by Bobbi Stonskas

Created on: July 21, 2009

Planning your wedding without a wedding planner is difficult, but not impossible. In fact, with proper planning and designation of duties, you can plan your wedding with minimal stress. After you have set the wedding date, discuss with your partner what type of wedding you would like and how elaborate it should be.

Together make out a list of every last detail you want as a part of your wedding. Some items on your list (in no particular order) should be: wedding dress, bridesmaid & flower girl dresses, tuxedos, rings, flowers (to carry & decoration), wedding location, wedding presenter, marriage license, reception hall, reception food, music for ceremony, music for reception, reception decorations, invitations, programs, thank you notes, attendant gifts, transportation and lodging for after the ceremony. As you plan the details of your wedding, your list will grow. The initial list will help prevent you from forgetting a detail that will suddenly become vital hours before the wedding.

Evaluate your list. What items on your list do you have the strongest preference to do yourself? These are the areas that you should be responsible for. For the other items, ask for help from family members or close friends. Guide them in their selections with your motif for the wedding. Your motif may be simply color or may have a more elaborate theme. Just like a supervisor, you will need to ask their progress well in advance of the wedding date to make sure they are completing the duties assigned. For example, you decide that your wedding color is going to be red. You aren't particular as to what style of dress the bridesmaids where, but you want a specific color. You inform your bridesmaids of the specific color and allow them to choose their own style. Of course, you can still shop with your bridesmaids, but the final dress selection should be up to the individual bridesmaid.

Allowing others to assist in your wedding planning may relieve some of your planning duties, stress and end up with a more beautiful wedding than you imagined. Oftentimes another person's viewpoint will bring in another level of creativity. Or, assistance from others may prevent you from forgetting an important piece to your celebration.

Planning a wedding takes a significant amount of time. It is a special day for the couple. Allow others to share in your wedding planning. Each person involved will have great ideas and share in the pride held on your special day.

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