So how are you keeping organized?

[neebelung]

When we first got engaged (actually even before) I picked up "Bridal Bargains," which I've found to be TERRIBLY educational. One of the first money-saving tips I read was that you don't NEED an expensive planner (I'd been looking at a few different $90-$100 planners/organizers); just go to an office supply store and pick up an accordion folder and a 3-ring binder.

So last weekend I headed off to Target (I love Target) and picked up 2 cute 3-ring binders (I'd have picked up one if they came in a wider size!) and a cute linen & hot pink accordion file, along with sheet protectors and index tabs.

Then, I went about going through ALL of my many bridal mags, tearing out pics of anything and everything I like, from gowns, to flowers to articles about planning. Anything I felt would be an asset to me in the planning process. Then I organized them by category (the binders are 1. anything apparel/appearance related and 2. anything location/reception related), put everything in sheet protectors, and voila, I'm super organized!! YAY!!









So let's see how you're keeping yourself sane and organized!

[neebelung]

I used little post-it flags to mark specific things I was interested in...



And I've got both magazine pages, as well as print outs from manufacturer's websites on gowns I love

[neebelung]

All kinds of articles and checklists...



Makeup I like...




Flowers....



Even dyable flip-flops!

[neebelung]

(and yes, that's one of our cats, Tigger, helping me... )

[NovemberGal]

Awww, kitty wants to make decisions too!

That's great that you're so organized! I never did get any kind of organizer, although I dog-eared and highlighted the heck out of my edition of Bridal Bargains! I pretty much had an expanding folder for all our paper work from our priest for the counseling sessions we had to do, that included all the copies that he gave us to help us decide our ceremony and wording and prayers and such. Then I had all my invitation stuff in the shopping bag that it came in from Crane's. Everything else went into the plastic folder thing that I got from Bed Bath and Beyond when I registered there. And that was the extent of my organization, plus some extra piles here and there. With books and magazines tucked under my computer desk...where most of them still are!

ETA: I did most of my looking at stuff online, so my bookmarks are VERY well organized into folders and subfolders under a folder called "wedding" and I still haven't deleted any of them!

[peckmiranda]

Wow, you're so organized!! I'm nowhere near that organized. I have a wedding workbook on excel, but that's about it.

[Marksbride]

The biggest thing that keeps us organized is our lists

Every day we cross something off. We keep it on the fridge where we can see it all the time.

This weekend we crossed off:
buying the table skirts
finishing pew bows
finding thank you cards
making out vendor envelopes

That's 4 more things off the list!
Phhhhhewwwww!

We also recieved a handy dandy bridal binder from state farm which was nice. Had a lot of tips in it and checklists.

[Montanabride]

I have an excel sheet that has the cost of everything we need and are using and how much paid on it and the balance. Then at the bottom there is a running tally of everything spent, paid and owed. Also includes the honeymoon. I bought a binder/planner for like 20 bucks at a Walden Books. Also when an RSVP comes in i check it off the guest list and if there is a "no" with a check i send a thank you and send out same day, and mark a "T" next to there name. Hmmm lets see not much else. I need to start a list and post it in my office so that i can see what i have to do and then cross things off when done-that does feel great.

[TheaterDiva1]

DH kept everything in one folder. Those norebooks are so cute! Plus, I've found that when I get spiffy notbooks and binders like that, I'm more likely to use them and stay organized.

And you're luckly Kitty's helping out. My furbaby was more of a hinderance. I guess he was hurt that DH didn't want him in the wedding, so he tried to attack a few DIY projects.

[Marksbride]

BTW that veil is beautiful!

[Julz518]

I have YET to get my wedding stuff organized... which is WIERD b/c I am one of the most OCD people I know!

I have bought a 3-ring binder and an acordion file... but everything is just in a pile on top of them. I'm hoping someday soon I'll have the time to go through it. I also have about 4 differetn free wedding planners I've gotten from different websites and bridal shows, but they all are a little TOO structured for me. I do have a notebook that I started when we first got engaged, but all thepics are just taped in - I like your notebook MUCH better!

Thanks for sharing!

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by Marksbride

BTW that veil is beautiful!

I KNOW... I love it!!! If I go with a really simple gown, I think it'd be gorgeous (FH loved it, too!)... But I'm having a heck of a time finding it!! I've scoured St. Pucchi's site, and can't find it! *pout*

[litlbit]

Good job on the organization! I started out super organized. My binder has... uh... well it needs a little house keeping. I'm working on that this afternoon.

And your cat in the pics is totally hilarious. She looks like she's contemplating the contents of your binder.

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by litlbit

And your cat in the pics is totally hilarious. She looks like she's contemplating the contents of your binder.

She's very helpful!!

[breezy]

I had a notebook similar to yours.

Once I made the bulk of the decisions I was able to widdle it down to a slim folder with contracts, contact phone #'s and lists.

I created my own list on the computer using either Excel or Word depending. I took bits and pieces from all the list that I found online and in mags/books and created one that worked for US and our plans.

[RJE080703]

I'm using a small portable spiral notebook. I write all the information pertaining to a vendor, along with the name of who I spoke to, and the phone number. Once I have narrowed it down to one particular vendor, I put it on a spreadsheet on Excel.

I also have a list on Word of to do things, and then another list of the things that are already done. It helps with seeing the to do list get smaller, and the done list bigger. It gives a great sense of having a handle on things.

[alongroadahead08]

I have 2 things. I have a lot of my information on index cards divided up by ceremony, reception, Honeymoon, and Guests (this doubles as my address book for christmas cards and such after the wedding hehee) then I have a binder as well (great minds think alike!) that I'm putting pictures in of hair styles, cakes, flowers, dresses (kind of like yours). I'm usually a very non organized person, so me doing this kinda surpsises me. But I just watched my friend get married in May, and the DAY OF THE WEDDING was still working on programs, fixing up flowers and actually had to wrap a bouquet yet. I refuse to procrastonate (sp?) that much. I'm hoping by about 3 months to go to have everything I can possibly have done, done.