Posted: 22 April 2005 at 12:32am | IP Logged

I typed up a "Wedding Party Update" for everyone involved in the wedding at about a month and a half before ceremony. I included dates/time/activities of bachelor and bachelorette parties. I also included time & date of the rehearsal and dinner. For the day of i got pretty specific with time to meet, decorate, hair, time to be at church, picture time, how things will go at reception etc. I did a basic written walk through of all related event. I would put the main event and then break it down by "girls" and then followed by "guys" and in each i included things like girls at reception site at blah blah time to decorate, and then under guys it had please bring us gils ladders for decorating at 10am and remove at 3pm. etc, let the guys know that some would be golfing while girls decorate etc, also stated be at church at x time dressed and ready for photos, included for guys who would usher and at what time to start, asking best man to remind groom to pin corsages on the mothers etc. I just tried to cover the basic over all out line of the big day, some small details, and also dates and times for other surrounding events. We're at a month out now....aaahhhh but all involved in my wedding really appreciated having a concept of what there role is and also knowing in advance all dates and times for all events so child care or jobs can be planned ahead of time. just what i did if maybe it helps anyone.

I didn't delegate much of anything for my wedding, ive pretty much done it all myself as far as research, checking, planning, orderong etc.  My mother is making all the attire. its been a lot, i mean a lot of work, more then i had expected, every detail has 10 more details attached to them that you never thought of until trying to tackle the original detail. but in the long run it's worth it for me, as i felt it was my wedding so i should be the one doing most of the work, but thats just me. My matron of honor did organize the bridal shower and will be doing the same for bachelorette party so as far as the standard matron duties those have been done but i don't even know technically whose supposed to do what. Ive taken it all on myself and then asked for help with specific minor things along the way if i needed it. my only problem has been financial, if i had an unlimited budget the rest of its easy...lol  Take care and good luck!

Posted: 22 April 2005 at 11:53am | IP Logged

Maiden K--it sounds like we are in the same boat as far as delegation goes.  One of the things I meant to do this week was draw up a To-Do list for my bridesmaids.  The only things I can think of right now are find your dress and shoes, decide what you want to do with your hair, and measure around your neck where you want your necklace to sit so that I can make it that length.  What else could I put on there?  Important things that they should take care of soon?  When it gets closer I will probably use your idea (good idea!) and give everyone the details, but for now I'm just trying to figure out what to tell them...

Posted: 22 April 2005 at 2:55pm | IP Logged

Sounds like you've got it under control. Be sure to give specifics for hair, dress, & shoes if you have things in mind, or if your leaving it open to them i would include things you definately don't want. for instance if you want them to coordinate with eachother on hair, all up do's or all down do's, or if you want them to have similar style shoes, all heels, no heels, any style but same color etc. I have learned it's better to be specific, its easier for them when they have a better idea of what you want. If you leave it very vague you may get continuous phone calls etc saying i found this...is this ok? where if you state it upfront they don't have to wonder.

The only other thing i can think of, unless you are delegating other duties to them would be give your matron of honor an idea of what you would like for a shower or bachelorette party, for example, how long before the wedding do you want your shower?  do you want bachelorette party? do you want it combined with shower? or after? most people assume bachelorette parties are the night before the wedding, you may decide like i did that's to hectic with everything else and do it the weekend before the wedding etc.  just to give a basic heads up on those kind of things. I did my shower 6wks before wedding, bachelorette will be saturday before.  Shower was large with all friends and family, bachelorette party will be small with 6-7 good friends just out on the town.  My mother told me that gift wise it's better to set your shower out a while from the wedding. she said even if you don't ask or expect gifts, everyone wants to give gifts and will, if your shower is right before the wedding they feel double wammied on getting gifts, if they're spaced out it's easier for guests.  That's all i can think of for now, good luck