Trying to plan an event for a large group of people and keep it flowing smoothly can be challenging!  A Day of Coordinator can be your best friend during this time.  They know what goes into the event, how long things usually take and can help guide you through what you do or don't want to include for your wedding.
Different types of ceremonies can influence a wedding timeline, but we've give you an overview of a typical wedding flow that fits our venue (and others like it).
Wedding Day Timeline
9am - 10am  Begin hair and makeup.  This all depends on how many are in your bridal party, where this is being done (salon, hotel, venue) and, most importantly, how long your vendors tell you they need.

When I was engaged I had several moments of sheer joy admiring my shiny engagement ring, only to be interrupted by panic moments filled with questions of wedding planning - how much food do I need for the guest count, what should the guest count be, what if it rains, etc.  Does this sound like you at all?  We've got some common questions and answers laid out for you below.  So, read through, take a deep breath, and admire your shiny ring again!

An average wedding ranges from $20,000 - $30,000 but many couples plan weddings for less than $10,000.  Your guest count is one of THE BIGGEST drivers of your budget (hint: the weddings for less than $10,000 did not have 200+ guests).  For more info on what goes into the budget, check out our post - Breakdown of a Wedding Budget.

This can often be one of the most stressful parts of the initial planning.  It's a joint effort between the couple and the families - you may not think about great Aunt Judy being there, but your mom keeps in regular contact with her and great Aunt Judy would be heartbroken to not be there and celebrate with you.  Determine the type of event you want - intimate or large celebration.  Explain to your families why you would like to go that way and then develop the list from there.

Traditionally whoever walks the bride down and gives her away will lift the veil.  You can also leave the veil down throughout the ceremony and the groom can lift it before the first kiss.  It's sweet either way!

Typically about 4 hours. This gives you time for a cocktail hour (while you take photos), dinner, toasts, cake cutting, and dancing.  At Pleasant Union Farm - we provide 5 hours of event time from ceremony through send off which gives you plenty of time to spend with your guests.

For vendors that are there during the full event, yes, you should provide them with a meal.  Be sure to check your contract with the vendors also as they often give specifics on the meal and when they take a break for that meal. You want them performing at their peak during your wedding day!

The rehearsal is to make sure everyone involved in the ceremony knows their role.  For rehearsal and dinner, this typically includes bridal party, officiant, immediate family, flower girl and ring bearer.  It's also common to include any family have traveled from out of town to provide more time together.  Make sure you talk through the plan with whoever is paying for the dinner so everyone is on the same page.

If it's not in the budget, this is an area you can eliminate.  Small (edible) favors are usually preferred - cookies to go, small candies.  A photobooth is also a great idea instead of traditional "favors" because it gives guests something to do during cocktail hour, provide additional photos for the couple and most provide a print out for the guests to take home with them.

It's customary to send out invitations 6 - 8 weeks before the wedding.  This gives guests time to plan and to RSVP.

Traditionally the father of the bride starts the toasts, followed by maid of honor and best man.  It's always nice for the bride and groom to thank their guests for coming to celebrate with them.

If you are looking for more helpful answers to wedding planning questions - check out the full article from Top Wedding Questions here.
Photos by Hillary Leah Photography
-Becky

If you are looking for unique, flavorful cocktails for your reception - we've got you covered!  Brittney Holloway with Milk & Honey Bartending has whipped up 4 delicious cocktails perfect for your Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter wedding.

Find them on the web + Like them on Facebook

You've almost made it!  You are down to the final month before you start the rest of your life together.  You'll have a few items to wrap up and then hand everything off to a Day of Coordinator so you can enjoy your wedding day.

1. Finalize your guest count.  If you haven't received all your RSVP's, make sure you call, email, text to follow up with each person on your list and get their final response.  You will need to let your venue, caterer, cake designer, florist, etc. know this final count so they have everything prepared for your wedding.

2. Purchase guest book and other details.  Make sure you have the guest book, plenty of pens, unity candles and holders, frames for any photographs to display, etc.  Go through the plan table by table on what you will need and make a list.

3. Finalize day of timeline.  Sit down with your Day of Coordinator and get all the details worked out.  That will allow you to focus on your fiance and soak in the day.  Make sure they coordinate the timeline with your photographer so everyone is on the same page.  Get copies sent out to all your vendors and your bridal party.

4. Final site walk through.  Now that you have the final guest count, your venue or planner will finalize the layout for ceremony and reception.  You should also talk through a rain contingency plan and when that decision needs to be made.  Get everything prepared now so you don't stress about it the week leading up to your wedding.  (and remember, even if it rains, you will be married and enjoying the time with friends and family!)

5. Break in your wedding shoes.  You'll be dancing the night away so make sure they are comfortable.  Wear them around the house, show them off to friends, whatever you need to do to make sure you don't regret your choice.  This goes for heels or flats!  I neglected to break in the ballet flats I chose for my wedding day and quickly changed them out for flip flops at the reception (which, is also an OK back up plan).

6. Develop seating chart for reception.  If you are doing a seating plan, now is the time to set that up.  You'll have the final guest list and layout to work from.  Think through groups that will like to sit together, mix it up with the "life of the party" guests throughout the plan so everyone stays entertained.  Check out our post here for more seating plan tips.

7. Get your marriage license!  You'll go to the courthouse in the county you will be married in to get this important piece of information.  Post the required selfie on Instagram.

And then, try to relax!  If you've followed our tips along the way, you'll have the details covered.  Focus on getting those last items packed for the honeymoon!
- Becky
Find out about tasks for 2 - 3 months here.

Good news - the "to-do" lists are getting shorter! (Unless you're like my husband and I who planned our whole wedding in 3 months - then you're probably just getting started - feel free to hit me up for advice if you're there with us!)

1. Discuss pre-wedding parties with Maid of Honor and Best Man.  Fun stuff!  Decide what you want to do to celebrate with your bridal party.  An all out bachelor party?  A weekend at the lake?  It's totally up to you and your crew.  If your Maid of Honor and Best Man really know you well, let them plan it!  Again, one less thing for you to do.

2. Purchase wedding day accessories for bride.  Finalize those details - the earrings, necklace, hair accessories.  All the sparkly little details that complete your wedding day look.  On wedding day, make sure you have all these things set aside for your photographer to capture.  (Read more about details to discuss with your photographer here).

3. Schedule your stylist trial sessions.  Once you have your inspiration photos nailed down, set up time with your stylist to do a trial.  This lets you see the results and tweak it so your stylist will have it perfect on your wedding day.  This is the time to speak up if something isn't exactly the way you want.  Your stylist wants to know so they can make you feel beautiful!

4. Mail Invitations.  Check, check!  Make sure to ask for RSVP's before the 30 day mark.  You'll need that info for vendors and we all know someone will be late.  You will probably have to follow up with some people who don't RSVP.  Call, text, email.  Make sure you know who is and isn't coming so you don't pay for extra guests.

5. Decide on your bridal party processional order and ceremony details.  Nail these down with your officiant and coordinator.  There are several ways to structure your processional and ceremony.  The only wrong way is the one that doesn't fit you as a couple.  Your officiant can give guidance on ceremony details and what you may or may not want to include.  Sit down with your coordinator to understand some common bridal party processionals and what fits your wedding.

6. Order guest favors.  If you are providing favors for your guests, order those now.  There are endless options for guest favors - food related items are the most often taken home!  We've had couples that hand made candles or soap for guests.  Our Farm to Table weddings have used our handmade goat milk soaps or lotions for favors.  A late night cookie truck as a take away?  Yes, please!

You probably have a lot of non-wedding related items going on now, too.  Getting settled into a new house or apartment, getting used to your fiance's pets full time, spending more and more time with each other's families.  Planning a honeymoon!  Take time to focus on those items, too.  Enjoy the last bit of time before your last name changes.  We know you're looking forward to the big day and starting your life together, but savor the moments as they come - you won't regret it.
- Becky
Get your 4 month "to do" items here.
​Find your next steps for 1 month out here.

You're getting closer to your big day!  Which means just as you finished your checklist from last month, you better start on the next one.  At 4 - 5 months out, you'll want to focus on getting details wrapped up in some areas.

1. Choose your something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.  As a blueberry farm, we are a bit partial to anytime a bride uses our blueberries as their something blue!  This is a great opportunity to include details and people that mean something to you in your wedding.  Pinterest is full of ideas and we love seeing creative ones.

2. Book your wedding cake.  After you've done your tastings, confirm with the cake designer of your choice.  Finalize the design and give them a guest count estimate.  (Bonus points if you include blueberries - something blue AND extra tasty!)

3. Prepare for your first fitting.  Buy your lingerie and any other essentials you need to make sure your fitting is accurate.  What you wear under your dress can make a big difference in how the dress fits, so make sure you have those details down and your get the most out of your fitting.

4. Find inspiration photos for your hair and makeup.  Pinterest is your friend again for these photos.  Another great place to look are styled shoots which are often published on bridal websites or in magazines.  Hair and makeup artists will show the latest trends in these shoots and give you some great new ideas.

5.  Choose your bridesmaids accessories.  Earrings, necklaces, shoes - all the finishing touches.  This can also be a great idea for bridal party gifts.  Who doesn't love something new and sparkly?

6. Finalize attire for other bridal party members.  Flower girl dresses, bow ties for ring bearer or groomsmen.  Get it all finalized and ordered.  There are so many details that go into planning your wedding.  Keep an eye out for things you can ask others to help with.  If you trust your sister's taste and her daughter is your flower girl, maybe give her a general idea of what you like and let her choose something.  If your groom's style is one of the reasons you love him, ask him for ideas for his groomsmen.  You'll need as much help as you can get as the wedding day gets closer!

7. Purchase your wedding bands.  It's common to purchase the wedding band along with the bride's engagement ring, but you probably need to pick out your groom's band.  There are a ton of great options for guys bands, besides the traditional gold band.  Titanium is a great option if he's hard on things.  Wood or horn inset bands are understated.  There are even non-metal options which are great for some professions or fit an athlete's style.

That's it for month 4!  Good news is, your check list should have a lot more checks on it than empty boxes now.  Make sure you take plenty of breaks from wedding planning to spend time with your fiance (not discussing wedding plans).  Spend time with friends and family too - again, not talking about wedding planning.  Those breaks will keep you from rehashing decisions over and over, and keep you sane.  As always, feel free to drop us any questions in the comments!
- Becky
Read the previous post on 6 month planning.

At 6 months out, things start to come together quickly.  You'll have several final orders to place, final decisions to make on food, design, etc.  We've got them all listed for you below!

1.  All the dresses.  Once you've found that perfect dress, get it ordered!  You'll need time for it to come in, get fittings and alterations done before you walk down the aisle. 
​Confirm your bridesmaid dresses.  Thank goodness it's OK to mix and match bridesmaid dresses - sometimes it's too hard to pick just one!  Look for inspiration on Pinterest for ideas on how to mix styles, shades of the same color, different colors, prints and more.

2. Book your hair and makeup artist.  Decide where you will be getting hair and makeup done - salon, house, venue, etc.  This will help you narrow down your options on who you want to work with.  Look through their previous work and talk with them about the style you want to make sure they can give you the perfect look.

3. Save the Dates and Invitations again.  It's time to get your Save the Dates in the mail!  After that you can finalize all your invitation details and get them ordered.  Double check ALL the information - ceremony time, venue address, spelling of names, etc.

4. Schedule tasting with caterer and set menu options.  Selecting a menu that provides plenty of options for all your guests and dietary needs can be stressful.  A great caterer can help you choose a delicious menu that provides options for everyone.  Ask your caterer to label items as Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, etc. on the buffet so guests can easily choose what they need.
If fresh and flavorful food is right up your ally, consider a Farm to Table menu.  Farm to Table menu's work with local farmers to source fresh, sustainable meats paired with the freshest, in season vegetables.  The menu will reflect your tastes and the flavors of the season making for a unique dining experience for your guests!

5. Schedule your cake tasting.  In our opinion, one of the best meetings!  Enjoy tasting the cake and icing flavor combinations.  Talk through design ideas with the cake designer, also.  Wedding cakes are truly an art that should be both beautiful and taste delicious!  If cake isn't your thing, get creative.  What about a pie bar?  Donut wall?  Or dessert bar with lots of options.  At our wedding, my husband and I had a dessert reception - it definitely reflected my personality.  Instead of one cake, we had several of my family favorites plus pie, cheesecakes, cookies, brownies and more.  Yummm...

6. Start the playlist for your DJ.  Think through ceremony songs as everyone walks down the aisle and again after you're pronounced man and wife!  Go through options for your first dance, parent dances, etc.  Your DJ can be a great resource on which songs or types of music will get everyone on the dance floor!

7. Design your table settings.  So many options!  Choose your linen colors, place settings, specialty chairs for sweetheart or head table, centerpieces, etc.  There may be several vendors involved in creating your table settings - florist, rental company, planner, venue, china vendor, etc.  Make sure you connect them all to ensure your design flows seamlessly.  Once you have a plan in place, get those items reserved!

8. Book transportation.  For your guests and yourselves after the wedding!  Make sure everyone is taken care of.

9. Reserve any rentals.  Need a dance floor?  Specialty tables or chairs?  Anything your venue or vendors aren't taking care of, you need to get reserved.  You don't want to wait until a month before the wedding and realize the gorgeous handmade farm tables you were dreaming of have been booked for another wedding.

10. Rehearsal dinner plans.  We'll end on another food topic!  Start researching options for your rehearsal dinner.  Will you host it at the venue?  Are there nearby restaurants with private dining room options?  Or perhaps the groom's parents would like to host it at their home.  Talk about who will be invited to the rehearsal dinner.  Start with those in the wedding party and immediate family.  If you have close friends or family traveling from out of town, you may want to include them also.

You're getting closer to the big day! 6 months may still seem like forever when you're waiting to begin your life with the one you love, but it will fly by.  As always, let us know what questions you may have for us.
And if you haven't already started to consider it, a full service wedding planner can take A LOT of stress off of you by managing this list of to do items for you!
- Becky
Next steps - 4 months out.
Previous planning for 9 months before your wedding.

In our first post in the series (which you can find here), we covered the initial steps in wedding planning - most of which are exciting to work on.  We can only warn you that this most may not be as "fun" but they are definitely critical items to work on.  Just keep your focus on the wedding day and you can make it through it!

1. Select your bridal party.  Bridal parties can range from one important person on each side to 10, 12, etc.  Consider brothers and sisters on each side and if they will be included in the bridal party.  Who are your closest friends?  These may be friends you've known since grade school and kept in touch with, or more recent friends that you can't imagine your life without.  Talk with your fiance about who they will have on their side.  Good news - you don't have to place equal numbers on each side!  
After you have determined the list, make sure you ask them!  You can go with a simple heartfelt conversation or a handwritten note to let them know you want them next to you on your big day.  Or have fun with personalized gifts, small parties or cute cookies like the ones below from Be Sweet Omaha.

2. Gather addresses for all your guest.  This can be one of the more daunting tasks (especially if your guest list has edged up to 200, 300 or more guests).  You will need these for Save the Dates and Invitations.  Work with your fiance and parents to split up the list and start calling, texting, emailing to get the addresses.  You can also check out services such as Postable that will create a link which you can email everyone, they fill out their address and it compiles it into one list for you!
P.S. Don't forget to send invitations to your bridal party, officiant, vendors, etc.  This makes sure you have them in your final guest count!

3. Start reviewing invitations, save the dates and other stationery needs.  Save the Dates should be sent 4 - 6 months before your wedding date and invitations 8 - 12 weeks before your wedding.  Your invitations are the first introduction to your wedding style, so keep them consistent with the style decisions you made earlier.  Your choices for invitations can seem endless.  You can go through a big supplier like Minted, design your own or go fully custom with artists like The Brumby Nest, Typo Boutique, or Yonder Design.
P.S. If you are choosing your invitation with Minted, drop your email in the comments below and we'll send you a promo code to save on your invitations!

4. Go wedding dress shopping.  Ok, now we're getting to some fun stuff!  You can find details on some of our favorite boutiques here.  Be sure to try on several different styles - you may be surprised at one that fits you perfectly.  It's great to have someone with you to help you with your decision, but be careful about making it too big of an outing (we've all seen how that can turn out on Say Yes to the Dress!)

5. Start your wedding registry.  Here's another fun item that has several options for you.  Many couples already have the basic home essentials and may not need to start from scratch like our parents may have.  My husband and I both had a full set of household items when we got married.  We used it as an opportunity to replace items we'd had for a few years, upgrade some things and come up with cohesive sets of silverware, etc.  You can choose to visit brick and mortar stores to create your list or create it online.  
Feel free to get creative on registries - honeymoon funds, furniture or tool registries are great ideas!

6. Book your photographer and videographer.  Photographers book up quickly as they typically only do one wedding a day.  When choosing your photographer, look through their editing style and the types of pictures they take.  Make sure you meet with them before booking to make sure your personalities click!  Find out more on how to work with your photographer to get wedding photos you dream of at our post here.

7. Book your florist.  Your florist can play a large part in the overall design of your wedding day.  The sooner you have them onboard the more they can help you create a cohesive design.

8. Research guest accommodations and transportation.  Ok, one last guest related task.  Research accommodations for your out of town guests.  Your venue can often help with recommendations.  Think outside of the typical hotel and consider if there are cabins or guest houses near by.  This makes it easier for guests to spend time together outside of the wedding not crammed into hotel rooms or lobbies!
Check into shuttles if you have large groups of out of town guests.  This makes sure everyone arrives on time, removes the stress of finding a new place in an unfamiliar area and lets them get back safely after enjoying the party!

We know we gave you quite a few tasks this time! Work on it in small pieces and mix in the fun with the "not so fun" items to get you through it. Leave us a comment below if you have any questions we can help with! (And don't forget to leave your email address if you are interested in our savings code for Minted)
- Becky
Next steps for 6 months before your wedding.
Previous post for first steps to planning your wedding.

Hooray, you’re engaged! You may have already been planning your dream wedding on Pinterest or you may have no idea where to even start. We’re starting a short series today to walk you through the steps to plan your wedding!

1. Discuss possible wedding dates. Is there a special time of year that you love? Here in North Georgia, Fall is the most sought after season for cooler weather and color. Are there dates you need to avoid for school or work? If you’re an accountant, an early Spring wedding probably isn’t for you! If you have siblings or close friends also planning a wedding, their chosen date may influence your choice. Having some flexibility on specific dates can help you with venue options. If you do have a set date, start looking for your venue as early as possible.

2. Budget and guest count. I’m placing these together as they have a direct connection. It will be very difficult to have a wedding for 200 guests with a $5,000 budget. Sit down with the budget decision makers to determine what your total budget will be. From there, you can start to determine what your max guest count can be. Your venue, tables, chairs, linens, catering, cake, bar and flowers are all directly affected by your guest count. There are several helpful calculators online to figure out pricing guidelines for your area. Try this one as a starting point - Cost of Wedding.
Read more about what makes up your budget at our post here.

3. Start to discuss wedding style. Do you want an outdoor ceremony or a ballroom setting? Are you looking for a chic space in the city or more relaxed setting? Is a historic mansion your dream space? Or are you looking for an experience? Something like our Farm to Table approach that celebrates the seasons and supports small, local businesses.

4. Now, you can start to look for a venue! Once you understand your ideal dates, budget, guest count and style you can start to narrow down venues to tour. Where do you find these venues? A simple Google search will often provide lots of options. Sites such as Here Comes The Guide, Wedding Wire, Wedding Spot or The Knot let you filter options on several venues. As you look through your options, discuss the different offerings of each venue with your fiancé. Do you want an all-inclusive option to streamline planning, are you ok with food and beverage minimums, do you prefer your wedding be the only focus of the day for the venue or are you ok with a venue that hosts multiple events each day? After you have narrowed down your options, set up tours. Seeing the venue in person and talking with the staff will help you know which space fits you best.

5. Talk through the ceremony. Are there certain traditions you want to include? Unity candles, tree planting ceremonies, communion and other options all add to your ceremony. Decide if you will be writing you own vows or using traditional vows. (If you want more info on creating your vows, check out our post here.) Will you have special music during the ceremony? One of our recent brides had her daughter sing a couple songs during the ceremony and it was beautiful!
What about religious requirements? Make sure you understand from your priest, rabbi, etc. what is required and how that impacts the ceremony.

6. Start to think through your floral preferences and needs. How many bouquets will you need for the bridal party? Do you want floral centerpieces and what style? Are you dreaming of an elaborate installation for the ceremony or reception space? If you want to highlight flowers that are in season and locally grown, you may need to talk with the farmer florist in plenty of time for them to plant flowers in your style and color or discuss what may be available. We love growing flowers specifically for our brides on their wedding day! It’s one more way we can serve them with love.

7. Last one for now - food! Start thinking about what type of food you want at your reception. A seated dinner with a full meal for everyone? Cocktail reception with lots of variety? Do you want a buffet or plates dinner option? One of our favorites for smaller weddings is a family style service that encourages community and conversation with guests.
Don’t forget your cake! Or will it be pie, cupcakes, donuts - there are a ton of fun options.

Now that I’ve loaded you up with plenty to think through and talk about, I’ll leave you to it! Feel free to drop a comment below if you have any questions!
​- Becky
Next steps for 9 months before your wedding.

Seating charts can be a great tool to welcome your guests and make sure everyone can easily find a seat.  A few easy steps will make sure you have the perfect seating chart for your wedding!

1. Know your final guest count and table layout.  If your guests haven't sent their RSVP by the requested date, reach out to them and get their final reply.  You'll need this count for your vendors also!
With your final count, work with your venue, planner or decorator to set the final table layout.  This will let you know how many can sit at each table and where the best tables are.

2. Determine who is sitting with you!  Is it just you and your new spouse at a sweetheart table? Or will you have the bridal party sit with you?  With or without their dates?  This will determine the size of your head table or estate table.  If your bridal party doesn't sit with you, you can either give them a reserved table with their dates or sit them at other tables with guests they know.

3. Figure out the family table.  Who will sit with your parents and your new spouse's parents?  The best thing to do is ask!  Do they want to sit with grandparents, aunts and uncles?  Or do they want some of their friends included at their table?

4. Start to group guests together.  How do you know everyone on your guest list?  Extended family, college friends, co-workers, etc.  As you start to form these groups, you will create groups of guests that most likely know each other and will enjoy conversation over dinner.

5. Think through where you place any single guests.  It can be awkward to be the only one without a plus one at a table of couples - especially if they don't know most of the couples well.  Place them with a group they will enjoy and they won't notice their single stats as much.  Also, make sure your tables are set up with just the number of chairs needed.  Nothing yells "Single!" louder than an empty chair next to someone.

Work with your venue, planner or decorator to make adjustments to the table layout as needed once you have your seating chart decided.  Flexible arrangements with communal tables, estate tables, different size rounds or other unique elements will help your seating chart fit your guests and make everyone comfortable!
- Becky