November 21 - Task List and Strategic Planning Day

My fiance and I are going to be sending invitations, reception invitations, and Christmas cards over the Thanksgiving holiday.  So, I also want to take some time to look at what all needs to get done before March and how realistic it is.  First, I made a list of all the wedding dress tasks:

Buttons

• Test the process – on Sunday I cut the pattern from one of my button kits, traced and cut circles from charmeuse and organza and tried to make a button.  I couldn’t do it until I stitched a circle of gathering stitches through the two layers of fabric.  The resulting test button was pretty but not perfect and so now I’m considering whether to have a professional make the buttons.
• Cut fabric (or send fabric to professional)
• Assemble buttons (or wait for button arrival from professional)
• Prepare loops for buttons

Petals

• Pattern – on Sunday, I couldn’t find my original pattern so I made another using an image of a drawing of a plumeria flower, printed it, traced it onto tagboard (a menu I don’t need), and cut it out.
• Test fray check – did this on Sunday, the Dritz “Fray Check” is the clear winner.  Less goopy than the Alene’s version and dries invisible
• Trace petals
• Cut petals

Wrap

• Sew shoulder seams
• Sew side seams
• Insert sleeves

Foundation

• Trace, baste, and cut lining pieces
• Thread trace lining pieces or just mark?
• Baste or sew boning channels
• Baste garment sections
• Think about top edge of dress – twill tape, elastic, etc.
• Baste seam boning channels
• Temporary closure?
• Fit and rebaste on new seamlines
• Adjust lining pieces
• Embroider lining piece
• Button holes for waist stay in lining
• Sew foundation seams
• Press seams
• Trim, overcast and catch stitch seam allowances
• Add boning and close boning channels
• Make the waist stay
• Attach the waist stay
• Attach lining when/where appropriate
• Add closure

Dress

• Baste seams
• Fit
• Adjust and re-baste seams
• Sew seams
• Press seams
• Trim, overcast and catch stitch seam allowances

Overdress

• Thread trace
• Baste seams
• Fit
• Determine what type of seams to use where - I am using French seams on the straight bits and false French seams on the curvy bits.

Lining

• Baste seams
• Sew seams Lining
• Thread trace seamlines?
• Baste seams
• Fit
• Re-baste seamlines and/or seams
• Seam ruffles
• Attach ruffles to lining
• Get stiff netting and add netting with tulle if tulle is not stiff enough

Assembly

• Attach sections at stabilized top edge
• Final fitting
• Make any adjustments from fitting
• Join dress and overdress at closure
• Attach buttons and loops with appropriate underlap
• Mark for hemming
• Hem
• Attach lace from my mom’s dress
• Attach petals using pearls

Bustling

• Determine location for bustle point
• Add gap in dress and reinforce seam
• Attach ribbon to upper point inside dress
• Attach ribbon to lower point inside overdress

Pack dress for shipping

• Dress
• Shoes
• Bustier
• Other under-items
• Wrap
• Veil if I have one
• Pearls
• Earrings

Okay, so this is no joke.  That's a lot of work. Especially considering I'm still losing weight. Arrgh.  I wish I didn't want to lose weight, then I could just get going.  As it is, I will do the buttons, petals, wrap, and everything else I can manage to finish before the first fitting.

Then, of course, there's the crafts.

The Non-Dress List:

Invitations

• Prepare invitation list and reception invitation list
• Gather all the addresses
• Make sure I have stamps
• Make sure I have address labes
• Print address labels
• Assemble invitations
• Check finished invitation invitees off invitation list
• Mail
• Manage RSVPs

Photos

• Select engagement photos for guest book
• Photo list for photographer

Decor - Luminaria

• Glue weights to luminaria paper
• pull battery tabs from tealights
• cut lengths of thread from waxed and heat-set thread
• tie tulle wraps around luminaria
• test eyelet tool on paper
• pack for shipping (also pack tulle pompoms and monofilament for shipping)

Decor - Centerpieces

• Cut paper
• Cut ribbons
• Glue one end of each
• Add lead weights
• pack for shipping

Decor - Table Numbers, Escort Cards, and Place Cards

• Print labels for place cards
• Print labels for escort cards
• Decide on table numbers
• Print table numbers

Other Paper Products

• Programs
• Menus
• To-Do in PR
• Schedules

Flowers

• Boutonnieres: 4
• Mom's flowers: 3
• Bridesmaid's bouquets: 2
• Bride's bouquet: 1

Ceremony decor

• Rent an arch?  Use tulle pompoms?
• Chair decorations? the bows I have?
• Aisle runner? If yes, prepare for shipping

Yeah, okay, it's looking a little crazy, but I'll get help.