Planning A Wedding With A Full Time Job

[Guada_FN]

Hello there fellow Bride-to-Be's!

Planning a wedding can be a little bit tiring especially if you have a full-time day job that takes most of your time. I mean, it would be a total dream to just spend hours and hours prepping for it, right? 

So for the B2B's who have a full time work, how do you manage to plan your wedding?

Your answers would help a lot of busy brides out there. We'll be selecting some answers and share them in an article.

Looking forward to hear your tips,
Guada from FN

[tomatostellar]

We got engaged February of 2017 but only started booking suppliers January of this year for our December 2018 wedding.
We only booked an On-the-day Coordinator, so h2b and I do all the preparation.
Fortunately, it's become much easier nowadays with the aid of Social Media. We can review works of certain suppliers before deciding on meeting them. But it does take most of my spare time - after work and weekends.
I usually narrow down list of suppliers, and we both decide who to get. I do most of the communication with suppliers (via email and Facebook messenger). He does most of the banking transactions (paying for the deposit) since his schedule permits. It's a team effort.

[lalee888]

@Guada:

A few major points come to mind:

1. Hire a Full Wedding Coordinator -- they are worth their price in gold. They refine the entire planning process for you, so you don't miss out on details, they also have a cache of reliable suppliers that work in your venue, which helps you when choosing, instead of having to do a research from scratch. I have one and I can not sing enough praises. The savings of time, and the "deals" from her more than paid off her cost.

2. Lead time: have a realistic lead time, of course this isn't always possible especially those rushing to get married due to other circumstances (overseas-based couples, trying to marry while an important relative is still alive, etc). But have a healthy lead time. If you got engaged May, don't expect to marry in December. I think one year is a normal lead time and 1.6mos is GENEROUS lead time.

3. Time management: over-used but it really is very true. I'm a busy professional with a hectic lifestyle and other responsibilities --  setting a dedicated time ALONE and dedicated time with Fiance to plan the wedding got us really accomplished. I set one hour a week to do solo research and another hour each week with my hubby to bounce off ideas and see if we are on track especially with the considerations on his side of the family/guest lists.

4. Delegate: ask your bridal party to do research for you so you have narrowed down options. They do the legwork, and you have the final input. Set some parameters so it's easy -- like, I need a designer for the bridesmaids, budget is X amount TOTAL or B for each dress, must be located only in ABC city, and must have a website,or XYZ operating hours bonus if they have a social media so i can see their design quality. Give me a list of top 5 with those parameters, and 3 other options that don't meet ALL the parameters, but you think I should look at. Also, give a deadline on when you want the information by, so your delegatee can also manage their own time and expectations.

5. Big picture planning is the first step -- they are everywhere on the internet. Plan the big milestones so you know where you can procrastinate, and where you can't. For example: Invitations should be mailed 3 months before wedding date. I should choose my gown supplier 10months before wedding date. So you know where to prioritize and which task to pick up next.



5.

[abuelita]

I got engaged right before the year started and so far, we've already booked a church for Dec 2019 wedding. Dates get booked pretty fast since it's peak season. Since both of us have odd schedules, we would agree on a date that both of us are free or can take a leave from work to attend wedding expo or make an ocular survey on potential venues.  We also have a checklist of suppliers in order of priority, so we can decide whether to book them now or on latter part of the preparation.

[cbj021]

Time is your friend -- give yourselves ample time to prep. On top of my full time job, I'm also taking my masters, so we were very deliberate about deciding to plan more than a year ahead of our target date.

We've also laid out little milestones to accomplish each month-- month 1 is setting a budget, month 2 is desktop research on venues, month 3 is ocular of venues, etc.. That way we don't feel overwhelmed about having to do everything immediately. There are apps (LadyMarry) and websites that provide inputs on how soon you should start booking so-and-so suppliers or doing specific tasks

[Hanaphinee]

Take time to scout and research the most important ones. I am a March 2019 Bride-to-be, and nabubook pa lang is the Venue (ceremony and reception) and the P&V. You have to decide on the date first and location (Metro Manila, Tagaytay, Boracay, etc), because thats your basis when you are looking for suppliers and to minimize cost and effort. In my case, I will be wed in Tagaytay and Im looking for a supplier near Tagaytay to minimize fees.

Wedding Planning was never easy but its not that difficult too.

 

[bollin_pop]

Additional inputs:

- Balance your work and planning a wedding by allotting time for both.
- Set a target on what you want to achieve on a given time (Per month, week). Focus on the big items.
- Hire a reputable coordinator and suppliers that can execute your plan.
- Be a member of online bridal support groups like girltalk. Feedback from real brides are so worthy!

[Frenchmeasles]

@Guada:

A few major points come to mind:

1. Hire a Full Wedding Coordinator -- they are worth their price in gold. They refine the entire planning process for you, so you don't miss out on details, they also have a cache of reliable suppliers that work in your venue, which helps you when choosing, instead of having to do a research from scratch. I have one and I can not sing enough praises. The savings of time, and the "deals" from her more than paid off her cost.

Sis Lalee, sino wedding coord mo?

[lalee888]

^hey sis, Amanda Tirol (Boracay Weddings) for my supposed Boracay wedding. Had to move our venue due to the closure and guess what? She and her team coordinated it all smoothly. My stress and nightmares disappeared.

I doubt you are having a Boracay wedding, so I can also recommend Rita Neri (Rita Neri Events and Parties) for Manila or anywhere overall, she's the best from what I've seen and from friends' feedback.

Keep in mind both of them are at the top of their professions so you can expect the best talaga, and also they are pricey. Rita Neri quoted me 80K though, far cheaper than Amanda. Maybe you can even negotiate. I stand by my word though that for top coordinators, they are worth their price in gold. I have a million details I would not have been aware of if not for them, they also gave me tips how to save/where to save, and of course, the supplier rates through them were cheaper than publicly. They also coordinate guests' needs (like hotel/domestic travel). Parang private concierge.

[Frenchmeasles]

^ Thanks sis. Unfortunately may nabook na ko pero di ako ganun ka satisfied   Yung mga minention mo na guidance that I was hoping to get wala. When I ask for supplier costings mas mahal pa offer nila kesa sa when I ask on my own. We were hoping that they can help us negotiate prices pero so far ako pa nakikipagnegotiate. Okay lang naman sana kaso they set expectations sa initial meeting na they can help us get good deals. Wala din silang guidelines/checklist or anything. I mostly get my info here and sa Wawie. Di rin kasi ako confrontational na tao so parang ako na lang kikilos kesa may gulo pa.

 80k niya is full coord na ba? I booked mine for 65k parang di naman na nalalayo considering na efficient yung nirecommend mo.

Manila wedding pala ako

[wandergirl1980]

I planned my own wedding back in 2010 while holding a full-time job. At that time may baby na din ako. First thing I did was made a list of everything we needed. Hubby and I then discussed kung saan mag-splurge like reception/food, photo/video, etc.

I only booked an OTD coordinator but everything else ako na, from searching suppliers to calling to gathering entourage for fitting, etc.

Masaya naman and I didn't feel haggard. I did my research and calling/emailing the suppliers on weekdays. Weekends naman are for meet-ups and attend ng mga bridal fairs.

By the time na matapos ang wedding feeling ko expert na ako sa event management hehe.

It's all about time management and prioritizing. We had our photo/video by Niceprint. Our OTD was VIPAccess.  Flowers courtesy of my mom's friend's daughter who owns a flower shop

[lalee888]

^ Thanks sis. Unfortunately may nabook na ko pero di ako ganun ka satisfied   Yung mga minention mo na guidance that I was hoping to get wala. When I ask for supplier costings mas mahal pa offer nila kesa sa when I ask on my own. We were hoping that they can help us negotiate prices pero so far ako pa nakikipagnegotiate. Okay lang naman sana kaso they set expectations sa initial meeting na they can help us get good deals. Wala din silang guidelines/checklist or anything. I mostly get my info here and sa Wawie. Di rin kasi ako confrontational na tao so parang ako na lang kikilos kesa may gulo pa.

 80k niya is full coord na ba? I booked mine for 65k parang di naman na nalalayo considering na efficient yung nirecommend mo.

Manila wedding pala ako

Hi sis, sorry you're not happy with the coord you booked. I believe the 80K for RNEP was full coordination na. It really wasn't that much IMO. I could be wrong, but if I were wrong, their full coord would be 100k, basta alam ko it was less than Amanda Tirol, but because they were Manila based, if i had wanted to bring them to Boracay (at the time), I'd have to cover their travel/accom/meals which I didn't want to do.

Anyway, don't want to stress you out but a planner/coordinator should be looking after your best interest, not profiting from you in terms of suppliers (that's unethical and conflict of interest). Read the fine print of your contract, if you can get out, get out of it. BUT getting out may also be STRESSFUL and not worth your time. Do not confront sis kasi baka she sabotages you pa. Remember you will have a year long (however long your planning is) relationship with her. You can INDIRECTLY plant little seeds of wisdom and clarity for her instead -- like mention how you plan to review all your suppliers in social media, how you have a guest who is an editor for a top magazine, etc.

You might also ask her for a checklist, tell her that was your expectation since you need her help in making sure you complete the tasks and leave no stone unturned for your wedding. Good luck sis, you can do this! Breathe...