What does it take to be super organized during the wedding planning process?
Before you run to the nearest bookstore to buy one of the many gorgeous “Wedding Planners” on the market, consider this: most professional wedding planners use simple 2”-3” binders to stay on track for each and every wedding they plan. The primary reason for this is that a binder can be customized to suit every wedding while keeping everything you need at your fingertips. Sometimes thicker binders or multiple binders are required, but binders do the trick every single time.
I like white binders with protective plastic covers and spines so I can add my own graphics specific to my clients’ vision. You can make this as fancy or simple as you like. You can opt for a binder with a zipper but most of what you need can be contained easily within a simple white binder.
Now there are some additional items that you will need to make this as effective as possible. They include:
- Plastic sheet protectors (to hold contracts, inspirational pages from magazines, brochures, receipts, etc)
- Binder tabs (I personally like the 10 tab system)
- Business card sleeve (to hold all of your business cards for possible venues, vendors – make sure you edit this once you have made your final selections)
- Coloured sticky tabs (to further subdivide categories – in particular your vendor and venue categories)
Accordion file for 3-dimensional inspiration pieces like fabric, paper, buttons, stickers (whatever it is that grabs your attention)
From there, I divide my binder as follows:
Business Card Sleeve
1) Contacts (the most often used section)
2) Activity Log (where I simply record by hand every piece of communication that has taken place during the wedding planning process)
3) Budget (most recent updated budget to keep you on track as you plan)
4) Master Timeline: Checklist, Timeline(s),
5) Venues: Contracts, Menus, Communication, Invoices, Receipts, etc
6) Vendors: Contracts, Invoices, Receipts, Communication, etc.
7) Design Details: Photos in plastic sleeves, Paint chips,
8) Guest List: includes RSVP’s, food choices, gifts, etc
9) Addtitional Category as you prefer
10) Addtitional Category as you prefer
When it comes to your vendor section, use your sticky tabs. Break these down further with your tabs to identify the individual vendors such as bakery, DJ, rental companies, florist, photographer, videographer and so on.
Hopefully this will help you get organized. Stay on top of this and file, file, file.
There is nothing worse than looking for something you can’t easily find – and nothing better than being able to put your hands on something you do need, in a matter of seconds!
Helping YOU plan your wedding from “I Will” to “I Do” !
Lori x.