Tips from the LDS

I spent a lot of browsing hours trying to find tips on how to plan a wedding from across the country and this is what I found: LDS Weddings: Planning Long Distance Wedding.

In case you don't know (I didn't), LDS means "Latter Day Saints." As in, Mormons.

Apparently a lot of Mormons marry young, like, still in college, so they do this a lot. Enough to have a guide about it. Some of the tips are pretty good. For example, they suggest that you pack your suitcase several weeks in advance so you don't forget anything key. I was also struck by how short LDS engagements are. Between 2-6 months. I guess they are really excited to get their married game on. Some of the virginal stuff didn't really apply... I mean, it did, I just, uh, already knew it... er...

Anyway, thought it was kinda funny.

In Praise of WeddingChannel.com

I'd like to take a moment to recognize an excellent free website, WeddingChannel. All you have to do is enter your information and your wedding date, and it supplies you with an array of great planning tools, including a Budget Calculator and a Guest List Manager. My favorite is the Planning Checklist, which uses the date you enter to alert you when it is time to do all the tasks that need doing. Right now I have "Choose Attendants" and "Choose Ceremony Location" in the "Past Due" section, which is a helpful reminder to get off my duff. It also lets you save notes on each task, delete tasks you don't intend to do, and mark as "DONE" tasks you have completed. Absolutely excellent paperless tool.

It also has a large archive of articles that are useful, including advice on who to tip, how to word invitations, how to make your own bouquets, etc. The most useful of these so far was a detailed breakdown of the different varieties of pearl -- I can't wait to buy myself a string of Akoyas. There is also a huge selection of stock photos in categories such as flowers, hairstyles, and other design ideas, and any time you find one that appeals to you, you can save it to your "scrapbook," another excellent free paperless tool.

They also sell stuff through reasonably priced vendors that you can save to this scrapbook. So far I have saved some adorable bubbles and attractive disposable cameras, both competitive with prices elsewhere. From time to time, I receive optional emails from them as well with further discounts. I can't wait to use them.

Ceremony Sites

My last post listed two possible ceremony sites in Andover, the West Parish Garden Chapel, and the North Parish UU church (links below) The Chapel got quite a response, both from Geoff and his father. I got through to them today and discovered two disappointing things about them:

• They are more than twice as much as the UU. The UU charges $370 for the church, the rehearsal, and the sexton's fee. The chapel charges $850 for these things.


• The building is rather small; its maximum capacity is 120 people.

Of course there are other possibilities about which I have no information:

• Ballard Vale church
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church

And I am sure there are others. What do you think?
The links from the last post, in case you missed them:

• West Parish Garden Chapel
• North Parish UU

Indian Ridge Country Club

I've been mostly decided for a week now, but Mom has checked it out and officially OK'ed the Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover, MA. We originally looked at the Andover Country Club, but we liked this one better even though it is not quite as pretty because it only has one ballroom. At Andover, we would have been in the smallest ballroom; here, were will be the most important party there. I like that distinction.
This is the place: Indian Ridge Country Club

Ceremony site is as yet unbooked, although we are looking at a nearby chapel, as well as churches in the area. The date, barring schedule changes, is May 27, which is the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Some places that have been suggested:
West Parish Garden Chapel
North Parish UU