It's time to get back to the basics! Before all of the fun ideas, color palettes, shoes, sparkly things and bling things can be decided on you have to start at step #1 which is "Buy The Book".
A planning binder will be essential for organizing all of the ideas, vendors, venues, stationary and every other detail that is necessary to plan your wedding. Whether you use an event coordinator or not, this is your go to planner whenever you need it, 24/7.
The planner will also serve as a keepsake post-wedding. My older sister got married in October and I have so much fun going through her planning book today to see all of the craziness (in a good way) that we did together to plan her wedding.
You can choose to organize several ways: E-organizer or a physical binder. CharlotteLucey prefers the physical binder because, although environmentally conscious, it's nice to have something you can flip through and physically hold instead of trying to remember yet another online password.
I'm also a huge fan of marking up pages with notes (all of my books are scribbled in) which just adds more character to the book. Some well-known event planners such as Mindy Weiss have their own wedding planning binders you can purchase. The Mindy Weiss Planner Book "The Ultimate Wedding Organizer" will run you $100, but go to any Barnes and Noble (or other book store) and they’ll have plenty. Amazon.com has a great binder for $20
PERSONAL FAVORITE: Russell & Hazel Wedding Organizer
Or if you really want to make the binder personal, create your own? Go to an office supplies store and pick out your own binder, page dividers and ornaments. Many website such as The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, or basic event planning sites will have templates for you to down load that only require you to print and hole punch.
Have fun!
