Memorable weddings are the result of meticulous planning and careful preparation. One often overlooked and last-minute aspect of wedding planning is the selection of memorable souvenirs and favors. These tokens of gratitude serve as tangible elements that etch the wedding experience even more beautifully and thoroughly in the guests’ minds. Read on to get an idea of the wedding planning timeline and for tips that will help you plan the wedding souvenirs and favors.
Planning and Prep Stages
In the months and days before the wedding, every plan you make and every decision you take will bring you closer to the wedding of your dreams. A timeline will provide you with direction, structure, and organization amidst the whirlwind of wedding prep chaos. Although the timeline will need adjustments to suit your specific needs and circumstances, this is what a general planning and prep timeline looks like:
Early Planning (12-18 months before the wedding)
You’re probably newly engaged at this stage. It’s time to celebrate before you get on with the preparatory work. The first task that awaits you at this point is setting the budget. The budget will affect your decisions and vice versa may also be true at times. Once you have a budget, prepare a guest list with your partner. Then comes the all-important debate of wedding date vs. venue.
In an ideal situation, you’ll be able to land your dream venue on your chosen date. But this is really difficult, so your best bet is to start early. In many cases, couples have to choose between a beloved date and a perfect venue. Decide what’s more important to you: to hold the wedding on a favorite date at an available venue or to secure the ideal venue on any date. Other factors that may also come into play here are the wedding theme, the level of formality desired, and of course the budget. After you’ve finalized the wedding date and venue, you might want to hire a wedding planner or start researching and booking vendors yourself.
Mid-Planning (9-12 months before)
It’s time to send out the save-the-date cards to all those who are on your guest list. You should also start shopping for your wedding attire, and plan the ceremony and reception details. Finalize your contracts with the key vendors. Also, start looking for potential destinations and plans for your honeymoon. You could, at this point, also browse wedding invitation designs.
Souvenir and Favor Planning (6-9 months before)
Souvenirs and favors are tokens of appreciation given to guests for joining the wedding celebration. Favors are small gifts that you can think of as practical tokens of appreciation. For favors, you can choose between practical items such as keychains or candles and edible treats such as chocolates, cookies, or brownies.
Souvenirs, on the other hand, are sentimental keepsakes, often more substantial. Ideally, souvenirs should be personalized and meaningful. Prepare items such as picture frames or custom-made glassware for souvenirs. So do you have to choose between souvenirs and favors? The best option would be to combine practicality and sentimental value and provide your guests with both, souvenirs and favors. A box of Fairytale Brownies would make scrumptious favors.
Later Stages (4-6 months before)
By now, you’re probably starting to feel the excitement and rush a bit more. You’ll be dealing with some very important tasks in this period. One of your significant tasks is to purchase the wedding rings. Also, schedule your dress fittings, and decide on bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen attire. Plan the rehearsal dinner and finalize the wedding menu as well as the cake design if you’re going to have one. The trend this year is leaning toward dessert tables featuring an assortment of bite-sized treats such as brownies instead of traditional wedding cakes. Place Fairytale Brownies on your table and see how your guests relish them!
Final Touches (2-4 months before)
Send out your wedding invitations and enjoy the buzz of anticipation the invites generate. Apply for your marriage license and write down your wedding vows. This is also a good time to create a wedding day timeline. Confirm RSVPs, and finalize guest count as well as the seating chart.
The Wedding Month
It’s the final lap! Finally, after months of preparation, it’s THE month and your wedding is merely days away. Attend your final dress fittings, and go for hair and makeup trials. With your wedding planner, and if possible, your photographer in tow, go for a final walk-through of the venue; discuss the wedding timeline with the staff and confirm the decor.
During the last week before your wedding, pick up your wedding attire and break into your wedding shoes. Also, practice your wedding vows and delegate tasks to your wedding party. After this stage, let your trusted squad take over the tasks while you relax and prepare mentally for the most special moments of your life.
Conclusion
With adherence to a wedding planning timeline, you can craft an experience for your guests that they will remember for a lifetime. And with the wedding favors and souvenirs, you’ll give them something tangible to cherish and make the experience sweeter. Whenever you get exhausted with the wedding preparation tasks, how about taking a break and sharing a box of brownies with your partner?
Create a memorable wedding with Fairytale Brownies treats
Perfect for table favors, thank-you gifts, souvenirs, and reception desserts – include Fairytale Treats in all your wedding festivities.
Thank you for this wonderful blog of yours. This helped me alot!