The Wedding Planner in Gilbert AZ

Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming special day! Now that you and your significant other have decided to get married, it is time to figure out everything from your bridal shower to your marriage ceremony and reception.  
Bridal gown, flowers and shoes in Gilbert AZ
From the wedding dress to the honeymoon, there are a lot of details to sort out before you say “I do.”
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But while it might seem overwhelming to figure it all out, Gilbert Wedding Planner is here to help you reduce stress and make the entire process easier and lots of fun!

We specialize in planning both local and destination weddings. So whether you want your nuptials to be held locally in Gilbert or you would rather get married in an exotic locale, we will create an event for you that will be remembered for years to come.
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To get you started on planning your celebration, here is a checklist to follow that will help you to narrow down your matrimony theme and what you want for your big day.

Enchanted Services for Every Marriage Ceremony

Wedding Planning Timeline

10-12 Months Out

First things first, it is crucial to figure out your budget. Not only is it necessary to decide how much you will be spending, but you must also determine who will be paying for what. It is also important to decide on what is considered a priority and what isn’t. For example, would you rather hire a videographer as well as a photographer, or have more guests instead?
  • Speaking of your guests, now is also the time to decide how many people you want to come to your ceremony. Keep in mind that the number of guests you invite not only depends on your budget, but also on the number of people that your chosen marriage venue will be able to accommodate.

  • Figuring out where you want to get married is the next task on the wedding planning checklist. But first you must decide if you want to stay local or if your budget allows for a destination wedding.

  • If you do choose to stay local for your ceremony and reception, try to check out at least three places that you are interested in. While doing your research, keep in mind that even if a potential site looks perfect online, it is really about the way it makes you feel in person that should determine whether or not you book it.  

  • After you have chosen and booked your venue, it is time to start looking into potential vendors including your photographer, band or DJ, caterer, and florist. However, many vendors tend to get booked up very quickly - especially if they are popular. So, the sooner you can pick who you want to hire, the more likely it is that they will be available on the date of your marriage.

  • Picking your theme is the next thing to do. Your theme includes things such as your color palette, your décor, the music and songs you want played, and what your cake will look like. If you are at a loss for decoration ideas, browsing websites like Pinterest and The Knot can be a good place to start in order to get inspired.​

  • Once you have chosen your theme, you can now begin the process of shopping for your wedding dress. It’s okay if you don’t know exactly what type of dress you want right now. If this is the case, start by turning to Pinterest or to popular magazines like Premier Bride, Wedding Style and Brides to view different dress styles. Then, visit several bridal boutiques to try on gowns so you can then decide what you like and ultimately make the decision on what dress you want to wear when walking down the aisle.

  • Ten to twelve months before your nuptials is also the time to figure out who you want in your bridal party. It’s always fun to find a special and unique way to let your chosen group know you want them to be a part of your big day! To make it memorable for your bridal party, there are several things you can do such as taking them to dinner and surprising them with personalized invitations that say “will you be my bridesmaid?” on the front; you can serve them brunch at your home and pop the question in the form of a champagne toast; or even hide the message in fortune cookies that you hand to each person!​
 
  • The last thing to do during this time is to choose a photographer to take your engagement photos. This way they will be ready to include on your save-the-date invitations if you choose to send them out.

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8-9 Months Out

If you have chosen to create save-the-date cards, now is the time to send them out to all of your invited guests. But if you have decided not to mail out actual cards, sending an E-mail to your invited guests works just as well!
  • The next thing on your to-do checklist is to choose your bridal registry. Take time to figure out where you and your partner want to register for your wedding gifts. When picking the gifts you want to receive, it is important to keep in mind that you are trying to build a home together. Thus, gifts such as kitchen items or towels and matching bed linens are usually the most practical to put on your list.

  • Selecting the dresses your bridesmaids will wear is a task that must be done around the eight to nine-month mark as well. If they live locally, ask your bridesmaids to come shopping for the dresses with you. Not only will it help you to see them in the dresses you are considering, but they will also get the chance to provide valuable input to you about which dress to choose. Alternatively, not every bridesmaid has to wear the same dress.

    One of the more popular trends today is to have mismatched styles and colors so each bridesmaid can express her individual style. But as long as you and your bridesmaids choose their dresses eight to nine months before your day of "I do's", There will be plenty of time to have the dresses altered if necessary.

  • Deciding on your wedding flowers and floral arrangements is the next duty to take care of during this time period. Plus, you are going to want to meet with your cake vendor to do a tasting and choose the flavor of your wedding cake and the cake topper.
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  • And last, it is time to decide on how your wedding invitations are going to look and what they are going to say.

6-7 Months Out

It is now time to start planning your rehearsal dinner, who will officiate your ceremony and your special day's music.
  • When choosing a place to hold your rehearsal dinner you must first figure out how many guests will be invited to attend. The general rule of thumb is that immediate family and the members of your bridal party should all be there. But, many brides and grooms also extend the invitation to their out of town guests.

    ​When it comes to location, you don’t have to choose a swanky restaurant if you don’t want to. As an alternative, ask a friend if they are willing to hold the dinner at their home for a more relaxed and casual atmosphere. Or if you do want to have the dinner at a restaurant, you can do something memorable and unique such as booking the place where you and your partner had your first date. Just be sure that whatever place you do pick will be able to fit the number of guests you have invited!

  • The second task to take care of in this timeframe is to hire the person who will be officiating over your ceremony. The person can be anyone from the pastor at your church to an ordained close family member or friend.
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  • And finally, figure out the music you want for your walk down the aisle, the wedding song you want played for your first dance as husband and wife, and the songs for the first dance between the bride and her father and the groom and his mother.
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4-5 Months Out

We're almost there! Time to think about transportation, tuxedos, rings, the honeymoon and most importantly your hair and makeup.
  • Booking your transportation to and from your determined ceremony is the first duty to take care of four to five months before your nuptials. You can choose to have a limo drive you to your venue, or you can even hire a shuttle bus to take you and your wedding party there together.

  • Next, the groom and his groomsmen should buy or rent their tuxedos or suits for the marriage during this time.

  • It is also time to book your honeymoon and order your wedding invitations at this stage,

  • Going shopping for your wedding rings also falls into this timeframe.
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  • Plus, the bride should schedule an appointment with her favorite hair salon to begin going over and experimenting with various wedding hairstyles and makeup she is considering for the big day.
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1-3 Months Out

Your special day is getting closer and closer with each passing day. And there is still so much to do!
  • During this time, you should be deciding on your final menu writing your vows, and deciding what your wedding favors for your guests will be. 
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  • Send out your wedding invites 8 weeks before your special day.

  • It is time to have a final dress fitting and pick up your marriage license!

  • Assemble your gift bags, decide on your seating chart for the reception, pay your vendors, and wear your wedding shoes around your home until they are broken in and comfortable.
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  • Before you know it, your special day will be here!
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Gilbert Wedding Planners ​​

Planning a wedding is a lot of work and can easily become overwhelming.
Let Gilbert Wedding Planner help you to tackle each of the steps successfully so you can relax and enjoy your special day stress free!