Tag: organization

holidays - gifts

The holidays are coming – Gifts (part 1)

Lori @ Touch of Organized1 Comment

I know, school just started back and it’s only September.  I mean, it’s still in the 90s here in Dallas.  But the holidays will be here before we know it.  I’ve already started stockpiling the gifts I will need for my loved ones.  In an ideal world, I like to buy them throughout the year whenever something strikes my fancy for someone.  But life doesn’t always work like that.  So advanced planning for the holidays can really save time and headaches (and possibly even money!).

Our first topic is Holiday Gifts.  We’ll get to meals and travel later.

Planning the gifts you give

Truthfully, this is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season – giving gifts to my family and friends and coworkers.  Sometimes I track ingredients if I’ve planning handmade gifts, but mostly I track what I am giving to whom.  I love this gift tracker.  I usually have at least two in my planner, one for birthday gifts throughout the year and of course one for the holidays.

Organizing the gifts you receive

This part is a little harder for me.  Sometimes I don’t know what to do with the gifts that I receive.  I love that someone thought of me and wanted to give me something, and I never want to hurt anyone’s feelings.  But what to do with it now?  It needs a place to call its own, not to mention any maintenance that might come with said gift.

I’ve tried to shift some folks to donations in my name or “experience” gifts but not everyone accepts these shifts.

I’m a big fan of experience gifts — a day trip somewhere, a special meal out, or tickets to an event.  Some of these gifts are not available right now in light of the ongoing pandemic, but it can be done.  My mom and I like packing car picnics and taking drives in the area where she lives around Austin.

However you want to plan your gift-giving and organize your gift-receiving, make sure you have the right tools at your fingertips!

Wedding Bells - managing your time

Wedding Bells: Managing Your Time (Part 4)

Lori @ Touch of Organized2 Comments

This one is closely linked with the Managing Your Events.  And I want to repeat myself – make sure to balance the “have-tos” with the “want-tos” and do not overextend your obligations.  I know we are tempted to keep everyone else happy but your mental and emotional well-being is important too.

The timeline for everything is important for several reasons:

  • Having schedules and checklists helps keep you on track.  And you don’t have to worry about keeping everything in your head.  Writing it down helps clarify the steps as well as frees your brain for other activities!
  • Schedules and checklists also help keep the expectations realistic – if you forgot that you have a fitting appointment in three weeks, you can check your schedule before you commit to a bridal shower that day.
  • Whether you use an electronic or a printable schedule, it makes it so much easier to share with other folks.  If it’s all in your head, how do you share that?

As you get ready for your wedding, time will move very fast and very slow.  Make sure that your timeline also includes time for yourself.  You don’t want to arrive at the big day stressed out, exhausted, and ready to strangle someone with your veil.  Whatever your self-care looks like, make sure to include it in your schedules.

But I would also like to give you a gentle reminder that you shouldn’t dawdle either.  Even if your wedding date is eighteen months after your engagement, it will truly be here faster that you realize.  If you wait to the very end to schedule key aspects of the celebration, you will be disappointed in what you are able to pull together.

Etsy wedding planner

If you are ready to start your wedding planning today, check out this beautiful planner full of timelines and checklists to get you started on the right foot!

Wedding Bells - managing your events

Wedding Bells: Managing Your Events (Part 3)

Lori @ Touch of Organized1 Comment

We’ve talked about managing the people of the wedding and managing the budget for the wedding, but what about the actual wedding celebrations?

There are lots of events surrounding the big event – parties and celebrations and showers and luncheons and more.  I wish I could promise that you have control over that, but you might not.  Especially if your hosts and hostesses are spread out around the country.  When our lives were more local, it was perhaps a little easier.  One combined bridal shower with everyone, perhaps a luncheon on the day of the wedding to make sure the bride eats, and then the wedding.  Now it’s harder with family and friends in all cities and states and countries, and everyone wants to celebrate with you.

I do recommend that you try to keep it “to a dull roar” if you can.  For example, try to make sure that your future mother-in-law doesn’t book a bridal shower on your actual birthday (hypothetically speaking of course).  Maybe instead of a formal bridal luncheon on the hectic wedding day, you simple arrange for a simple sandwich platter at the venue where you and your bridal party are getting ready.

One easy way to keep the cost down, whether for yourself or a host/hostess, is to carefully time the event.  A bridal shower at around 3:00 in the afternoon means you could serve a dessert selection and some punch.  Compared to one at 7:00 in the evening when your guests might expect a more substantial food menu.  And being from the south, I have to admit that potlucks are a favorite event of mine.   I read about the cutest idea that asks all of the guests at the party to bring a “family favorite” to the celebration with a card about the recipe and who it “belongs” to.

Just make sure to balance the “have-tos” with the “want-tos” and do not overextend your obligations.  I know we are tempted to keep everyone else happy but your mental and emotional well-being is important too.

One quick but important note regarding the timing of an event – Please make sure that your bachelor/bachelorette events are not on the night before the wedding.  It’s just not worth it and everyone is better off if you have those parties earlier.

Etsy wedding planner

To stay as organized as possible, I recommend using a planner to keep everything in one place!

Wedding Bells - managing your money

Wedding Bells: Managing Your Money (Part 2)

Lori @ Touch of Organized1 Comment

The biggest worry for most engaged couples is the budget.  It’s also the biggest worry for anyone who might be writing those checks!

From the beginning, make sure you know your budget.  It is much harder to keep everything in perspective if you don’t even know the dollar amount that you have to work with.  And then next thing you know, someone is upset because some aspect of the celebration costs too much.  But if you don’t know your limit when you go shopping, it’s hard to stay inside that limit!

The basic budget categories are ceremony, reception, dining and bar, floral, and bridal.  Depending on your personal situation, I would recommend not including the honeymoon since that usually falls outside the wedding budget.

  • Ceremony – While this is not normally a huge portion, it is an important one.  There is the venue, the officiant, and any other personnel that you may have such as musicians.
  • Reception – This can be one of the largest chunks of your budget however I have specifically divided out the catering aspects.  The reception can be as budget-conscious or as extravagant as you (and your budget) will allow.
  • Dining and bar – Food and drinks are a huge part of the largest part.  What will your guests eat and drink while they celebrate with you.  I have attended weddings that included a multi-course plated dinner and I have attended weddings with cake and punch.  And truthfully I have enjoyed both!
  • Floral – I have separated this out because the floral category spans almost all of the other categories (ceremony, reception, and bridal).  Generally, the floral “requirements” are guided by the size of the wedding and the wedding party.
  • Bridal – Ah the dress.  It deserves it’s own mention.  It’s potentially one of the most dreamed-about aspects of a wedding, at least for a young woman.  However, if you plan to get married in a sundress and flip-flops, then own it!
Etsy wedding planner

To stay as organized as possible, I recommend using a planner to keep everything in one place!

Wedding Bells - managing your people

Wedding Bells: Managing Your People (Part 1)

Lori @ Touch of Organized1 Comment

Oh my gosh, so many things to organize for a wedding!  This month we’ll be talking about the basics of wedding organizing, including Managing Your People, Managing Your Money, Managing Your Events, and Managing Your Time.  I do want to mention that we’re going to discuss the basics, however there is nothing set in stone for wedding plans.  If you want to elope, do it!  (Please note, if you want to blow your inheritance, I do advise checking with your parents and siblings.  Ha!)

I wanted to start with Managing Your People.  We can get distracted by the dress and flowers and cake, however the people are the part to stay focused on.  Admittedly, I have been married twice now and I can honestly say that things went wrong with each one.  It’s inevitable that something will not happen according to plan.  But that is actually okay if you focus on the people that you care about.

Just remember – at the end of that day, you will be married regardless of anything else!

After you get your breath back from seeing that sparkling diamond and you sit down to start planning, start with the people.  The wedding party plus the family and friends that will complete the day — those are the people to focus on.  Those are the faces that you will want to see during your day and in the photos for years to come.

  • How many attendants do you want to have?  What about your fiancée?
  • Do you need to decide on other folks, such as flower girl or guest book attendant or ring bearer?
  • Who will be hosting and attending the different events that will be a part of this celebration?
  • Who will be sitting in the family aisle(s) at the ceremony?
  • And of course, the (in)famous guest list.  At the beginning stages, it’s best to just brainstorm the list.  Don’t try to narrow anything down until you’ve nailed down the budget and possibly the venues as well.  Those will be your limiting outside factors.
Etsy wedding planner

To stay as organized as possible, I recommend using a planner to keep everything in one place!