Planning dream wedding receptions is something every bride can do. There is absolutely no reason why every single bride can not have her version of a perfect wedding.

When smart brides begin planning their dream wedding receptions they should prioritize their needs and desires. A smart bride is realistic enough to recognize that she won't be able to have everything in life she wants. But she also knows that through savvy planning she will be able to have her own unique version of her dream wedding reception. This applies to her life, her wedding, and to her marriage.

With that said, I challenge all brides to be smart and savvy in the planning of your wedding reception.

Did you complete Part 1 yet?

After completing Part 1 which involved engaging your imagination in your dream wedding; we are now ready to begin the art of prioritizing. The prioritizing stage is essential in planning your wedding reception. You knew that, right?

Step 1 : Organize your wedding reception desires on index cards. Each desire should get their own card.

Write each desire that resonated with you on an index card.

Step 2: Assign a point of 1, 2 or 3 to each desire.

One way to prioritize is through a process that I call a benefit triangle. I love it and it works for me. It may or may not work for you. But I am pleased to shared this simple strategy with you.

I like it because the benefit triangle helps me to quickly prioritize my activities and choices. The activity helps me to see when my desires are selfish and also when my desires glorify a much higher purpose.

The benefit triangle allows someone to see the benefit of something in a clear and concise way. Perhaps you have another method of prioritizing. It is ok to use whatever strategy you are most comfortable using for this important activity. The essence of this activity is to get you to start prioritizing exactly what you want your wedding reception to be and see how your desires line up with your values.

Using your index cards:

Assign a 1 to the card if the benefit is limited to serving only one person or group.

Assign a 2 if the benefit is limited to serving yourself and others.

Assign a 3 if the benefit of the desire benefits you, others and a higher purpose.

As you work through this activity perhaps you will discover that something that you initially felt was selfish, actually wasn't a 1 at all. But on closer scrutiny the secret desire turned out to be a three, because it was based on your very authenticity, you recognized that the desire served you, others, and a higher purpose in a beautiful way.

Step 3: Divide your cards up into 3 piles based on the point of each. You will have a pile of ones, twos, and threes.

Step 4: Ponder these piles. Ponder the points you assigned to each desire. Allow plenty of time to consider thoughtfully the priority and benefit of each desire.

Over the coming days or weeks new desires may emerge as you begin focusing on what you really want your wedding reception to be. Make a card for each and assign each new desire a point.

Before long you will probably automatically start assigning a priority to each desire. The smart bride knows how to prioritize her desires in a way that is aligned to her values and to what is most important in life to her.

2006 Kathi Dameron, Kathi Dameron and Associates

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