I'm 6 Months Out...what Should I Be Doing?

[rachelia160]

Hi Brides!

 

I'm six months out from my Riviera Maya wedding and I just feel...lost.  I have NO idea how to plan a wedding, or what I should be doing at this point--I feel like I'm wasting valuable time and will end up super stressed as I get closer and wonder why I didn't start things sooner.

 

Here's what i have accomplished so far:

 

• Travel arrangements are good to go, already have 45 guests booked and counting
• Save the Dates are sent (sent out magnets to remind people about travel as well as a separate part about the AHR)
• Hotel locations all picked out
• Photographer booked
• DJ Booked
• Dress bought
• Bridesmaids dresses picked out
• Centerpieces picked out
• Bought Chinese lanterns
• Bought seashell placecard holders
• Bought cake topper
• Bought most things for OOT bags
• Scheduled legal ceremony
• Booked hall for AHR
• Booked caterer for AHR
• Scheduled hair and makeup appointment

 

Here are the things I know I have to do:

• Choose and send invites
• Itineraries for OOT bag
• Choose songs for ceremony
• Seating chart
• Finalize menu
• Write ceremony script
• Reception timeline
• Buy groomsmen outfits
• Buy tumblers
• Make centerpieces
• Finish buying for OOT bags
• Pick flowers
• Design and order menus
• Figure out day passes
• Basically everything for my AHR

 

I just feel like I'm missing out on little details that could make the day more special.  I see all you ladies on here with amazing decorations and reception setups, and I'm worried I won't have enough decorations for mine to be that gorgeous.  I'm also not sure if i'm missing any big projects that I could be starting now, and the more I think about it the more stressed I get but I just don't know what to do or where to start.  Does anyone have any advice about what I could/should be working on now, or any projects I'm missing, or details to add to my reception to make it special?

[acw271011]

Sounds to me like you're pretty well set! I would definitely work with the forum for the resort you're using. NOW Jade is a popular one and there are a couple of forums. Just search at the top here and go through them and see what other brides have done. That's the best way to fit with what you want, or don't want. You could also go through the DIY forums and see if there are suggestions or ideas there that might interest you.

 

Good luck and happy planning!

[TinkerSofi]

I'm right there with you. I've done pretty much the same things and I also worry that i don't have enough decorations for the reception and it won't look beautiful. I guess I need to make a list and start hashing out things. I feel like I'm missing something huge and I won't know until the day of haha.

[Moments That Matter]

Great info about where you are at this point, rachelia160, sounds like you have a good handle on your plans already

 

Many other brides here already married, say that in hindsight they wouldn't have stressed about everything coming together, as their wedding coordinators really knew what they're doing and had their details all in place - sweet!!!

 

As for elaborate decor, the amazing backdrop our magnificent Mayan Riviera ambiance provides already will be totally Gorgeous! Anything you add will be the extra "icing on the cake" .

 

You can see what I'm talking about in these magical NOW Jade wedding "moments that matter" with more at this album link : NOW Jade Wedding Album

 

 

Wishing you "smooth sailing" with the rest of your plans and that your Special Day is Everything you envision - or Even Better - cheers!!! team MTM

Edited January 14, 2015 by Moments That Matter

[rachelia160]

Sounds to me like you're pretty well set! I would definitely work with the forum for the resort you're using. NOW Jade is a popular one and there are a couple of forums. Just search at the top here and go through them and see what other brides have done. That's the best way to fit with what you want, or don't want. You could also go through the DIY forums and see if there are suggestions or ideas there that might interest you.

 

Good luck and happy planning!

 

I stalk the Now Jade thread all the time, and it stresses me out MORE because of how elaborate everyone's weddings are! I'm not a DIY person at all so I sort of glaze over those parts. But I'm glad you think I sound like I'm on the right track!

 

I'm right there with you. I've done pretty much the same things and I also worry that i don't have enough decorations for the reception and it won't look beautiful. I guess I need to make a list and start hashing out things. I feel like I'm missing something huge and I won't know until the day of haha.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one!  I have a list, but it's basically all just things to buy...I feel like I should be doing more, you know?  You hear people talk all the time about how wedding planning is, and the only thing I'm stressed about is the lack of planning I'm doing...I want to know what everyone else is stressing over! I just hope being in a destination at a resort is a big part of what makes the reception beautiful and not a ton of super detailed decorations--I just don't think I can wrap my head around that!

[TinkerSofi]

I stalk the Now Jade thread all the time, and it stresses me out MORE because of how elaborate everyone's weddings are! I'm not a DIY person at all so I sort of glaze over those parts. But I'm glad you think I sound like I'm on the right track!

 

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one!  I have a list, but it's basically all just things to buy...I feel like I should be doing more, you know?  You hear people talk all the time about how wedding planning is, and the only thing I'm stressed about is the lack of planning I'm doing...I want to know what everyone else is stressing over! I just hope being in a destination at a resort is a big part of what makes the reception beautiful and not a ton of super detailed decorations--I just don't think I can wrap my head around that!

I think I'm being really laid back about the whole thing, which stresses me out hahah so ironic. I don't want to overflow the place with decorations because I agree that the backdrop of the ocean is beautiful enough. I'm paying the hotel to take care of the table decorations, I just have to take care of the center pieces, which is pretty much done, just have to put them together. Now I need to focus on what our table will look like as well as the guestbook and cake tables. I'm not renting decor for last two from the hotel so I have to plan them myself. 

 

What stresses me out the most right now is the music. I have to get on that because I need lots of it! hahah

OOT bags are sort of there. We only got one of the items already but we're not including much anyway. 

[beckys98]

@@rachelia160 I'm the same way (June 11 date) - I didn't do any wedding stuff this past weekend and it made me anxious. There is just SO MUCH we can't do until we have our guest list/count so I want to do as much as I can now to spread it out. I think I'm going to have my fiance and I tackle rings and ceremony script this weekend.

 

@@TinkerSofi I'm with you on the music too. My fiance will mainly handle the reception music, but figuring out ceremony music and music for our bonfire the night before are my main concerns. We haven't decided for sure if we're doing traditional dances (first dance, father/daughter, mother/son) or not, but those will need songs too. Ah!

 

I'm contemplating paying the resort/florist to do the centerpieces. I have ideas of what to buy and bring, but I'm not sure it is going to save me that much. Okay...maybe this weekend I'll also inquire with vendors on centerpiece costs!

[rachelia160]

I think I'm being really laid back about the whole thing, which stresses me out hahah so ironic. I don't want to overflow the place with decorations because I agree that the backdrop of the ocean is beautiful enough. I'm paying the hotel to take care of the table decorations, I just have to take care of the center pieces, which is pretty much done, just have to put them together. Now I need to focus on what our table will look like as well as the guestbook and cake tables. I'm not renting decor for last two from the hotel so I have to plan them myself. 

 

What stresses me out the most right now is the music. I have to get on that because I need lots of it! hahah

OOT bags are sort of there. We only got one of the items already but we're not including much anyway. 

 

Those are two to-do's I need to add to my list (guestbook and cake table).  I saw someone say they used their bridesmaid's bouquets to decorate those tables which sounds like a good idea.  I'm considering bringing down a few glass voties with LED lights and waterbeads for those, but bringing one more thing that could break makes me nervous (my centerpieces are made out of mason jars).

[TinkerSofi]

Those are two to-do's I need to add to my list (guestbook and cake table). I saw someone say they used their bridesmaid's bouquets to decorate those tables which sounds like a good idea. I'm considering bringing down a few glass voties with LED lights and waterbeads for those, but bringing one more thing that could break makes me nervous (my centerpieces are made out of mason jars).

That's also what I'm thinking. Using the bridesmaid bouquets for the cake table and my bouquet for ours. I really like those monogram mugs from anthropology to spell out love and put little flower bouquets in there. I also have to bring a few things that break but hopefully I can either package them really well among clothes or bring them on different carry on suitcases. I just have to spread those things among different people.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rachelia160]

@@rachelia160 I'm the same way (June 11 date) - I didn't do any wedding stuff this past weekend and it made me anxious. There is just SO MUCH we can't do until we have our guest list/count so I want to do as much as I can now to spread it out. I think I'm going to have my fiance and I tackle rings and ceremony script this weekend.

 

@@TinkerSofi I'm with you on the music too. My fiance will mainly handle the reception music, but figuring out ceremony music and music for our bonfire the night before are my main concerns. We haven't decided for sure if we're doing traditional dances (first dance, father/daughter, mother/son) or not, but those will need songs too. Ah!

 

I'm contemplating paying the resort/florist to do the centerpieces. I have ideas of what to buy and bring, but I'm not sure it is going to save me that much. Okay...maybe this weekend I'll also inquire with vendors on centerpiece costs!

 

I don't blame you for wanting the resort to do your centerpeices--I know bringing down decorations and doing DIY things saves money, but for me personally, I'd rather spend a little extra on certain things than have to deal with lugging them back and forth.  But that's just me.  My mom is really determined to do my centerpieces though so I'm letting her roll with it.

 

We don't have our final numbers yet either, but I think almost everyone who is going to go is already booked.  We have 45 as of right now, with a few more in the works, so I've just been ordering OOT stuff for 60.

 

RINGS! I need to add that to my to do's! That's a pretty important one!  I think I'm going to try to tackle our script this weekend, too.  That's a pretty big "must" and I'll feel better once that's all finished.