BRIDE + organization

While at a family party this weekend, my FMIL made an observation about me and my wedding planning skills. She was very proud to tell my future aunts and uncles in law how organize I am as a bride and that’s why Ed and I have bee very fortunate in planning this wedding. One of the examples she used was our experience with Rockwell’s Creative Cakes. We really thought that our cake tasting would have taken us at least 1 hour in order to get everything in order, especially including 2 extra opinions that might be different than ours. Everything just went so smoothly with Rockwell’s that I think we were there for about 30-45 minutes. I came in there knowing what we want, with a picture on hand and a copy of our monogram. My FMIL said that she was just impressed on how organized and detailed I am with what I want which is why our cake tasting didn’t take as long as it would normally have taken us.

So is the key to planning your wedding being organized? Honestly, I think I have lots of room for improvement on the organization but I’m glad that others can see that I am somewhat organized. What keeps me organized? I think that one of the things that has kept me somewhat organize through this process is my TO DO LIST. I love listing – I think since I got engaged I have began this listing bit where I carry a small notebook in my purse (Yes I actually physically write each task and list them one by one.). Being able to see what I need to do and what I haven’t done actually keeps me organized and focused on what’s ahead. I love being able to check off things off my TO DO LIST and moving forward to the next task.

One of the other things that I think have helped me is having a supportive fiancé who’s willing to take things off my plate. I know that I am able to delegate certain tasks to him and he would be able to handle it. This doesn’t mean thought that I wouldn’t follow up because I do. I try to check up on him and see the progress of what he has and if he needs help or suggestions – like for his groomsmen’s gift, for example. He is also the keeper of all of our wedding related stuff that we have accumulated as well as our house wares. We have boxes full of decorations like votive candle holders and hurricane holders for our guest table area. Then, there’s also our box full of gifts for our bridal party that we have started buying. Recently, we organized everything in boxes and labeled them to make our lives much easier in searching for specific things. It really does put things in perspective for us.

Lastly, having my family being totally organize helps a TON. My mom started collecting pictures of ideas from magazines, even before we got engaged and she used sheet protectors and a binder to organize them. It really gives me some inspiration if at times I feel like I have hit a wall and don’t know what to do. There’s no fancy organization on her binder which is actually what I love. It’s simple but yet full of wonderful possibilities.

So am I an organize bride? Yes I am. What other ways have you as a bride done to keep yourself organized?

**Photos courtesy of Real Weddings: Jenny & Andy via weddingbee