Ready, set, plan…..!!!! Plan what, start where? These are really important questions when you are just starting your wedding planning. With a ton of information out there, where do you look without waisting your time and money? Let’s break down the most valuable sources of information with pros and cons for each, shall we?
- Friends – Chances are you have friends or family that have gotten married or planned a big event at some point. Use them as a resource. Ask them for the phone numbers of vendors they used and found helpful. Listen to their comments carefully to determine whether these same vendors would work as well for you.
Pros: you get a ready made list of possible vendors which helps cut down on leg work.
Cons: these recommendations could be old and therefore, outdated. These companies may no longer be in business or may not offer the type of services you require.
- Magazines – Lots of magazines out there featuring loads of cool pictures and ads. Many have built in planners and organizers while others rely on their picture galleries for their appeal.
Pros: Vendors’ ads list their phone number and possibly their email so you have their info on hand. Depending on the issue, you may find an article pertinent to your planning situation. Plus, you have many magazine options to choose from.
Cons: Looking through multiple magazines becomes a costly form of research. You have to sort through the ads to find your local vendors, and often the magazines are not focused on your geographical area; so you spend the money and the time for little or no results.
- Internet - There are many internet sites out there that offer planning tools, organizers, local content, lots of ads and cool pictures too. This is my favourite form of wedding planning research because the information is, literally, at your fingertips.
Pros: You can be online any time of day or night doing your planning. You can contact vendors anytime by email. You can save your research on your computer for later reference. You can research any related topic and actually find relevant information on it. (The list goes on and on.)
Cons: The power could go out. You don’t have a computer.
Having said all this, I’ll give you a list of my favourite magazines and websites for actual wedding planning. If you are just looking around right now for ideas, you have many options both in magazines and on the net. Even your friends are a good resource at this time. But, when it comes down to actual planning, pick up a copy of a local bridal guide featuring local vendors. A really good resource for Vancouver wedding planning is The Complete Wedding Directory. They’ve been around a long time and have a very complete list of services and local vendors. For online Canadian or Vancouver wedding planning, visit www.bride.ca. Their directory is the most comprehensive. It’s easy to use and it covers all areas of Canada, including Vancouver. The great thing about their directory is you can actually request a quote for any service you require and the relevent vendors come to you! NO LEG WORK!!!! Very cool.
(Photo: disneybrides.com)
I found lots of good info on this site http://www.bridalguide.com. It was very helpful.