations, place cards, and thank-you notes. For flowers, you can list the types and quantities needed for the bridal party, ceremony, and reception. Music and photography choices can also be listed, along with any specific shots or songs you'd like included.
The Ceremony and Reception
Create a detailed checklist for the ceremony and reception, including the order of events, decorations, food and drink, and any special traditions or activities.
Post-Wedding Checklist
Even after the wedding, there are still tasks to be completed. These might include sending thank-you notes, returning rentals, and preserving your wedding dress.
Social Media and Online Resources
Create a list of websites and online resources you've found helpful during the planning process. You can also include a list of hashtags or a social media schedule to share your wedding experiences with others.
Remember, your wedding planner book should be personalised to your unique needs and preferences, so feel free to add or remove sections as needed!
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Customisation and personal touches
Choose a binder that speaks to you: Select a binder with a cute and pretty print, or opt for one with a clear front cover so you can customise it yourself. If you have a clear idea of your wedding aesthetic, you could choose a binder that reflects this. Alternatively, you could design your own cover from scratch, perhaps using a photo or illustration that is meaningful to you.
Make it functional: Be realistic about the size of your binder. If you plan on collecting lots of brochures and magazine cut-outs, go for a bigger size. You could also include envelopes or zipper pouches to hold colour swatches, fabric samples, and other small items. Add sticky notes to flag important pages or sections, and use dividers and sub-dividers to create a logical structure that works for you.
Add personal touches: Decorate your binder with items that reflect your personality and style. If you enjoy travelling, for example, you could include mementos from your favourite trips. You could also add photos, illustrations, or other sentimental items that will make you smile every time you open your planner.
Incorporate digital elements: If you have digital assets, such as Pinterest boards or Excel spreadsheets, periodically print them out and add them to your binder. Alternatively, create QR codes that link to your online inspiration boards and print those out instead. This way, you can quickly scan the codes with your phone whenever you need a digital fix.
Make it fun: Planning a wedding should be enjoyable, so make your binder fun, too. Add items that spark joy, such as fun stickers, colourful pens and highlighters, or anything else that will brighten your day when you see it.
Remember, your wedding planner book is a tool to help you organise your special day, but it should also be a reflection of your personality and a keepsake to treasure long after the wedding.
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Staying organised
Get a binder
Get a binder that suits your personality and style. If you've already chosen your wedding colours and theme, you may want to match your binder to them. Pick a cute, thick binder, perhaps with a clear front cover so that you can customise it yourself. A binder with a ring mechanism attached to the back cover, rather than the spine, can also help prevent your papers from getting squished and bent out of shape.
Use dividers
Separate your binder into sections using dividers or page protectors with coloured edges. You can organise your binder chronologically, or by theme. For example, you could have sections for the maid of honour and best man duties checklist, planning guide, vendor information, day-of checklist, guest list, cake and cake topper, flower planner, escort cards, and so on.
Find checklists and worksheets
The best part of any wedding planning book is the checklists and worksheets where you can put all your planning information. There are many online sources of free worksheets and checklists, as well as books with templates you can adapt.
Add and remove content as needed
Work through the checklists and worksheets, adding in final details and printing off copies of things like the ceremony script. Remove anything that isn't useful or relevant anymore. You can also keep things like ripped-out magazine pictures for posterity, or in case your future children want to see your wedding binder!
Keep on top of your to-do list
Checklists and worksheets will help you stay on top of your to-do list, but you can also use other tools like Google Docs, Excel, or wedding planning apps. Delegate tasks to your bridal party, family members, and your soon-to-be spouse to keep on top of things.
Stay on track with a master checklist
Visualise and prioritise goals with a master checklist. You can adapt this template to suit your own needs:
- Set your wedding budget
- Construct a list of wedding priorities
- Determine your wedding style
- Involve your significant other
- Buy a wedding planning book
- Think about dates and seasons
- Choose a wedding concept
- Start working on your guest list
- Book hotel room blocks
- Shop for wedding attire
- Make a wedding website
- Create a gift registry
- Choose your wedding party
- Recruit more hands-on deck
- Consider DIY decorations
- Take time off from wedding planning
- Pick invitations and save-the-dates
- Choose an officiant
- Add personal touches
- Organise transportation
- Purchase wedding bands
- Plan pre-wedding events
- Understand what you don't want
- Plan the rehearsal dinner
- Consider a day-of coordinator
- Create a social media strategy
- Plan when to get your marriage license
- Postpone honeymoon planning
- Allocate toasts and readings
- Finalise setup details
- Choose your wedding songs
- Write your vows
- Produce a schedule of events
- Consider an after-party
- Plan gifts for your wedding party and others
- Don't forget to tip your vendors
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