wedding project management assignment

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Project Management for Wedding Planning

Thinking about tackling your wedding planning on your own? Do it with confidence using this wedding planning advice from a project manager’s perspective.

Applying Project Management Strategies to Wedding Planning

I’m trying to not sound stiff in regards to my wedding day, but part of being an engineer is to have that cut-and-dry outlook at times. I work in a mainly male environment, so if I start speaking in lovey-dovey sprinkles and sparkle terms… I’d receive some pretty odd looks!

How to Project Manage Your Wedding

Project Management has five main steps:

1 • initiating,  2 • planning & design.

3 • Executing

 4 • monitoring & control.

Monitoring Progress

 5 • completion.

The Project Triangle

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How to Write a Wedding Project Management Proposal

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How to Write a Ribbon Cutting Invitation for a Business

What is the importance of contracts to a business, how to revoke a contingency fee contract & a power of attorney.

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Many brides don't want to take on the stress of planning and stage managing their own wedding. Wedding project managers come to the rescue by providing planning services up to the wedding and coordinating the event on the big day. Keep in mind that the wedding proposal becomes a contract after both parties sign it. It's worth paying the money to have an attorney review the contract template to make sure you're not missing any important clauses or terms.

Introduction

You'll need the right elements in your introduction to clarify the purpose of the contract. Include a statement that specifies that the bride and groom are hiring you as their wedding project manager. Include the first and last name of the bride, the groom and the project manager. For example, you could write, "Under this agreement, bride (first, last) and groom (first, last) hire planner (first, last) as their wedding consultant." If your company is a business entity, write the business name in lieu of your first and last name. Include the date and time of the wedding, the wedding venue name and the venue address to avoid any confusion.

Description of Services

Wedding planners offer a variety of services and their scope can vary depending on the engagement. For example, some brides may pay extra to have wedding planners send out invitations and communicate with family, while others are willing to take responsibility for little details. Describe exactly what services you'll provide in plain language. For example, you can state the number of phone and email consultations you'll offer, whether you'll develop a wedding timeline and whether you'll book other important vendors. It's good to note exactly what time you'll arrive at the wedding venue that day and how long you'll stay. If you're purchasing decorations for the event, include a blurb that acknowledges the couple will reimburse you.

Payment Schedule

Make sure the couple understands what they need to pay you and when. Most wedding project managers require an initial deposit to secure the date along with a few payments up to the date of the wedding. For example, if you charge $1,000 for your services, you could require a $500 deposit, a payment of $250 one month out and a payment of $250 a week before the wedding.

Changes and Cancellations

Include your policies regarding changes and cancellations near the end of the proposal. Weddings are large and expensive events; it's not uncommon for things to change. Many wedding project managers will refund unearned fees if the couple cancels within a certain time frame. However, you may not want to offer refunds for couples that cancel within a week of the event. Consider including a more generous refund policy for cancellations due to natural disasters and calamities.

• Weddings for a Living: Sample Wedding Planner Contract
• Weddings for a Living: A Wedding Planner's Must-Know Guide to Contracts
• Proposable: Wedding Planner Proposal Template

Based in San Diego, Calif., Madison Garcia is a writer specializing in business topics. Garcia received her Master of Science in accountancy from San Diego State University.

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Project Management Assignment #1 MGT5164 PROJECT CHARTER Wedding Bells

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Fred R Schumann

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Wedding planning project Essay

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Introduction

The job under analysis is a wedding planning project that lasted for 10 months. The concerned couple chose not to hire a wedding planner, so they shared all the planning responsibilities with the bridal team. The following people were involved in the project: the bride, groom, groomsmen (the best man led his group), bridesmaids (the maid of honour led her group), four close friends, the bride’s parents and groom’s parents.

Project scope, roles and responsibilities and scheduling

The project scope is summarised in the work breakdown structure (refer to the appendix). It covered five major aspects: Initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and closing. The initiation phase entailed coming up with a budget, setting the date, choosing the wedding venue and estimating the number of guests in the event.

The planning phase covered securing the wedding venue, working on the theme and overall look of the location, selection of the caterers, decor, clothing, presiding minister, and entertainment. The third phase involved the monitoring phase where the team would look at the ongoing project activities and compare it with the projected costs and scope.

Some corrective actions were identified and other factors altered in order to meet the control aspects of the team. The fourth phase was execution which involved collecting the dress, transporting the team, catering, and overall implementation of the ceremony. The closing phase involved the honeymoon where the flight to the set destination was determined and payment of cheques.

The roles and responsibilities are specified in the responsibility matrix (refer to the appendix). The bride and groom were in charge of venue selection, cake design, the guest list, invitation design, entertainment, hair and make up, wedding speech, vows, ring choice, honeymoon selection, decor, composition and order of the wedding party, marriage licence, and seating chart.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen handled photography, bachelor and bachelorette party, travel plans and accommodation for the guests, floral arrangements, and their dresses. The four friends in the team looked into table and lighting arrangements, gift registry as well as ushering services in the wedding. The mother and father of the groom and bride handled the financing of the wedding. They also contributed to the creation of the guest list, and the rehearsal dinner.

The project schedule is summarised in the Gantt chart as found in the appendix section. In the first week, the team came up with the date of the venue. It also identified the venue of the church ceremony as well as the reception within that same month (in the fourth week). The team established their budget in the second week of planning. Estimating the number of guests was done concurrently with the budget in the second week. In the subsequent month, the bride and groom reserved the wedding venue.

They worked on the guest list and stuck to their pre-established head count, which was 150. In the ninth month to the wedding, the team booked the minister who would come from the bride’s church. In the second to fourth week of that month, they started getting contact information for a range of event service vendors such as florists, caterers, photographers and live bands.

In the third month of the project, the group hired a videographer and many other photographers in the first week. In the next two weeks, the team booked entertainers by examining a number of live bands and DJs and choosing the most impressive ones. The last week involved meeting caterers and booking them. Window shopping for possible wedding dresses began concurrently.

In the fourth month, the team reserved a hotel room for guests that was close to the wedding venue. The group also registered at three retailers who had a heavy presence near the location of the wedding. In that same month, the group selected a calligrapher who made the invitations.

The bride and groom also prepared for the honeymoon by booking the location, updating their passports as well as streamlining other items that were needed in order to leave the country.

The group started working on the bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s tuxedos by shopping for potential vendors. In the last week of the fourth month of planning, the team sent out cards that identified the date of the wedding. They also met with the church minister who informed them about all the documents and processes they had to go through prior to the wedding (Barry 2011).

The fifth month of planning involved working on the utilities, transportation and florist deadlines. At the time, the group booked chairs, lighting aspects and portable lavatories for the event. In the second week, it identified and booked the wedding florist; she would decorate the venue in accordance to a selected theme.

Thereafter, transportation arrangements were made for the wedding party as well as the guests. In the last week, the group started on the schedule for the wedding day such as cake cutting, welcoming the couple, doing the first dance etc. In the sixth month, the group looked into the wedding invitations in order to ascertain that everything went according to plan.

They team examined a number of cake vendors before selecting and ordering their cake in the second and third week. At this time, the bride started selecting some wedding shoe vendors. She also started doing her first fittings (Barry 2011).

In the seventh month of planning, some hair and makeup artists were examined and one was one of each was selected. At this time, the team also worked on the music that would be involved in the event; some of it would be played at dinner, during the reception as well as in the evening party.

In the third and fourth weeks of the seventh month, the team finished selection of the flower and menu components. It also compiled a list of the people who would speak during the reception and consulted with them. The bride and her party also ordered for undergarments and did fittings. Project team members completed the order of events in the church ceremony and the reception. They printed menu cards, bought the rings and send the order of events to their vendors.

In the ninth month of planning, the group evaluated its position by meeting with all the vendors and ensuring that they were on course. They determined ways of meeting their set deadlines in a cost efficient and faster way. They met with photographers on some of the shots to be taken, and the band and deejays on song lists. The group then sent out the invitations so as to provide guests with a six-week window to prepare for the wedding. The bridesmaid organised a bachelorette party at the end of this month (Barry 2011).

In the tenth month, the bride and groom followed up on people who did not respond to the invitations. They also worked on the marriage license and mailed invitations for the rehearsal dinner. The bridal party visited dressmakers for their last fitting. Drinks were ordered, confirmations for hair and make up were made and seating assignments were also done. The venue was decorated in accordance to the theme.

One week prior to the wedding, the team confirmed the arrival times for all vendors as well as delegated point mans for each of these vendors. The group picked up the dressed and wrote cheques for the concerned members. Spa treatments were done involving manicures and pedicures a day prior to the wedding.

The caterer received her last guest list 72 hours to the wedding. Welcome baskets were made, and the bride and groom packed for their honeymoon. On the morning of the wedding, makeup and hair were done and the wedding party transported. The project culminated with the wedding day where most of the planned activities went according to plan expect for a few hiccups.

An assessment of the wedding planning project

The project management triangle is a useful tool in examining the level of success within a certain project. It works by looking at the constraints within the project and the team’s ability to cope with them (Harrison & Lock 2004). Shown below is diagrammatic illustration of the project management triangle.

One of the components of the project management triangle is the project scope. Scope management involves identifying all the work that will be required in order to complete the project successfully (Kousholt 2007). These activities often stem from needs of the stakeholders, who in this case were the members of the team. The bride and groom wanted a standard wedding with approximately 150 guests. They opted to have a church ceremony and reception at the same venue.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen were 12 in number. They also had a ring bearer and someone who accompanied him; these two were ten years old. The wedding was to take place inside the city. For accomplishment of all activities, the group needed to outline the responsibilities for carrying the out the tasks before hand. The bride and groom had a rough idea about the activities as seen through the budget that they made at the beginning of the project.

However, the budget was a big generalisation that merely covered general sections. The project team leaders should have clarified all the project activities in order to minimise confusion and time wastage. In other words, they should have had a project scope statement. Furthermore, every member of the group should have been responsible for particular activities. The team preferred assigning these tasks as they went along. They would have been more organised if they had laid this out from the beginning.

The group had not accommodated certain aspects of the planning process. For instance, it did not think about the soil conditions inside the chosen venue. Two days prior to the wedding, the couple realised that the entrance to their venue was partly flooded. They had to ask a number of colleagues to assist them by adding gravel and dry soil on that same day. If they had planned for this condition, then they would not have to request for favours from their friends.

The wedding couple did not plan for vendors’ meals. The food was supposed to accommodate only 150 guests, inclusive of the bridal team. However, on the day of the wedding, the bride and groom realised that there were approximately 15 additional mouths to feed, and they were all vendors.

The project team had not accounted for this group when making the food arrangements. Consequently, the project leaders had to convince the caterers to feed the group and pay for them later. It was a situation that caused a lot of confusion in the course of wedding, yet it could have been avoided if the project scope was well done.

With regard to the time needed to complete the project; the team had ample time to prepare for the wedding. The ideal time is usually 12 months, but the 10 months that the project team had to do their job was sufficient (The Knot 2009). The wedding planners in the group had very strict restrictions about time because once the wedding date was chosen, it could not be altered.

The group did not have a comprehensive project scope, so this also undermined its scheduling. Wedding planners always work from the project scope activities in order to specify the time needed for each one. Furthermore, the team mostly worked in terms of months or weeks; it should have narrowed down these tasks to daily responsibilities in order to make the most of their time.

A good time schedule ought to be one that accommodates emergencies (Stevens 2002). The project team made a wedding program and order of events without considering possible time delays. The bride was one hour late owing to traffic. The team did not check on competing activities near the venue that could affect the traffic situation.

It turned out that there was a charity event near the chosen location thus explaining why there were so many people heading to the same area. Risk management is an important part of a wedding planner’s duties, so the group should have anticipated this risk and accommodated it in their plans.

In order to save time, the project team should have used its vendors to lead them to other vendors. For instance, if they visited a photographer, they should have asked for references on reputable florists. Instead, the couple and their team preferred to deal with vendors separately. They spent too much time comparing the vendor services available and this added to the pressure that they had to deal with towards the wedding date.

Costs refer to the budgetary constraints of the project. A standard 150 person wedding will require a £37,000 budget (The Knot 2009). However, the bride and groom only had about £20,000 for the same number of people.

Therefore, the team needed to use creative ways in order to accommodate the dreams and wishes of the bride and groom. One way in which they achieved this was by selecting the same venue for the church ceremony and the reception. The group also did a good job of comparing prices in order to make sure that they settled for the most cost effective vendors.

Since the wedding entailed a budget that was almost less than half of the ideal amount, then the project team should have thought about other ways of saving money. Wedding purchases were done separately; none of these were consolidated into one specific payment system such as a credit card.

Furthermore, the group did not maximise on some of the opportunities that existed prior to committing to a vendor. It was possible for the team to negotiate the duration of their meal courses. For instance, dessert might last for more than one hour if the project members asked the vendors for it.

Vendors are often willing to give bonuses and other incentives before clients commit to them. When clients make requests about additional features later on in the contract, then vendors may have less motivation to meet those needs (Dinsmore 2005). It was difficult for the bride and groom to get certain additions that had not been specified in the contract because it was already too late. Consequently, they had to pay extra to have these needs met.

On the other hand, the team was favoured by the number of guests who confirmed their interventions. The final guest list reduced by 27 after a number of people cancelled. The simplest way to cut wedding costs is to reduce one’s guest list as this has a direct effect on expenses. Luckily, the project team did not have to make this decision; it was already made for them. Furthermore, the project leaders were strict about the people who could accompany the invitees. All members were only allowed to bring one additional person.

A lot of extra expenses arose at the last meeting, such as covering the muddy part of the venue, paying for extra meals for the vendors among others. The project team anticipated last minute problems, and thus allocated some extra financing for the same. The major problem was that it was not enough.

As a rule of thumb, a wedding team ought to leave 5-10% of their budget for these emergencies (Systemation 2012). The group chose the lower end of the recommendation (5%) for their wedding. If they had designated a larger sum for emergencies, then they wouldn’t have to ask for favours from friends as the case was with the issue of mud.

All aspects of the outer project triangle (cost, scope and schedule) have a direct effect on the quality of the project. If the scope is large, then the team would need to increase on time and cost. Failure to adjust these last two parameters could compromise on the quality of the project. Furthermore, if a project has a small budget, then it needs to increase the amount of time allocated to project activities as well as reduce the project scope.

A small time frame necessitated increased costs and minimisation of the scope. In the case of the wedding, the team had a smaller budget than expected; it needed to have a large amount of time and a smaller scope. The wedding party could not increase the time available for the project so it should have thought of this aspect earlier. However, it had the opportunity to minimise the scope, which it did not do successfully (Kerzner 2003).

The turn out in the wedding was quite on point; however, it seemed a little crowded. Waiters, guests, and entertainers occupied every bit of space in the venue. The team ought to have thought about manoeuvring space when selecting the location. Some guests had to struggle in order to use the rest rooms or make their way to the podium.

The seating arrangement also exacerbated the situation by requiring most of the guests to pass through a series of other individuals in order to get to their places in the middle of the row. Circular arrangements might have helped. Furthermore, members appeared to wait too long for the cocktails during the evening party, yet this could have been improved.

It is a rule of thumb that one bartender can comfortably handle 50 guests; therefore, the party needed three bartenders in order to offer superior services. However, the evening party only had two thus causing many guests to wait in line before getting their cocktails.

Besides the project triangle, the project management cycle (with five phases) can also assist one in understanding what could have been improved in the wedding. In this cycle, project members must start with the initiation phase, and then proceed to the planning phase. Afterwards, they should monitor, implement and finally finish the project. Although the project team tried to follow these phases, as described in the scope, there were a number of things that could have been done differently to alter results.

Project Initiation

The project initiation phase was arguably the most crucial aspect of the project plan because without it the rest of the project would not have had direction. This phase ought to have a project charter in which the members identify the tasks, deliverables, schedules and costs of the project (Ireland 2006).

The bride and groom did not do a comprehensive project initiation because they merely had a rough idea of what was to come. Most of the members did not know about the tasks involved until later on in the project. Project initiation also encompasses carrying out a stakeholder analysis, which could have been done in a better way. The team underestimated vendors’ food requirements, which could have been avoided if they had identified them as stakeholders in the project.

A financial analysis ought to be done in initiation through the budget. Although the team had a budget, it would have been more effective if they made it more specific and if they had set aside more money for emergencies. Perhaps the most important aspect of the initiation phase is setting measurable goals.

The group did not have explicit goals, which could have been their greatest undoing. The party should have stated what they wanted concerning all the wedding deliverables and possibly quantified each of the goals. They should also have provided timelines for all the concerned aspects.

Project planning

As with the initiation phase, the planning phase also determines how successful a group can be in achievement of its objectives. This aspect involved project team selection, creation of a work breakdown structure, estimation of costs, scheduling and risk planning. In the project team, some deficiencies could be seen in risk planning as the group had not anticipated challenges that arose on the very day of the wedding.

There were also deficiencies in the work breakdown structure since the bride and groom seemed to be doing almost everything. They should have designated at least one team member to help them out with their tasks or give an opinion on their choices.

When doing project planning, members need to determine the activities that are needed in order to achieve certain deliverables and then arrange them in a logical sequence. The bridal team did not follow this aspect thus explaining why they were rather haphazard in the completion of their tasks.

Project execution

The phase entails completion of project scheme. Some of the deliverables needed to be revisited in order to ascertain that they were in order during the wedding (Lewis 2000). For instance, although the bride’s and bridesmaid’s dresses had been completed, the parties needed to go back for a last fitting, so this took up a lot of time.

Additionally, execution of other deliverables could only be done on the wedding day, such as floral arrangements, food and photography. Therefore, the team had to keep confirming that everything was in order. Although different members were in charge of the project tasks on the actual day of the wedding, it would have been more effective, if these individuals took on leadership of the deliverables prior to the wedding day.

Project monitoring

Monitoring encompasses observation of project execution in order to identify problems and take corrective action. It should occur in three phases that include measurement of project activities, assessing project variables and taking of corrective action. In this plan, the group only met once to assess the entire project. Other meetings mostly focused on specific deliverables. The team appeared to lack a holistic approach, yet this is indispensable. There was need for a more systematic approach to problem solving and corrective actions in the report.

Project closing

It was difficult to finalise or close a wedding planning project because some activities coincided with actual occurrence of the wedding. However, once the deliverables were received, then the group knew that it had accomplished its goals. Contract settlement can also by another way of indicating that the project is complete. Most of the vendors were paid on the wedding day via cheques.

Recommendations

Planning and initiation phases of the project were the most sensitive aspect of the project. If the wedding was redone, the group ought to have a clear scope statement and measurable goals for all the deliverables (Carayannis 2005). They can achieve this by specifying what they require on the wedding day and then work backwards.

An example of an overall project goal for them would be “To prepare for a resort-themed wedding that caters to 150 guests for £20,000 in ten months time”. In addition to having a scope statement and clear measurable goals, team members need to create a time schedule for all the major and minor tasks in the project. This should allow them to effectively monitor the project by comparing where they are with where they need to be.

A number of strategies are available to cut down on costs if the team has the same amount of money to work with in a similar project. First, all wedding-related purchases can be placed in one card so as to accumulate bonuses. The bride and groom can then use the bonuses to pay for their honeymoon and thus save costs. Additionally, they need to request for incentives prior to signing contracts with their vendors.

This will prevent them from having to pay extra for them during the project. With regard to meals, the team should have a less expensive meal plan for support staff in order to minimise feeding costs. The group should leave 10% of the budget for emergencies; otherwise, the project leaders may get into debt.

The group could also save on time by checking on potential activities that may be taking place near the wedding venue. If there are other activities, then transportation should begin early. Sticking to the time schedule laid out in the project planning phase could also help (Hamilton 2004). The party should also examine the location of the wedding to ensure that even the external area is in good condition. Visitors from out of town should be accommodated near the venue of the wedding in order to minimise delays.

There are number of things that could be done in order to improve the quality of the event. First, the party should consider making circular arrangements so as to facilitate ease of movements. It should also look for a bigger venue in order to provide guests with 25-30 square feet of space. The entities should also use one vendor to gain access to other vendors as this will give them access to reputable providers. More bartenders are needed for the same number of guests.

The project team could have been more coordinated and organised. If the project had been done differently, then the team ought to compile images of things they like from magazines in one binder. The same file should also contain observations and communications made with vendors. Instead of relying on memory, the project leaders should always write important things down and put them in one location that they can access easily. Even the cell phone numbers of the vendors should be stored in the same document.

The wedding planning project was a success even though no professional project leader was hired. Perhaps it was this lack of a professional that caused the team to adopt a haphazard approach to project management techniques.

An improvement in project initiation and planning phases would have led to better outcomes. The team needed to have a specific time schedule as well as a comprehensive scope statement and measurable goals. It is likely that those changes would have prevented some of the hiccups that occurred on the wedding day.

Barry, C 2011, The Bride and the Gantt Chart . Web.

Carayannis, E 2005, The story of managing projects , Greenwood Publishing, London.

Dinsmore, P 2005, The right projects done right!, John Wiley and Sons, Massachusetts.

Hamilton, A 2004, Handbook of project management , TTL Publishing, London.

Harrison, F & Lock, D 2004, Advanced project management: A structured approach , Gower Publishing, New York.

Ireland, L 2006, Project management , McGrawhill, London.

Kerzner, H 2003, Project management: A systems approach to panning, scheduling, and controlling , Wiley, Massachusetts.

Kousholt, B 2007, Project management: Theory and practice , Teknisk Forlag, Berlin.

Lewis, J 2000, The project manager’s desk reference: a comprehensive guide to project planning, scheduling, evaluation, and systems, Prentice, New York.

Stevens, M 2002, Project management pathways , APM Publishing, Los Angeles.

Systemation 2012, Weddings are a project . Web.

The Knot 2009, Wedding planning . Web.

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Inside of the planning platform, you will find a whole suite of intuitive tools that work together as a team for a seamless experience.

Once you’ve set up an account with your wedding details, you’ll be giving access to a planning portal with a guest list manager, digital wedding planner, and a wedding website builder with matching stationery collections.

Update: We just released a budget calculator and vendor payments tracker feature!

A smarter guest list manager

Unless you’re a seasoned event planner, this is probably the first time that you’re planning an event of this size. The guest list management tool helps you create a database, much like a CRM, to keep track of your guest’s contact information, RSVP statuses, dietary requirements, and other important details in one place.

As you get closer to your wedding date, you can print your guest list to share the final guest numbers and their dietary restrictions with your caterer and any other important vendors who will be setting up your wedding reception.

You can read more about the guest list manager here .

Digital wedding planner

After the post-engagement butterflies have settled down and we realized that we have a wedding to plan, it can start to feel a bit overwhelming.

Often times brides feel overwhelmed because there is so much uncertainty around what they need to get done and when to do it. All the brides before us have used a trusty wedding planning checklist to help them keep track of all their tasks, but often times a generic 12 month checklist just won’t cut it.

With WedSites, you get a dynamic wedding planning checklist with task deadlines assigned based on how much time you actually have to plan. You can even add in your own tasks and deadlines to keep track of all the little details.

We’ve also introduced a collaboration feature so you can get your fiance, bridal party, or wedding planner involved and delegate tasks to them to take a load off your shoulders.

You can learn more about the digital wedding planner feature here .

Wedding website & RSVP builder

Wedding websites are a wonderful way to share a story (or two!) about how you and your fiance met or how they proposed, and also to introduce your wedding party!

But more than anything, wedding websites can really save you a lot of time by answering all the questions you’re going to get from your guests leading up to your day. Really, the last thing you want on the day of your wedding is guests ringing you to figure out how to get to the venue.

Your wedding website is also an easy way for your guests to RSVP – no return envelopes or extra postage necessary. There’s also a RSVP questionnaire builder that you can use to ask guests for their dietary requirements, where they’re staying, if they need to get on the shuttle, or something fun like a song that’ll get them on the dance floor!

Our wedding websites work with your guest list manager to act as your wedding concierge by only allowing guests on the list to RSVP. Once a guest RSVPs on your website, their status and RSVP answers will automatically be shown inside of your database.

You’ll also quickly see names of guests you need to follow-up with so you can get those final guest count numbers to your caterer or any other vendors who are helping you set up for the reception.

Go here to learn more about our wedding websites and online RSVPs .

Matching paperless invitations

Inside the platform you’ll get access to a paperless stationery suite to match the design of your website. Each collection contains a matching Save the Date and Invitation that can be customized just for you.

Need to get everyone’s physical addresses? You can send out digital Save the Dates to let your guests know to mark their calendars and have them update you with their contact details.

If you’re opting for physical stationery, that’s totally cool too! You can still keep track of each guest’s RSVP status and dietary requirements through your guest list manager so everything is neatly accessible at your finger tips.

But if you’re opting for the paperless route, we have a series of customizable stationery suites you can choose from and send invitations right from the dashboard.

Unlike any other paperless invitation on the market, our digital stationery suites are mobile-optimized!

Whether your guests are viewing your invitation on a computer, tablet, smartphone of any shape or size, your invites are going to look pixel perfect.

Go here to read more about our paperless stationery suites .

Why use WedSites?

WedSites was created out of our own frustration from using poorly designed wedding planning tool. Before we and our friends started getting engaged, I just assumed there were plenty of solid platforms out there to help couples plan their weddings. But that just wasn’t the case.

We’ve witnessed couples using multiple spreadsheets, scribbles on note paper, and a combination of various digital tools to get the job done. More often than not, the free tools out there use your email address to bombard your inbox with marketing material to sell you stuff you don’t need.

As a professional web design and development couple, we thought, there’s got to be a better way…. And so we decided to build WedSites to help other like-minded partners stay on track with their wedding planning, save time and stress along the way so they can focus on making important life long decisions.

We have a passion for well designed software and to give our couples a great user experience.  And above all, it’s our mission to help our couples stress less, be better planners and help them plan the wedding of their dreams.

How do I sign up?

Now if you’re ready to take your wedding planning game to the next level, you can sign up today and get started!

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Planning a wedding is no easy feat,…

Everything you need to plan a stress-free wedding—in one beautiful place.

One-time payment. Unlimited access.

Create and publish your own unique wedding website.

Send paperless invitations, capture online RSVP’s and manage your guest list.

Get your own personalized wedding planning dashboard to keep track of all your wedding tasks, budget expenses, and more.

See all plans

How To Manage Planning A Wedding While Being a Student: Tips For Balancing

As a student engaged in wedding planning, you’re taking on two highly demanding roles. Each requires significant dedication, effort, and time. So, how do you strike a balance? This comprehensive guide provides key insights and tips for balancing academic pursuits with the intricate wedding planning process.

Time Management: Your Secret Weapon

Time management stands as the most critical aspect of managing two demanding roles. Consider it your secret weapon in achieving equilibrium between your education and wedding planning. Begin by mapping out both your academic and wedding-related timelines. Use tools like Google Calendar, project management apps, or traditional planners to visualise and track every exam, assignment, vendor meeting, dress fitting, and taste testing.

Formulating a time management plan can help prevent overwhelming scenarios where both worlds collide. Prioritise your tasks, highlighting their urgency and importance. Consider employing the Eisenhower Box strategy, which organises functions into four categories: essential and urgent, important but not urgent, not necessary but urgent, and not essential or urgent.

NEED HELP WITH TIMINGS? DOWNLOAD OUR FREE PLANNER HERE.

Embrace Your Support System

Being a student and a wedding planner necessitates leaning on your support system. Recognise that it’s not only okay but necessary to delegate tasks. The notion of juggling everything single-handedly can lead to burnout, negatively impacting both your academic performance and the joy that should accompany your wedding planning journey.

Your support system may include friends, family, classmates, and wedding party members. Delegating doesn’t mean you lose control; instead, it allows you to share responsibilities and enjoy the process more. Your study group, for instance, could support you with class notes when you’re engaged with vendors. Simultaneously, your wedding party could manage tasks like the bridal shower, venue decoration, or RSVP tracking.

Technology: Your Trusty Companion

In this digital age, numerous online resources and apps can streamline your academic work and wedding planning . For your studies, productivity tools like Evernote and Google Drive are beneficial for note-taking, document management, and collaboration with classmates. 

For instance, if you frequently tackle essay papers or encounter difficulties with various tasks, it might be worthwhile to leverage the benefits of technology. In such a scenario, you can refer to informative content available at scamfighter.net/blog/how-to-plagiarize-without-getting-caught to prevent plagiarism in your work and improve your score.

When it comes to wedding planning , apps like WeddingWire and The Knot are your best friends. They provide comprehensive tools for budgeting, vendor search, and checklist creation and even offer inspiration for wedding themes and décor. Embrace these platforms to keep all your wedding-related information in one place, making the process more organiSed and less stressful.

Health and Self-Care: A Non-Negotiable

Amidst the whirlwind of assignments, passing exams , vendor meetings, and bridal fittings, your health should remain a top priority. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Take time for self-care. It includes maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, ensuring enough sleep, and taking mental health breaks.

Activities like yoga , meditation, and walking can help reduce stress levels. Don’t skimp on sleep; ensure you’re fueling your body with nutritious foods. Taking mental breaks is also essential–watching a movie, reading a book, or spending time with loved ones. This downtime allows your brain to recharge, improving your focus and productivity in the long run.

Navigating the School-Wedding Season Dynamic

Understanding the dynamics of your school and wedding seasons can play a crucial role in a successful balance. Plan intense wedding activities during school breaks while focusing more on academics during the school season. This strategy lets you give undivided attention to each role in its season, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

If you’re still facing challenges with your assignments during the study season, continue reading for valuable insights on crafting an impactful essay at hickmandesign.co.uk and moving closer to successfully concluding the academic term.

Communication: The Key to Avoiding Conflicts

Effective communication forms the backbone of any successful endeavor, especially when juggling significant roles like student and wedding planner. Let your professors know about your upcoming wedding, discussing potential academic adjustments if necessary. Open lines of communication with your wedding ve, ensuring they understand your academic commitments.

Perhaps some teachers will be willing to assist you and understand your circumstances. Alternatively, you might develop more effective thinking skills and, for instance, learn how to approach challenges with more excellent proficiency or how to plagiarise .

The End Goal: Your Beacon Through the Chaos

Lastly, always remember your end goals: earning your degree and having a beautiful wedding. Visualise these achievements, using them as fuel when times get tough. Remember, each assignment completed and each wedding task checked off brings you closer to these goals. Hold onto this perspective, inspiring you to persevere through the most challenging moments.

In conclusion, managing planning a wedding while being a student is no small feat. It requires careful planning, effective communication, meticulous time management, and a healthy dose of self-care. However, by implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, you’re well on your way to successfully balance and thrive in both roles.

This is a collaborative post.

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