As we launch Wedding at Organize.com, it’s time to call in the experts to give our guests some guidance on the two most important Wedding topics. 1. Organization and 2. Details. I decided I need the best and immediately called Carley Roney. Let me just say that the woman is amazing! She has style, spunk and flair that tells you instantly why she is who she is and how she got to be THE Carley Roney extraordinaire.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Carley and here it is to share with you:

Mrs. O: As someone who spends their days organizing people, I loved your new book, “The Knot Book of Wedding Lists”. It really makes it easy for the bride to stay on track and keep their sanity…everyday! Excellent job on breaking it down “into bite size pieces for busy brides”. SO…Where does the bride begin once the ring is on her finger?

Carley: Pick a date, venue and guest list depending on your priority and build from there. BUDGET in advance—don’t make the mistake of budgeting linearly.
Mrs. O: What are the most important items that help to keep a Bride Organized and on track in planning a Wedding

Carley: Checklists from TheKnot.com. They send you notifications, even if it’s not something you are doing in your ceremony. At least you’ll know what you don’t need.
Another item is The Knot Book of Wedding Lists to keep in your purse. Mark it up, doggyear it, USE it, make it yours. Also, choose a box like the Cargo File Boxes with Lid to store bulky keepsakes from the planning process (like samples from bridal shows, sample favors, etc) in one compact, and neat place so things don’t get scattered. Ideally, choose a box to match your wedding colors. I also recommend having a designated tote like the Only Bag or A La Carte Tote by Baggallini, so that you can store and carry necessary paperwork when going to appointments, tastings, etc. and can grab-and-go. And finally, choose a binder like one from the Russell and Hazel collection. You will need dividers and to section by priority. Such as:
1) Checklist & Budget
2) Ceremony
3) Reception
4) Invitations
5) Vendors
6) Guest List
7) Budget/receipts
8) Attire
9) Registry
10) Transportation/ Accommodations
11) Honeymoon

Or depending on your organization style, you can create more compact sections like:

1) Ceremony
2) Reception
3) Honeymoon

Mrs. O: What products would you recommend that would be helpful for a wedding? For example, as we introduce Wedding we will tell brides to think about Wedding Storage Boxes (great for before and after), Media files to organize all their magazines, page markers, etc. Our readers will appreciate specific ideas from the Expert! What can you share?

Carley: Clothing organizers and packing aids: No matter if you have a destination wedding or a local one, you will have to transport so many items, like favors, dress and tuxes/suits, clothing accessories, a change of clothes, personal items, etc. You need to be organized when doing so and know exactly where things are. Your Garment Bags keep clothing items safe and organized. If you are flying, realize that you will need to transport and protect your dress and do not check it at baggage-whatever you do! Tie Caddy is adorable and keeps ties compact and wrinkle free, and the Mini Lint Pod is a perfect accessory for the day-of emergency kit. Travel accessories are a must if you are having a destination wedding. NEVER pack your ID or paperwork in your bags. The ID Holders are a great thing to keep handy. When having a destination wedding, Travel Pillows are great because most people are flying (or driving long distances). These pillows contour to your neck and make a great favor, attendant gift or welcome gift.

Mrs. O: Give us the scoop on Wedding Planners. What are the key reasons you might want a wedding planner?

Carley: To save you time! They are great if you are having a destination wedding, to play mediator between opinionated families, to get possible discounts from their connections/contacts and to make sure the day-of goes smoothly.

Mrs. O: Can you give us a few of your personal favorite wedding ideas? Favorite favor, way of displaying place cards, daughter to mother personal touch at the alter, or the sweetest thing you ever heard a bride or groom say to each other?

Carley: Eco-friendly favors: plant-able cards found on TheKnot.com, or lavender rice on TheKnot.com—which doesn’t harm birds. Bold colors: melon, oranges, salmon—bright colors that make a statement are in. Pair it with a lighter color (rose) or contrast with brown or a darker color for another feel. Personalization to infuse your personality into your planning. Adopt a theme of your favorite sporting event, city to visit, or heritage to make your wedding a reflection of yourself.

Mrs. O: Can you tell us the Top #5 Items to keep you organized on your Wedding Day?

Carley: Your attendants: the maid of honor and best man have their duties and should be someone you trust to keep the show moving. Their duties will span from pre-ceremony to post-wedding, so make sure you choose a responsible MOH/BM. Have a “Day Of” emergency kit: cell phone, small snacks, bottles of water, tissues, floss, nail file, makeup, pain reliever, tampons, mints, deodorant, extra stockings, etc. for any scenario that may arise. Also have an emergency contact list. Include the DJ, caterers, photographer/videographer, cake vendor, makeup artist, attendants etc. Have their numbers handy in case you need to call them. Prepare a “Day Of” package for each vendor. Note any special last minute requests you have made and include instructions like playlist for DJ, special food requests for caterer, or family portrait list for photographer.
Get tip money together. Don’t be caught running around after the reception trying to find cash for the bartenders, valets, limo drivers, hairstylists, wait staff, maître d’, and reception manager. The Knot Book of Wedding Lists has a breakdown of who and how much to tip.

Mrs. O: Talk to us about Registry Essentials. What do you recommend for the bride and groom to think about when it comes to the basics of setting up a household together.

Carley: REGISTER—and at more than one store. I recommend choosing a different registry for each room, like Pottery Barn for bedroom, Crate and Barrel for dining room, or Organize.com for storage, etc. Have a vision for your home. Couples are marrying older so oftentimes have accumulated their own items and are combining. Pick a neutral ground and you can always refurbish items to match both of your styles.

Mrs. O: Do you have a favorite Wedding Story to share?

Carley: My own! I started The Knot in 1996 after the havoc that was my own wedding (the air conditioner broke, the band didn’t show up, etc). I realized the wedding world was outdated and needed a facelift. It’s not until one is planning a wedding that they realize the details and gravity of the responsibilities. People assume that I had the perfect wedding, so I love letting those close to me know the truth……..

It’s no surprise to me that Carley manages a succesful business and family at the same time. Her personality shines and you can hear a smile in her voice as she speaks. In fact, all of my contacts at The Knot are just as sweet and charming as Carley.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

Carley is Editor-In-Chief of The Knot, the number one wedding brand worldwide, as well as its sister brand, The Nest (Nesties who have tied the knot!). Roney appears regularly on TV shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, Live with Regis and Kelly, and Today. She has also authored nine wedding books for The Knot. All Brides we polled chose The Knot as THE tool to manage the planning of their wedding and where to get the best ideas and guidance. It’s definitely a “Mrs. O” favorite, as she celebrates 545 happy days with Terry (WOW…already?), as found on her “My Knot” page.

This month, we will also launch our First Annual “Five Favorite Bride’s” at Organize.com! Be sure to take a peek at the wonderful stories, their wedding plans and how they will stay organized during their wedding planning stages.

Coming Soon?
Who said Wedding Registry is all about China and Crystal? What about all the things you will need to set up your new home together? Once you unpack the china, you are going to need china, stemware and flatware storage. Gift and Wedding Registry is coming soon to Organize.com, so stay tuned!

NEAT Things I love today:
The Latest in List Books….“The Knot’s Book of Wedding Lists”. It’s the ultimate guide to the perfect day, down to the smallest detail. We love it so much that we’ve added it to Organize.com’s NEAT Things We Love for 2008!

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

According to Peter, “there is a weird connection between clutter in all areas of our homes and clutter we carry in our bodies and on our bodies”. He emphasizes that “your head, your heart, your hips and your house are all interconnected.” When you think about it, the theory makes total sense and Peter is absolutely the expert in helping anyone decide exactly what you want from your life and your space. The best part? It’s all from the heart and with an amazing, comfortable passion for what he believes and teaches.

Check out Peter at www.Oprah.com and watch for his new book coming soon to our site. It’s made our “NEAT Organizing Tools” List for 2008!

Happy Organizing!

-Mrs. O

Tackle The Clutter!
Peter calls this first step the “Kick Start”. It’s tough to make people part with things that belong to them. If you commit to taking the “F.A.S.T.” approach…this will also become your new mantra! What is F.A.S.T.? You’re going to like this.
F = Fix a time. Schedule a kick start date with everyone in the household.
A = Anything not used for twelve months - let it go!
S = Someone else’s stuff. If it doesn’t belong to you - it’s time to go.
T = Unusable items and garbage are history.

Organize Your Material!
Be sure you have plenty of trash bags on hand. Keep in mind that your goal is to fill lots of them. Buy or borrow tarps. You’ve probably seen Peter use these on TLC’s Clean Sweep. They are GREAT for sorting “stuff” into piles. Depending on the space you have, a tarp can be assigned to each household member or in ”teams”.  Consider renting a dumpster that can be delivered to your home and towed away when filled. Plan sandwiches or pizza for dinner. There won’t be time for food prep.

Pick The Final Destination
If I haven’t mentioned this already, Peter Walsh is a no nonsense kind of guy. These three options for every item you come across will explain why.
1. Keep. This category is for items that you use all the time.
2. Trash. Remember that you are creating space and getting rid of the clutter that is making you unhappy.
3. Out the door. These items are either going to be sold at a yard sale or online, being donated or given back to their owner. I love this part…”once in this pile, the item never comes back into your home”.

Game Rules
These are pretty easy. Start on time, don’t argue or waste time, make your piles and don’t stop until you are done!

At the end of this purge, “evaluate and congratulate”. There will be some things that mean more to some than to others. This is where the family give and take comes in. Decide what’s important and a way to let go of the things that don’t deserve the space they are taking. As the leader, rally the team and get them excited to accomplish the next step!

NEAT Tip of the day:
Holiday Wreath Storage bags are perfect for storing garland. We used a 42″ Wreath Chest to store our indoor and outdoor garland this year. These also have center pull-out storage to keep your garland, bows and ornaments all together. Just “coil” the garland from the inside of the chest and work your way to the outside edge. Also note as you store your wreaths in these storage bags, that there is some open space between the pull out storage and wreath. A single 9-foot strand of garland fits perfectly here! Wreath storage bags range in price and size to fit your needs.

Happy Organizing!
-Mrs. O

Give each member of your household a trash bag. I’ve found that large, black lawn and garden bags hold up best for this exercise. For ten minutes, everyone fills their bag with items that they don’t need, don’t use, have outgrown or will help to reduce the cluttered area you are working on. You can decide to do this for one day or for one week, depending on the size of your project. Everything that is collected is either donated or recycled in some way. For those of you with kids, this is a great project for the playroom. The extra stuffed animals seem to find a good new home and the kids don’t mind working with Mom and Dad if you make any kind of a game of this. Speaking of stuffed animals, if you don’t have a Pet Net or Toy Net - these are an excellent solution for storing stuffed toys! 

“The Trash Bag Tango” is also an excellent approach to the garage. Think of it this way. If you have a family of four filling one trash bag per person in ten minutes, that’s 4 bags of ’stuff’. If you set aside 10 minutes for 7 days, you would collect 28 bags of ’stuff’ in just one week. When you do the math, it sounds like a pretty simple way to de-clutter and definitely doable!

Today’s NEAT TIP?
When you are looking to de-clutter your home, only bring in something new if you are willing to give up something old. It’s the ‘give and take’ approach of sort and it works!  The weekend is almost here. Make a plan to organize something and get started!

- Mrs. O  

After just ten minutes into my interview with Peter, I knew the answers to my questions. He is no ordinary person and he is no ordinary organizer. Peter can help rid people of their clutter and change their lives, if they are willing. “You must decide what you want from your life”, says Peter. As he continues, he asks his clients to “Talk to me about the life you want for yourself.” Then, Your house? Your space? Immediately, you realize that Walsh is not counting the number of storage bins you need, but helping his clients to understand what they need, want, and what to rid themselves of to allow them to have the life they want for themselves and their families. 
 
What we learned from Peter? Step One:

The first thing you want to do is get a vision of the life you want. If you saw “The Hoarders” Episode on Oprah, you heard Peter say, “if organizing doesn’t start with a vision, it can’t have lasting effects”. If you are seeking order and harmony in your home, the vision becomes a little easier and the stuff becomes less important. Make sense?

How do you begin to get organized?

Begin with just one room. If it is your home office that bothers you, then ask yourself - what you want this room to be and start by removing anything that you don’t need. From there, create the room that you want it to be and add things that make you feel good. Give yourself the tools to keep things in order on and in your desk. You’ll find yourself wanting to spend more time in this room because it feels good. I promise!

NEAT Tip: 
Contain Everything! If everything has a home, it is easier to stay organized. Use drawer organizers, storage boxes on your desk and shelves, media storage for your magazines and label these items. You will find and return them to their designated areas when “it’s easy”.

I would love to hear from you about the steps you’ve taken to begin to organize your life or home. If you have a story to tell or a tip, please share it with me and our readers! 
I wish you success and look forward to your stories.

-Mrs. O 

I had the pleasure of interviewing Peter Walsh. I must say that Peter is a charming Australian, who is witty, extremely bright and passionate about everything he does. His energy is both enlightening and contagious. You can hear the passion in his voice the minute you begin a conversation with him. He speaks with authority, enthusiasm and an expertise that convinces you immediately that he is on a mission to help others.

I was especially interested in Peter because we share the same theory that “organization is a lifestyle”. You cannot be successfully organized on a clutter diet. You must begin with the root of the problem, find the solution and work at it everyday. Peter and I also share a key component in our everyday lives…we spend most of our time organizing other people. Peter is truly and expert at helping people determine two things - “what you want from your space” and “the life you want to live”. You’ll find out how as you read on. I hope you will join me tomorrow for Part One of “My Interview With Peter Walsh”.

Take one step at a time!

- Mrs. Organized