Facts And Figures - article database

Weddings require extensive planning. Weddings mark an important day in a couple's life together, but they also can be cumbersome events that call for meticulous planning and numerous cost estimates. Weddings grow from romance, but wedding planning requires business sense. Tamil matrimonyThat's where a project manager can come in handy. Getting everything down on paper can help cut down the pressure as the big day approaches. It also will set benchmarks for spending while sketching out realistic expectations. Stick to deadlines and dollars when writing a proposal that will make a happy couple even happier if not at least less stressed.

Instructions

1 Set the scene. Ask the couple specific questions about what kind of wedding they'd like to have. Most important is the number of expected guests, as it will dictate food costs and how large of a reception area you will need. Other critical questions include what the bride is willing to spend on a dress, how large the cake should be and whether the couple wants a band or a disc jockey at the reception.

2 Browse. Look at wedding dresses. Check with bakeries for cake costs. Call reception halls for rental fees. Write down prices for everything. Think about all the basics including catering, an open bar, formal wear rental and the rehearsal dinner. Ask the caterers specifically about what they would charge, per guest, for a basic beef, chicken and vegetarian menu.

3 Add up the prices. Mix and match some of the items to come up with a most expensive scenario and a least expensive scenario. Keep in mind the number of guests. 4 Set a spending goal. Compare the spending goal to the list of prices. This can be a reality check for a couple to either grow the budget or reduce the guest list.

5 Develop benchmarks. Pick a day of the week and make a list of that day every week leading up to the wedding. Divide up the expenses and tasks and scatter them among the benchmark days in order to establish deadlines. Keep the deadlines early for flexibility. Plot this information on a computer spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel with a column to mark whether a deadline was met or still in process.

6 Plot all needed items on another spreadsheet. Make a column for prices and another for the vendors you're prospecting along with the contact information. Also make columns to mark whether the item has been ordered and on what date payment is due.

7 Write it all down. Take the list of items and prices to state the exact needs of the wedding and how you plan to achieve them. For example, say you plan to have a menu by an established date after negotiating with several caterers over various dishes for the least expensive price to feed the guest list.

8 Present the plan. Show the couple the work you're willing to put in to ensure they don't have to worry about any of the planning.