Back in January, I created an action plan for the wedding. It contained the broad things that we could do, stretched out over a manageable period of time, from January to July. In fact, I attribute a relatively calm wedding planning experience thanks in part to that list. Then, I expected, that by July, things would get much more nitty gritty, so the list ended there. And I was right. Things are getting nitty gritty now. So it’s time to create a detailed wedding to-do list.
I’m trying to determine the best way to approach this. Should I just start to do the things I can cross off right now just to get them done? Like picking up brochures for the welcome bags and buying paint supplies for our guest “book?” Or should I do it more systematically on a timeline?
Although I don’t like the idea of having things cluttering up the house, I’m thinking that I should just start to take care of those types of things now. Less to worry about later, right? And, if I already have it in the house, hopefully I’m less likely to change my mind about what I want to do for the wedding!
So, what do you think? Am I missing anything major?
1 comment
If something can be done months before the wedding, do it months before the wedding. There will be plenty to do as the day draws near. I would suggest you take your list (which is very detailed – good for you) and pick 3-5 things from your list and get them done now – this week. I take lists like this and section them off by months to help our couples with feeling overwhelmed with the tasks at hand. Looking at your list in your post is very overwhelming to me, but it *is* very detailed so it probably seems like a lot. Dividing it into months might be a better way to handle it than a systematic timeline.
Timelines are great if you realize that they will get messed up. I have wasted more time making timelines when I could’ve spent that time just getting something done! And if something “comes up” I have to spend more time recreating the timeline. I spend more time being frustrated with the very thing that was supposed to keep me organized. You do have a timeline to deal with, after all, the countdown to your wedding day is on! What I see working for our couples is to give them assignments from their list to get done from one monthly meeting to another. It keeps them on track and they do not feel so overwhelmed. My wedding business coaches have taught me to pick 5 things from my daily to-do list (my homeschool mom-preneur of 3 list) and do them that day. No time blocks. Just do them. Blocking off time to do things (like blogging and grading papers) is great and I need that time where I can say, “This is my time. Leave me alone.” But what I find most often is that the more I schedule every single hour or half-hour, the more frustrated I get because something always comes up and I can’t keep the schedule.
Bottom line, I think you already answered your question when you said that you should do things now. ‘Less to worry about right?’ RIGHT! How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Happy Planning!