Wedding planning might be a full-time job, but chances are you've also got that other full-time job -- you know, the one you had long before he put that ring on your finger. Even if you've hired a hands-on wedding planner, you probably still need to decide on some things yourself. How to deal? Plan for some serious, um -- let's call it multitasking. Here's how to find the time do it all without winding up in hot water with your boss.
When to Do What
Finding Vendors: Daytime
Researching vendors online -- checking out sites, listings on the local pages of TheKnot.com, or reading other to-be-weds' recommendations -- is an obvious one for that spare five minutes before you have to run into a meeting. One caveat: Make sure the volume on your computer is turned off, or at least way down! If a digitized version of "Wedding March" starts blasting, you are so busted.
Finding Inspiration: Daytime
Here's another instance where the Internet is your best friend -- browse for gowns, bouquets, and more online. You're more likely to have an aha moment the more you see, so spending time online is a good way to get through the doldrums of your work day (like mid-afternoon, when lunch is ancient history and it feels like the end of the day is never going to come).
Visiting Vendors: Free time
Unless you're just doing a drive-by to check out their digs, keep actual vendor visits to your days off or weekends. You're going to want to visit most vendors as a tag team, so you'll need your fiance with you. More importantly, if you really like the vendor, you can talk much longer without worrying about going over your lunch hour. Better to play it safe and plan visits for when you know you don't have work commitments.
DIY Stuff: Nighttime
Did you really think you'd be able to assemble programs at your desk? Or that your boss won't notice you printing out 200 favor cards on the color printer? Wedding projects (like tying the bows on all those favor boxes) are definitely a nighttime activity -- kick back with a glass of wine and a DVD of the last season of Grey's Anatomy while you fold 300 sheets of vellum.
3 Tricks for Not Getting Caught
Stay on Task
You want to fly under the radar -- if it's blatantly obvious that your work time has become wedding time, you risk the wrath of your coworkers or even worse, your boss. You can't let wedding planning take up your entire day, but you can definitely let it replace time you would have spent instant messaging. The key: Stay on top of your normal tasks and goals, and don't let planning affect your performance.
Go Online
Do not, we repeat, do not bring your wedding binder to work. A notebook full of decor ideas and fabric swatches is way too obvious (unless perhaps you're an interior decorator). Leave the real deal at home and add ideas to a digital notebook at work. You can save articles, photos, and gowns you like -- and remember, if you really need something you can actually hang onto, you can always print out the pics.
Watch Your Back
It should be obvious, but use your best judgment when it comes to planning your wedding while you're supposed to be working on your work (you know, the stuff they're actually paying you to do). Don't leave a wedding-related web page or document on your screen if you have to step away from your desk -- close or minimize it. And keep more than one window open so if someone comes by it's easy to tab over from your reception site's floor plan to something more legit.
