How to plan a wedding… and keep your job

He's proposed and you can now start planning the wedding of your dreams. But how do you manage the never-ending to-do list with the manic work deadlines? Read on to become a master juggler and plan your wedding seamlessly, without having to risk the wrath at the workplace. Trust us, you don't want vindictive colleagues ruining your post-honeymoon high. By Sonali Kokra

Say it loud and clear
No matter how tempting the idea of having a quick wedding might be, guard against it. If you have a wedding to put together and make that big presentation in two weeks, chances are that even if you do manage to pull things together, you’re going to end up looking over-worked and on-the-edge on your big day. Once the wedding date is fixed, tell everyone at your workplace. “Announcing the wedding date is like an informal application for leave,” says jewellery designer Arti Aggarwal, 27. “I had three months to plan my wedding. And the first thing I did was to inform my seniors and colleagues.
That way, no could blame me later for not giving them ample notice.”

Cut back, don’t shirk
Start working towards getting small allowances on your time. A good place to start cutting back is working weekends. “Be upfront,” advises Raksha Behl, 30, a business development manager in an IT firm. “Everyone knows that planning a wedding can be stressful. And no one is going to grudge you a few favours. But don’t push your luck so much that they start thinking of you as unprofessional. Says Payal Raghuvanshi, 27, an HR manager at an advertising agency, “I’ve seen the best and the worst kind of brides.
And the one thing I’ve learned is that no matter how much your boss loves you, if you ruin your reputation with erratic behaviour at this time, chances are, you’re going to be stuck with that image.”

Write it down and switch off
Prioritise your tasks, set cellphone or online reminders and write things down so your mind is not in a constant overdrive. This will ensure you don’t forget work deadlines amid all the wedding work.

Use your break
Use your commute to make your phone calls and do other follow-ups. Lunch breaks are great for these too. Start research and meet up with your wedding planner, designer and caterers during the lunch hour. No long lunches, though. Don’t take any more days off to plan your wedding than absolutely required. “Remember that the fewer holidays you take before the wedding, the more time you can take off for your honeymoon,” says Payal.

Shop smart, shop local
There are several wedding planning websites and other resources for brides that you can surf when you have some free time at work. You can also find vendors and decorators online. You’re better off using it just for services, though. Try to buy stuff from local stores and malls, it makes life easier in case you need to return or exchange things. “I got carried away and went on a country-wide shopping spree,” says Minakshi Waghmare, graphic designer, 28. “When friends arrived with my stuff, it turned into a nightmare. Most of the things weren’t quite what I had envisioned and I couldn’t even get them exchanged. It took a great deal of money and time to set things right and I ended up having to go on a month-long break even before my wedding-something that didn’t go down well with my boss.” So buy local. This way, you’re keeping your carbon footprint manageable too!

Employ your mom
Assign wedding duties to your close friends so that you’re not bogged down with having to do everything yourself. Make sure you show your gratitude to those who helped you out.

Your most important resource is your mother. Anita Goenka, 50, whose daughter got married two months ago, says, “Mothers are a boon, so stop bickering and let them take over if you’re too busy. They know where to find you that perfectly matched blouse without having to comb through the city. They know better than anyone else when you’ll throw a tantrum and what colour suits you best. Let unimportant things slide and remember, she’s been dreaming of this day for almost as long as you have.”

Find a happy place
The idea of getting married at an exotic location may sound exciting, but planning a wedding that’s far away from home is likely to be difficult. While it’s tempting to oversee all the details yourself, it’s not humanly possible if you’re sitting hundreds of kilometres away from the venue. And you’re not going to get enough holidays to be able to play control freak anyway. Your boss may be indulgent, but don’t be delusional. So it’s a good idea to share responsibilities with your fiancé. Once you’ve done that, your work has been cut to half. Nupur Singh, who got married in Goa in 2009, has one important advice to give. “Be prepared to pay a little extra just so that you’re ensured good service,” she says.