I am the biggest Techno-Geek I know. I have been since I was a young girl with my Radio Shack TRS-80.

Now I can regularly be found with my laptop in tow and I always have my Blackberry attached to my waist. Honestly, I rarely use pen and paper at all, especially now that I am trying to be environmentally conscious. Not all of my clients and colleagues work that way. In fact, my associate, Michele, can’t fathom doing anything without a legal pad in her hand.

So in consideration of Michele, and my clients who like things they can hold in their hands rather than stare at a computer screen, I started to think about the tools I used before I planned everything in my computer. Here is a list of my favorite low tech wedding planning tools.

1. Three Ring Binder: I think the three-ring binder is something no bride should be without. It is easy to carry and if you drop it, your papers won’t fall out. I also like that it is easy to add pages in when you find things you like and to take pages out when you don’t need them anymore (You know you’re going to change your mind a few times). This is a must-have low- tech tool!

 

2. Page Protector: This is the perfect accompaniment to the three-ring binder. Use them for papers that shouldn’t have holes (like contracts) and keep smaller items in them like fabric swatches and business cards.

 

3. Recipe Card File: This is a great low-tech way to keep your guest list. Put names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses on index cards and put them in alphabetical order inside. You will appreciate having your guest list organized in one portable place.

 

4. Hi Lighter: Organize your guest list by using different colored hi lighters. I suggest green for those you are sure will attend the wedding, pink for those who might attend and blue for those who you cannot imagine will attend. This will help you keep a solid estimate of guests for budgeting purposes.

 

5. Shoe Box: The shoe box is a great place to store response cards. Make one box for yes, and one box for no.

 

6. Rubber Bands: Use rubber bands for making your table assignments. Go to your shoe box with all of your “yes” invitees and put them in groups of people who you want to sit together. Use the rubber bands to secure the cards together by table.

 

7. Calculator: Okay, so an abacus would be more low-tech, but not nearly as portable. Put the calculator in your purse so you can easily tally bills and estimates so that you can make sure to stay on budget.

 

8. Color Wheel: I love my color wheel. Carry yours with you everywhere, especially when you shop for linens, flowers and dresses. I even saw a bride use hers when selecting eye shadow colors with her makeup artist. (you can purchase one of our Just Marry! Color Wheels at amazon.com)

 

9. Masking Tape: You must have masking tape with you on the wedding day. It is good for making shoes non-slip, repairing falling hems (it’s not gorgeous, but it works in a pinch) and securing slipping bra straps.

 

10. Rolling Suitcase: Everything can go in a rolling suitcase; favors, emergency kits, programs — all wedding accessories. If you pack things tightly, all will stay organized and you will appreciate not having to carry heavy containers full of stuff.

 

11. Small Notebook: I encourage every bride to keep a small notebook and pen with her at all times. Ideas will pop into your head constantly, even when you sleep. Don’t let any bit of inspiration get away or any “to-do” be forgotten.

I have seen thousands of best man toasts. I have been moved to tears on many occasion; sometimes because the toast was moving and full of love, other times because the toast was mean-spirited and inappropriate.

Don’t let your best man wreak havoc on your wedding reception. Send him a friendly email a month before the wedding to let him know that you are really looking forward to hearing his toast AND include a link to this blog post as a subtle hint as to how not to embarrass himself on the wedding day!

My top ten tips to a memorable toast:

1. Write your toast on paper. All great speeches, whether they are comedy or serious, are scripted at one point. You don’t have to carry note cards and read word-for-word, but you will do a better job if you organize your thoughts in advance.
    
2. Keep it short and simple. Think of one or two great stories about your life with the bride or groom or both. If you ramble on and on, guests will get bored. Three minutes or less is a good guide.
    
3. Remember the wedding reception isn’t a roast. You will be giving your toast in front of moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers. Save your really off-color material for the bachelor party.
    
4. Practice, practice, practice. The best way to sound natural is to really know what you want to say. You don’t want to stumble over your words and you want to be comfortable enough with the material so that if you skip something, you can just casually move on or add something new without getting flustered.
    
5. Consider using props. Some of the most memorable (and funny) toasts I have seen included using an object from a memorable occasion. For example, if you met trying out for little league baseball bring in your team shirt (how cute and small) to illustrate how long you have been buddies.
    
6. Don’t forget to thank the wedding hosts. Whether it be the bride’s parents, the groom’s parents, or both, don’t forget to acknowledge them for making such a nice party for the newlyweds.
    
7. If you are mostly a friend of either just the bride or just the groom, don’t forget to acknowledge the other in your toast. You can tell great stories about growing up with the groom, but in the end, don’t forget to mention how happy he looks with the bride, or how much she has enriched his life.
    
8. Don’t drink too much prior to the toast. I know that many people like to “take the edge off” prior to getting up and speaking in front of a big crowd. One or two alcoholic beverages are probably fine, just don’t drink to the point of slurring your speech and staggering.
    
9. Wrap up the toast by wishing the couple a long and happy future together. This will be the guests’ signal to say cheers and drink to the happy couple.
    
10. Relax and have fun with it. You aren’t being graded, you are paying tribute to your close friends. Don’t get wrapped up in being afraid of standing up in front of a crowd, just speak from your heart.
     

See, it isn’t rocket science! If you have a great toast that you have written or heard. I would love to hear about it too. Just post to the blog with any ideas.