“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.” ~William Cullen Bryant

Hello readers,

I can’t believe September is here again. Summer has flown by as summers often do.

I have a confession to make. I have been ignoring some of my own business advice. Like to never get so caught up in working that you forget about your social life. Or my advice to business owners to take a vacation! Did you know 98% of small business owners work during nights, weekends, and vacations according to the Staples National Small Business Survey? I have been part of that 98% this summer except that I didn’t even take a vacation.

While I didn’t get a vacation, I did spend some time traveling to some amazing events for women as a special guest. One of those events was The Scoop in California, an event for CAbi consultants from all over the USA. If you’re not familiar with CAbi, it is a direct sales clothing company for women (check it out at CAbi Online). The clothes are fabulous but even more fabulous than the clothes are the women running their own CAbi businesses. To be around so many enthusiastic, entrepreneurial women who love what they do was an experience I won’t soon forget. From this picture you can probably feel the kind of energy that 4000 energetic women in a room create:

The fall always feels like the start of a new year for me; perhaps because we spend years starting a new school year each fall and it becomes habitual that fall is a time of new beginnings. New this fall for She Takes on the World is a newsletter that features great content for career-oriented women, exclusive offers, and more.

Just for signing up for the newsletter you will receive FREE access to the course, SocialMASTER: Social Media Strategy for Small Business, at The Women’s Business Academy. If you already subscribe to She Takes on the World via email, you will be sent an opt-in for the newsletter over the next few days. If you are subscribed through RSS or aren’t subscribed yet but would like to take advantage of this special offer, be sure to subscribe through the sign-up box in the right sidebar. She Takes on September will arrive in your inbox shortly!

If you haven’t already checked out The Women’s Business Academy, I recommend you take a look at some of our course offerings this fall. Certified Personal Brand Strategist, Lydia Fernandes, is offering her Practical Introduction to Personal Branding program to help you build a killer brand. Jacqueline Burgoa, an expert in building virtual organizations, shows you how to create a successful virtual business that works for you in Go Virtual! Creating a Virtual Business. And WordPress Queen, Amanda Aitken, will help you make yourself a website in The WordPress Course: Build Your Own Website in a Weekend.

How was your summer? What are you currently working on? What are you most looking forward to this fall? We would love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or feel free to write to us via our contact form. On behalf of all the editors and contributors at She Takes on the World, thank you so much for reading.

May the season ahead be filled with new opportunities, purpose, and prosperity,

[Full disclosure: I was invited to The Scoop as one of CAbi's special guest bloggers. She Takes on the World does not write paid posts and I was not paid to mention CAbi in this post.]

From Natalie With Love: She Takes on the World Update + Free Gift for Readers is a post from She Takes on the World

Natalie MacNeil: You started Ruby Media Group right out of college. What made you decide to take the leap into entrepreneurship rather than jumping into Corporate America?

Kristen Ruby: I decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship rather than jumping into Corporate America because I love the satisfaction of feeling that I have created something and that I have ownership of it. I think there is a big myth in America that you need to follow the system and climb the corporate ladder to gain experience. By strategically aligning with the right partners and choosing business mentors, you can gain invaluable experience that you may have otherwise not been able to gain inside of a corporation- it is a much more “hands on” approach to learning. My ultimate mission is to encourage more people to create their own businesses out of college by branding themselves appropriately in a specific niche. The media is constantly pushing out statistics about how students from 2009 do not have jobs. They should view this as a great opportunity to build something for themselves rather than jumping into a pile of competition.

NM: How have you used social media to build your business?

KR: I have used social media to build every aspect of my business. To this day, I still have not created one print advertisement. All of my new business comes through speaking engagements, conferences, my columns, or other means of social media communication. You have to commit the time to blog not only for your clients but for your own business to help build a voice and establish credibility in the marketplace. All of these things are unpaid activities but in actuality they are really your own marketing investment in yourself and your company. I utilize my blog, my web site, my Facebook and my twitter to share relevant content related to my business, as well as to promote interesting accomplishments of my clients. For example, with the help of Ruby Media Group, my client John Nevius at Anderson Kill & Olick was recently placed on Bloomberg television (twice).

NM: What tips do you have for people to make the most out of online networking?

KR: My tips would be to let your personality shine through. In the beginning of my use of social networking, I was afraid to let my personal voice shine through because I wanted everything to appear more corporate. The problem is that this looks too cookie cutter. People want to see the human aspect of your business, not just pre-canned tweets, etc. Today, I try to really share my life and blur the line between personal and corporate personas. Granted this is not the best approach for everyone, but as a blogger I feel that you have to inherently share part of your life with your audience, followers and fans to really increase client engagement.

NM: What are the top 3 lessons you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?

KR: The top 3 lessons I have learned as an entrepreneur are:

1. Don’t be afraid of big numbers. Entrepreneurs usually have a shift at some point in their first year of business where their business model changes, or they realize that the scope of the project is larger than they budgeted for. It is better to price accordingly than under price and wish you had priced accordingly from the beginning.
2. Don’t let people bring you down as a woman in business. Be proud of who you are and what you have accomplished as a female entrepreneur. Only keep people around you who will lift you up and inspire you. As a female entrepreneur, you may often receive a difficult time from some people who may say you are “too businesslike,” “not feminine enough,” and you are not “traditional enough.” Don’t let these people get you down! You are a woman of example!
3. Learn from every deal that you don’t close. This is critical, especially for early entrepreneurs who are not used to dealing with a lot of rejection. Every deal that you don’t close can teach you invaluable lessons for making future deals go smoother. I used to pour so much time into writing out detailed twelve page proposals only to have people utilize the information I wrote for them and shop it to someone else. I learned very quickly that being over-generous with upfront information can actually help you lose a deal rather than close it. Don’t give away the cow for free! You wouldn’t go into BMW and say, “Can I take this BMW home with me and then see if I want to buy it?” The same is true for your marketing services. Don’t give people the services before they have bought them or you will lose the allure of what you are selling.

NM: I have experienced people using my proposals too. It’s annoying but definitely a good lesson to learn early on. What is a day like “in your heels?”

KR: A typical day in my heels is extremely busy! The two things I love most in this world are my business and my stilettos (and of course my Dog, Morgy). I am usually running back and forth between client meetings, managing a team of five interns virtually on Skype, and having calls with partner firms. I only stop for two minutes to pick up a large coffee and half a muffin. I barely have time to eat and my Blackberry is usually buzzing. I spend a lot of my time tweeting for clients, blog writing and creating ad concepts for them. I also spend a lot of time working on the PR side of blogger outreach, pitching and placement. I love the feeling of securing placements for clients- there is nothing better than that! One of my mentors, Peter Giles, President of Giles Communications, taught me something invaluable. He said, “Always ask your clients if they are happy with what you are delivering.” I try to bring this approach into every aspect of my client relationships today.

Towards the end of the day, I always make room for an hour at the gym and some form of spiritual practice to clear my mind. After stopping for a quick bite, it is back to work! As you can tell, a day in the life of Kris Ruby’s heels is usually very entertaining- there is never a dull moment to say the least

NM: Thanks so much Kristen!

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In Her Heels: Interview with Kristen Ruby is a post from She Takes on the World

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Without getting all bridezilla on everyone here’s the experience that ignited my fire and wrote this post: I’ve recently become engaged and while shopping around I fell in love with a venue, however, the events coordinator failed to effectively follow-up. I work full-time, go to school and now, I am planning a wedding. You better believe- if I am about to spend my hard-earned-cash at a venue and ask for a call on my lunch hour, I expect the courtesy. If it slips their mind once I will let it go, but twice makes me twitch and THREE times makes me cross them right off my list.

Which brings me to my point: the events coordinator of that venue was not the owner, she was, however, a representation of what I may expect had I chosen them to host my wedding.

It’s possible you too have built a flourishing brand of your own and are no longer the everyday face of your company, your brand. When you’re no longer answering your own phones or selling your own product it’s time to remember that you are the company you keep!

When you hire administrative support, sales associates or PR, they become your company. These employees interact with your customers, make sales, pursue follow-up, develop relationships, brainstorm ideas and engage future clients. All of the effort you’ve put into branding both yourself and your company can be tarnished by the company you keep.

Haven’t you ever had an experience where you’ve entered into a store completely ready to purchase merchandise, but the sales associate was rude, so you walked away? That discourteous sales associate became the company to you (for that brief instant). They lost a sale for their store and possibly tarnished a client’s attitude towards that stores brand.

It is so important to manage the company you keep; hire people who believe in your business, who love what they do and who realize how valuable they are to your survival.

It’s a theory that runs in friendship, business, teams and partnerships: Folks, YOU ARE THE COMPANY YOU KEEP!

Fellow readers: make me feel less like a bridezilla; have you learned a lesson from the people you’ve hired or have an experience where an employee of a brand you LOVE tarnished your relationship with the experience of shopping that brand? Please share your comments, stories and advice!

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You Are The Company You Keep is a post from She Takes on the World

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

August 26 officially marks 90 years since American women have been allowed to vote. Most anniversaries are nostalgic, with the news media hauling out newsreel footage from their archives to give viewers a glimpse of a world they barely recognize. But for women’s equality, how different are things than they were in 1920?

Not much, according to a White House Project report issued in 2009. Opening up the ballot box to women has not opened up the board room; only 3 percent of Fortune 500 Companies (14 in all) have female CEOs. It hasn’t opened up judicial chambers either, as only 25 percent of judges are female. Nor has it given women entrepreneurs equal opportunity to succeed; despite opening half of all businesses, women only account for 7 percent of venture-backed capital, according to Businessweek.

As a young woman in her 20s, I was startled by these statistics. I had never felt nor imagined that my gender would hinder my success. However, the more research I read, the more I learned women were lagging when it came to gender equality both inside and outside of the workplace.

Why have we appeared to fall short of the 19th Amendment’s promise, and what can we do about it? These questions are what inspired Vision 2020. Vision 2020 is a national project focused on advancing gender equality by energizing the dialogue about women and leadership. Its first public event takes place on Oct. 21-22, 2010, when a congress of national delegates, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, will meet at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia to launch an action agenda to move America toward equality by 2020, the centennial celebration of the 19th Amendment.

The 19th Amendment was not a victory unto itself. Instead, it merely signaled the beginning of the journey. We may have never expected this journey to continue 90 years later, but we should use this anniversary as an occasion to celebrate some of the milestones we have hit. Women have achieved parity (and have even begun to outnumber men) on undergraduate college campuses. Women have distinguished themselves in almost every male dominated profession (though a few notable exceptions still exist in the military), and women’s share of seats in Congress (though still woefully low) continues to grow.

On this Aug. 26, take the time to reflect on these achievements, but also to prepare for the next 10 years of working to achieve gender equality. Support Vision 2020 by visiting Drexel.edu/vision2020, becoming a fan of Vision 2020 on Facebook and following Vision 2020 on Twitter.

About the Author:
Cheryl Soltis is the communications specialist for Vision 2020 and the Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership.Vision 2020 is a nationwide initiative of the Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership of Drexel University College of Medicine.

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August 26, 2010: Women’s Equality Day is a post from She Takes on the World

Joining me today is Stephanie Dolgoff, author of the new book, My Formerly Hot Life. Stephanie is a contributing editor at Parenting. Before that, she was a contributing editor at Real Simple, health director and features director at SELF magazine, and prior to that, executive editor and senior contributing editor at Glamour. She’s written for “O” The Oprah Magazine, Fitness, Health, Parents, Redbook, Seventeen, CosmoGirl, Ladies Home Journal, Prevention, American Photo, and many others!

Natalie MacNeil: Hi Stephanie! Tell me about Formerly Hot. Where did the name come from and what was your inspiration for the book?

Stephanie Dolgoff: The name started out as a joke. I felt like I was going through something but I couldn’t put my finger on what; I just felt weird, but everything was fine in my life. The only thing I could think of was that I wasn’t considered a “hot” girl anymore, which I had been for most of my life. I didn’t know what I was, but I knew what I wasn’t any longer: considered hot. So I joked to a friend that I should start a blog called Formerly Hot. The name alone was just too funny not to follow up on.

NM: Many women have a fear of aging. How did you let go of that fear?

SD: By laughing at it, and by realizing that there’s nothing to fear: Things are actually SO MUCH BETTER on this side of young. You’re more confident, you could care less what most others think of you, you’re better at your work, you feel better about your body, sex is better, relationships are better. I’m so much happier now than when I was a much less secure younger person (and not incidentally, looked closer to the ideal). Would I love to be me now and be “hot” again? Sure, but women our age are a different kind of hot, a more enduring, sincere kind of hot.

NM: You’ve written for many of the top magazines for women and have no doubt heard about almost every worry a woman could possibly have. What three things worry women the most in your opinion and what advice do you have for living worry-free?

SD: It depends on their age, but generally I’d say their bodies, their children and getting cancer.

I don’t think living worry free is possible or even advisable. You don’t want to be paralyzed by worry, but being aware enough to know what’s coming down the pike isn’t a bad thing. It’s a matter of degree. I’d say that as long as your worry translates to action (you exercise, take better care of your body, get your screenings and pay attention to your kids) then that’s OK. But once you’ve done what you can, put your feet up and have a glass of wine because life is too freakin’ short to spend it on pointless worry.

NM: What is a day like “in your heels?”

SD: In my flats, more likely. I have a hard time in heels these days unless they’re platforms or high-heeled clogs. NOT WORTH THE PAIN! I prep my girls for school or camp, feed them, rush them out the door, hit the gym, answer emails, make my to-do list and plow through it. On a good day I have a lunch or something fun and social to do, and then it’s looking at my to-do list and wondering why I didn’t get more done. I shop reflexively everywhere I go. I make it home and hang out with my girls some more, and zone out to Facebook or Mad Men or whatever else. I try to make sure I get some social blow-off time in every day. Otherwise I get crabby.

NM: Thanks Stephanie! And at She Takes on the World we think you’re HOT -minus the formerly.

Stephanie’s book can be purchased here.

In Her Heels: Interview with “Formerly Hot” Stephanie Dolgoff is a post from She Takes on the World

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

As much as I love working from my home office (working in your pajamas has its perks), there are times when I simply can’t do it. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I can see our backyard pool from my office window, but there are just times when I cannot, for the life of me, stay focused on the task at hand. That’s when my local coffee shop comes in handy. Why? Well, for starters the coffee is far better than what I brew, and the atmosphere simply can’t be beat. Here at five reasons why work-at-home women should spend more time at their local cafe.

Five Reasons Your Local Coffee Shop is Better Than Your Home Office

People

Seriously, you need to talk to someone other than your cat in order to keep your creative juices flowing and avoid going crazy. Coffee shops are the central meeting ground for practically everyone. From CEOs to students, everyone stops at the local cafe to grab a muffin and chat about the weather. Networking is easy because the setting is neutral and there are absolutely no expectations. Simply say “hello” to the person in the booth next to you – who knows, they could be your next client.

White Noise

Silence is distracting, especially when you’re trying to work on an important task. If you’re home office sounds more like a tomb than a productive workspace – get out! Your local coffee shop is full of comforting noises that can help you settle down and stay focused. From the coffee grinders to the clink of silverware, these subtle noises combine to create a background of soothing white noise. Stuck sitting beside the town chatterbox? Don’t forget your headphones – slip them on and not only will she realize you’re not listening, but it will also help drown out some of the more abrasive noises, even if you don’t turn any music on.

Food for thought

If there’s one thing that drives my husband nuts about my home office, it’s probably the fact that I forget to eat whenever I’m working on a big project. I just know that if I leave my desk for 20 minutes to make a sandwich it will take me twice as long to get my mind back on track and into the groove again. When I’m at the coffee shop, I always remember to eat… who could resist! From pastries and cookies, to salads and soups, there’s always a fast, fresh alternative waiting for me behind the counter. And while it’s probably not benefiting my waistline any, eating regularly does help me stay focused and on task. Plus it benefits the establishment that I’m working at. The owners are kind enough to let me use their WiFi, the least I can do is order one of their triple fudge caramel brownies… or maybe two.

Inspiration

A change of scenery can do wonders for entrepreneurs in need of a little inspiration. Snippets of overheard conversation can sometimes lead to major breakthroughs, often at the least expect moments. The next time you’re at your local cafe, close your computer and simply watch what’s happening in the shop. From the friendly cashier, to the bird that’s nesting just inside the doorway, there’s bound to be something that strikes a chord with you.

Options

Most towns have more than one WiFi equipped cafe. Even in my little rural neighborhood we have a few. Make sure you take the time to test out a handful of establishments in your area, and always remember to occasional switch things up. You’re sure to find one that’s your favourite (those triple fudge caramel brownies are pretty hard to resist) but each will have its own unique effect on your mood, creativity, and productivity. You may find that one location is great for keeping you motivated, while another is perfect for days when you just want to take things slow and steady.

What’s your favorite coffee shop to work in and why? Leave a comment to let us know!

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Creativity is Just a Coffee Shop Away is a post from She Takes on the World

Twitter Updates for 2010-08-17 is a post from She Takes on the World

Image courtesy of Lina Duque

Summertime is wedding season, and if you’re not getting married this summer, you’re most likely attending at least one wedding. If you’re however planning your wedding, you’re trying to do a million things all at once.

As a newly-wed myself, I know what brides-to-be go through. I only had one month and a half to plan my wedding! It seemed like an impossible task at first, but with meticulous planning, delegation skills and a support network, I was able to do it while keeping a full-time job and most importantly, my sanity. Being a professional event planner, I borrowed many tips and tricks from my corporate experience and applied them to my wedding planning strategy. So if you’re a busy-bride-turned-wedding-planner, here’s a step-by-step guide designed to help you get organized, reduce stress and prevent any last-minute panics.

Step 1: Set a budget
Setting a budget is the #1 task as it will dictate the number of guests, venue and other major wedding decisions. Speak with your fiancé about how you’re going to finance the wedding. Set a budget and stick to it.

Step 2: Pick your bridal party
You’re about to embark on a highly stressful journey and you need your army of bridesmaids to help you get through it. Whether you’re going to have one or 9 bridesmaids, pick people who have time to help you. Announce the news to your bridal party with a lot of fanfare – crack a bottle of champagne open and make them feel special!

Step 3: Shop for a wedding dress
As you start looking for a dress, you’ll realize that wedding gowns can take up to six months to arrive in the store so you need to allow ample time for delivery and alterations. If you only have a month or two, many designers can supply in a rush. Make a list of the stores you plan to visit and book your bridesmaids to come with you. You don’t want to exhaust your bridesmaids so ask a different one every time. As cliché as this might sound, you will know when you find the right dress.

Step 4: Prepare the invitation list
One of the most difficult tasks of wedding planning is cutting down the invitation list. Make a list of extra potential guests that you might invite later if you receive many regrets.

Step 5: Book the venue
Most venues are booked a year in advance. Having said that, don’t write off any before calling first. Have three or four preferred dates when you call, and if you’re flexible on the date, let the venue sales people know. They might have availability on a Friday or a recent cancellation.

Check out venue websites (such as venuesource.ca) and gather recommendations from colleagues and friends then make a list of top 10 potential venues. Contact them to find out if they have availability. This is something you can do on your lunch break. If they’re available, ask for a package to be e-mailed to you. This will give you a good idea of which venues are within your budget and based on that, create a shortlist of five venues to visit. Once you visit the venues, you can eliminate some and request quotes from those you like. Before signing the contract, ask any question that comes to mind and bring up any potential issues. Some details need to be addressed upfront (for example, what time the venue closes) and other details like the itinerary can be discussed at a later stage.

Booking the ceremony venue (church, city hall, etc.) is generally easier. You might opt to have the ceremony in the same venue or at a different location. Either way, make things as easy for your guests as possible.

Step 6: Get the marriage license
This is something you can delegate to your fiancé.

Step 7: Send a save-the-date notice
Send notification, by mail or e-mail, to your guests to save the date. I personally prefer e-mail. It’s efficient and fast and it allows you to gather guests’ mailing addresses quickly. Those who are not able to attend will let you know right away. So you’re able to determine whether you will need to use that extra list of potential invitees to get the wedding size you’re aiming for.

Step 8: Decide on the colour scheme
This will depend on the time of year, venue and your own preference. The restaurant where I hosted my wedding reception was decorated with warm brown curtains with golden tones so I went with yellow and chocolate brown. Setting the colour scheme will influence your invitation cards, venue decoration, wedding bonbonniere, bridesmaid dresses and printed materials.

Step 9: Print the wedding invitations
Whether you’re using a template or having your invitation card designed from scratch, discuss pricing and timelines beforehand. Make sure your wedding invitation reflects your style and personality. For example, I love Shakespeare so I incorporated part of Sonnet 116 in my invitation card.

Step 10: Order bridal party attire
Bridesmaid dresses don’t have to be cookie-cutter identical. If you’re letting your bridesmaids choose their own dresses, provide them with guidance and discuss style and accessories with them. If you’re planning on paying for their hair, makeup or accessories, let them know upfront. Give your groom and his groomsmen guidance on their tuxes as well.

Step 11: Choose your menu
Instead of having a five-course dinner, consider having a buffet during the cocktail reception followed by a three-course meal, so your guests are not starved by the time the best man is toasting. Don’t negotiate with the caterer until the menu has been finalized. Ask if you pay for alcohol by the bottle as opposed to by the glass or per person. This will reduce your bill considerably. Book the menu sampling at least a month in advance in case you need to make changes.

12. Write a detailed itinerary
This is a critical step before booking your vendors. Leave ample time for transportation and potential delays. Pad an extra 20 minutes for vendor set-up. Assign your most organized bridesmaid to be the go-to person for vendors and guests on the wedding day.

13. Book your entertainment
Whether you’re hiring a DJ, a live band or both, provide them with a song list. My husband and I spent a couple of hours to create a song list, which turned out to be a really fun activity. Be specific about what your DJ or band can and can’t play.

Step 14: Order the cake
Do some research and bring pictures of wedding cakes you’d like to emulate to your meeting with the baker. Sample the cake prior to placing the order.

Step 15: Flowers and centrepieces
Flowers don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. I did not want to spend too much on flowers so I opted for roses in short square-shaped vases versus the over-the-top tall centerpieces while my maid of honour made her own bouquet. Discuss budget and theme with your florist and ask to have a sample centerpiece created.

Step 16: Book your hair and makeup appointments
To avoid hassles and delay on your wedding day, book both hair and makeup at the same salon and make sure they can accommodate you and your bridesmaids. Schedule your hair and makeup trial months in advance. I changed three hairdressers before finding someone who can achieve the look I wanted.

Step 17: Hire a photographer/videographer
Ask for sample work of both the photographer and videographer, even if they’re highly recommended. You need to make sure their work style is in line with your own personal taste; otherwise, you might end up with some very tacky material!

Step 18: Select the wedding bonbinnieres
Consider having the bonbinnieres on the tables at the reception, and you’d be killing two birds with one stone – using them as a decoration item and eliminating the hassle of having to hand them to guests on their way out.

Step 19: Select your MC
Pick someone with public speaking skills and who knows both you and your groom well. Take time to sit down with your MC and discuss the message you’d like to get across to your guests, potential jokes and stories about you and your groom.

Step 20: Shop for transportation
Get everything in writing – arrival time, departure time, addresses to and from, music in the limo, gratuity, etc.

Step 21: Pick your first dance
If you and your fiancé have a special song, go with it, no matter how lame you think it is. It’s your day, and you should go with choices that make you happy.

Step 22: Book a hotel room/plan your honeymoon
I highly recommend that you rest for a couple of days after the wedding before going away on your honeymoon. Take the time to take it all in.

Step 23: Make time to write an awesome speech
All guests look forward to the bride and groom’s speech. Make your speech before dessert is served while you hold your guests’ attention.

Step 24: Follow up with invitees
Don’t count on the mail. Contact invitees you didn’t hear from and confirm whether they’re attending or not.

Step 25: Create a seating chart
Assign someone from your side and another from your groom’s to man the seating chart and help guests find their seats at the reception.

Step 26: Print your wedding materials
That can easily be done by using sites like staples.ca. Consider creating a logo that ties in all your wedding materials: gift tags, seating chart, menus, church program and table numbers. Ask the venue if they would print menus and table numbers. Just make sure you approve the documents before they’re printed.

Step 27: Buy gifts for your bridal party
Don’t distinguish amongst your bridesmaids (or groomsmen). Give them all the same gifts. Spa treatments, jewellery and gift certificates make for nice gifts.

Step 28: Buy a gift for your groom
Don’t wait until the last minute. Keep in mind that he’ll be surrounded with family and friends when he opens his gift.

Step 29: Get the wedding accessories
Purchase, borrow or make wedding accessories such as the ring pillow, garter, money basket, and guest book. All those tasks should be delegated to the bridal party – just keep track of who’s doing what.

Step 30: Arrange for final wedding dress fitting
Ask one of your bridesmaids to accompany you for a second opinion.

Step 31: Regroup with your bridal party
Meet with your bridal party two weeks before the big day to review the itinerary and make sure everyone is on the same page. Make arrangements for someone to be in charge of safe keeping gifts/money basket. Assign another to pay vendors on the wedding day.

Step 32: Make reservations for rehearsal time and place
This event marks the beginning of the celebrations. Enjoy it and don’t worry too much about what might go wrong on the big day.

Step 33: Follow up with vendors
Finalize details and send the final wedding itinerary to all vendors one week in advance.

Step 34: Send a confirmation e-mail to all your guests
Closer to the date, send a “looking forward to seeing you” e-mail to all your guests. The e-mail should include the “When, What and Where” details and links to the maps of the ceremony and reception locations.

Step 35: Delegate, delegate, delegate!
Don’t forget to delegate tasks to your fiancé and bridal party throughout the whole wedding planning process. One of the most helpful wedding planning tips that I’ve received is: Make a rule that no one can ask you any questions on the wedding day. By then, everyone should know what they are doing and where they’re supposed to be, so you can relax and enjoy your big day!

About Lina Duque
This is a guest post by Lina Duque. Lina is a marketing and event professional who has developed a diverse portfolio of events throughout her career. She supports diversity and entrepreneurial programs through her volunteer work with Skills for Change, the Mentoring Partnership and Canadian Youth Business Foundation. Connect with Lina on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter.

The Busy Woman’s Guide to Wedding Planning is a post from She Takes on the World

Great advice! RT @LissaDuty Ho… is a post from She Takes on the World