When the time came to plan my wedding I sailed right out to buy the first wedding organizer I could find. After thumbing through a few however, I quickly realized that none of them were exactly what I was looking for. Some had too many sentimental quotes while others didn’t have enough room for names and phone numbers. I didn’t want to buy something that would just end up frustrating me so I decided that I would make my own; that way I would be able to combine everything I wanted with a layout that made sense to me. I actually ended up making a couple different personalized organizers that worked very well for me throughout my months of planning. If you haven’t found the perfect system for your needs yet, here are a few ideas you might find useful.

-Create a Wedding Box- This is actually something that I made as a teenager and ended up using years later for my wedding. It’s a fun and simple project that your bridesmaids might also enjoy participating in.
What you’ll need:
Shoe box and lid
Material or
Contact paper
Scissors
Glue or glue gun
Trim and decorations

Any shoe box will work though the ones that are bigger are usually best. Select material or contact paper in a color and pattern that you like and use this to cover your box and lid. Contact paper may be easier to use since it already has adhesive on one side but you may be limited on design choices. Material will take a bit longer but you’ll have a much larger selection to choose from. Once you’ve covered your box it’s time to break out the trim and decorations. You can use ribbons, lace, beads, flowers, buttons, or anything else you can think of. The fun part about this project is how much you get to personalize it so just go with whatever appeals to you! Use your box to save pictures from bridal magazines, articles, business cards, receipts, samples, or anything else you’ll need to refer back to. This is a fun and functional approach to keeping your planning process organized!

-Make your own notebook- My best friend actually made this for me and I loved it! This is something that your MOH might want to make as well if she’s heavily involved in the planning process; that way she can keep her responsibilities organized too!
What you’ll need:
Spiral notebook any size or
3-ring binder with paper
Tabs or dividers

When selecting the size of your notebook you’ll need to decide if you want something bigger with pockets that you can keep loose papers in or if you want something smaller that can easily fit in your purse. Once you’ve selected a notebook you’ll need to add tabs or dividers to create sections and then label them with your different planning responsibilities. For example, you’ll probably want to make tabs for things like the florist, reception site, DJ, cake, etc. This is a wonderful way to keep track of names, dates, and numbers in one customized planner that you can take anywhere!

-Convert a recipe box- A friend of mine did this for her wedding and I thought it was a great idea!
What you’ll need:
Recipe box
Recipe cards
Dividers

This is kind of a mix between the wedding box and notebook ideas. While the container allows you to store papers, pictures, and receipts, the dividers let you keep everything separate. Carry some of the recipe cards with you when you meet with different vendors so you can take notes and record important information. When you get home, file the card behind the appropriate tab for quick reference. This is another fun project to personalize since you can decorate your box any way you’d like!

-Use a mini photo album- These have built-in organization since they come with all the clear sleeves attached!
What you’ll need:
Photo album-small or medium size
Note cards
Labels

Use the note cards just like you would the recipe cards from the above example. Attach the labels to the outside of the sleeves and then file all your information inside the appropriate slot. This is another great portable way to keep organized since you can take this anywhere you go! It’s perfect for storing all those receipts and business cards that you’ll pick up on your appointments. Personalize it even more by grabbing one that has a spot for a picture of you and your honey on the front!

Any of these ideas would also work great for your family, bridal party, or anyone else who is helping you plan your wedding. If you have assigned tasks to certain people then customized organizers will help keep everyone on the same page. Plus it’s a fun activity you can all do together in preparation for the wedding. They also make great keepsakes! I have kept mine and enjoy looking through them from time to time and being reminded of all the excitement that took place as I prepared for my special day!

- Kelsey Gonzalez