If you are planning a wedding you will need the “wedding book.” No bride should be without this special piece of equipment. In fact, it is often the first thing the bride-to-be purchases.
Why a wedding book you ask? The wedding book will help you keep track of everything and I do mean everything!
Wedding planning means attention to detail. With the wedding book in hand the wedding planning will go more smoothly.
Start by choosing the right kind of wedding book for you. There are actual wedding binders and books made specifically for wedding planning. You can use a system of file folders or a notebook with pockets.
Next, you begin collecting all kinds of useful wedding information. You can make lists of things to do, phone numbers of caterers, florists, musicians and photographers. Be on the lookout for articles and photos of wedding dresses, cakes, floral arrangements and rings.
You will create a section in the wedding planner for each area you need to have covered. Wedding planning is much easier when you have every section at your fingertips for reference.
As you make phone calls and collect information you just put that bit of information in the appropriate section. You will be able to compare photos of wedding dresses, reception venues and hair styles. You will also have a place to keep records of your expenses and contracts.
Be sure to have a calendar and month by month list of things that need to be done. This will help keep your wedding planning on track.
Wedding planning will seem quite easy when you have an organized system. Take the wedding book or binder with you everywhere and wedding planning will seem quite effortless.
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These guidelines will help you avoid the three most common negotiating mistakes couples make: 1) Failure to prepare before the negotiation with your partner; 2) Caving in too quickly to avoid tension or to keep the peace; and 3) Stubbornly pushing too hard for your own solution.
Why Learn to Negotiate with your Partner?
Conflict is inevitable for growth in your relationship. Many people are frightened of conflict because they can’t negotiate. Once you learn to negotiate you won’t be so afraid of conflict. Good negotiation leads to acceptable solutions that work for both of you and will strengthen your relationship. Your communication skills automatically improve as you develop good negotiating skills.
The Difference Between Negotiation For Couples and Other Negotiations
Negotiation with your partner can feel especially risky, because the amount of emotional self disclosure required is much higher for couples than in business. Also, the result may have life-altering consequences (like negotiating where to live).
Skills Required For Negotiating With Your Partner
Effective negotiation for complex problems requires lots of openness about yourself, curiosity about your partner’s issues and emotional risk. It also takes listening really well!
Some Things Cannot Be Negotiated
Core values, integrity, spirituality, feelings, attitudes and trust can not be negotiated.
Do your best to separate interests and concerns from values. You can negotiate your interests but not your core values or integrity. For example, it doesn’t work to say, “I’ll give up my spiritual beliefs for you.”
The Only Things You Can Really Negotiate Are Behavior And Decisions
You can negotiate what action someone will take and when they will do it, or you can negotiate a solution to a problem of disagreement.
How To Prepare To Negotiate
Ask yourself how you aspire to be during the negotiation. For example, calm, open, flexible, honest, understanding, curious. By following the guidelines you set for yourself, you will more easily focus on a successful outcome. This is an often overlooked aspect of negotiation. Staying conscious of your own guidelines will help keep you centered and focused. Write your guidelines on a piece of paper and keep glancing at them during the negotiation. You will come across like an experienced negotiator simply by staying consistent with your own guidelines.
Before you start the negotiation, quietly reflect on the following questions:
What do I want? Why do I want it and why is it important?
How important is this to me?
To get what I want, what will I need to do and what will my partner need to do?
If I get most of what I want what is the positive and negative effect on my partner?
How can I make it easier for my partner to say yes?
However, it may be difficult for my partner to give me most of what I want because _________________________________________________________________.
I may be able to increase the benefits to my partner by _________________________.
I may be able to decrease the downside to my partner by ______________________.
Add other relevant information that has not been suggested here.
You don’t need to answer every question and complete every statement sequentially in a dialogue with your partner. But as you get mentally clear about these issues it will make it easier to conversationally express your concerns and desires.
Start By Stating the Area of Disagreement
It is important to describe the issue as disagreement instead of as a problem. It is very difficult to say “The problem is ___________” without blaming your partner or yourself. This actual or implied blame leads to a defensive reaction from one or both parties. The negotiation then begins to slip like a house built on loose gravel.
State the disagreement in the form, “We seem to disagree about _______________.”
Then take turns expressing what your concerns and desires are about the disagreement.
Describe Concerns About the Subject
One person goes first and expresses all their concerns while the other listens without rebutting or defending anything. The response is simply to recap and check for understanding. It may also be necessary to ask questions for clarity.
Avoid leading questions that sound like Perry Mason, “Did it ever occur to you that…?”
Brainstorm Solutions
After each person has expressed all their concerns and desires, and each of you feels understood, then it is time for brainstorming solutions. Think of several possible solutions.
One partner proposes a solution
Make the suggested proposal in the following format:
Honey, what I suggest is _______________________________________________.
This suggestion works for me because ____________________________________.
This suggestion might work for you because _______________________________.
The Rationale For This “Formula”
It encourages being a good self advocate.
Simultaneously it forces you to consider your partner’s perspective and helps prevent the possibility of only stubbornly pushing your own desires.
The Other Partner Responds
If the partner agrees with the whole suggestion, then recap why it works.
If the partner does not agree then start with recapping the part that does work.
The part that does work is ________________________________.
The part that doesn’t work is ______________________________.
So my alternative suggestion is ____________________________.
This suggestion works for me because _______________________.
And it might work for you because __________________________.
Add value to your offers. Keep finding ways to make it easier for your partner to say yes.
Remember - this negotiation is only an experiment. Nobody is locked into a permanent solution. It is only for a period of time to see what if anything needs adjusting.
Repeat suggestions until agreement is reached.
Take Action
If action is appropriate, decide who will do what by when.
Decide for how long you will try this solution.
Evaluation
After the action phase come back and evaluate the results.
If things are fine, continue for another block of time.
Round Two, Three, Etc.
If it didn’t work out as well as hoped, each person begins by saying, “Honey, it didn’t work the way I hoped, but here is what I could have done differently.” Don’t start by stating what your partner should have done differently.
Then repeat appropriate steps above.
Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts at this new negotiation strategy are awkward. This is challenging territory for most couples. Keep trying, and you’ll improve. If you’d like more help on the subject, consider attending the weekend couples’ workshop “Coming from your Heart” to learn this approach along with a lot of other practical, innovative material for couples. It’s definitely easier to learn when you see demonstrations and role-plays. You’d even get to practice with a therapist helping you stay on track. For information or to register visit http://www.couplesinstitute.com/couples/pete_workshop.html.
Good luck, and may all your disagreements lead you to more lively collaboration.

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