What a joyous time in your life! Your “significant other” has proposed and presented you with the most beautiful diamond ring you have ever seen! What do you do now? Communicating, planning and enjoying your special event are three elements that, done correctly and in timely matter, will result in a “truly polished event” for your all important day. Communication is the single most important tool you may utilize throughout your life…. When a person communicates their wants and needs it can circumvent most misunderstanding in any relationship. Ask an individual that will take part in your special occasion “what their thoughts

When all avenues have been explored, it is time to start your planning process.

For a truly successful event it takes about nine months to a year to plan and to effectively carry-out your blueprint of intentions. The first item to be established is your budget. What will the focus of your wedding be? Allocate the largest percentage of your budget to that event. Weigh each part and assign a value of importance to it ($$$). The total of these items should equal the sum of what you are going to spend on your wedding. Select a day/ evening, see if it is available at your place of worship or hotel or other venue. Keep in mind the later in the day the more formal your occasion will be. Once you have the venue for the actual wedding, then the other elements of the events can be planned. How do we blend our cultures? How many people will the budget allow one to invite? How many attendants do you want? Maid/ matron-of-honor, bridesmaids, flower girls, ring bearers, readers, best man, groomsmen, ushers, acolytes, servers and so on…? Do we want decorations, flowers, gifts for attendants, guests, parents? Where will you have the reception? What type of food will your budget allow? Who are the best caterers and how to determine their professionalism? Will you have a band or a disc jockey? What type of photographer, videographer will fit into your budget? Do you want your special event to be an adult only affair?

How many invitations will you need, what type of formality do we use in addressing the invitations, response cards, thank you notes?

Do you need hotel accommodations, transportation, honeymoon arrangements? Have you changed over your name on your social security insurance, credit cards, saving stocks and bonds, your driver’s license?

How do you go about registering your gift selections and where? When is the appropriate time to do all of those things?

A professional wedding planner will be able to answer all of your questions!

The secret of enjoying your special day is to plan and save early! In doing the aforementioned, it will leave you considerably more time (months). This way the last minute details need to be taken care of six weeks or so before the wedding.

Remember communicating, planning and enjoying the months before your special day will help your “significant other” get off to a pleasant start the very first day of being “ Mr. and Mrs.” “Aloha”

Kitty Koeckritz. By the Ritz