|
|
 |
Lead Times and Checklists |
|
|
|
|
Overwhelmed by the prospect of planning the most important event of your life? That's only natural. But you can ease your anxiety and make steady progress by using tried-and-true planning methods - especially those recommended by event professionals. They allow you to focus on making your wedding a true reflection of your individual style and personality. Put icing on the cake, so to speak.
With these checklists and calendars, feel confident you'll cover every detail of planning your wedding. At the very least, these tools provide you with the "big picture" of all wedding- and reception-related considerations.
|
|
|
 |
Wedding Task List |
This checklist begins with tasks to perform six months to a year before your wedding. You may need even more than a year's planning time for very formal affairs and for events at sought-after places on popular days. Some in-demand wedding vendors, especially videographers and photographers, book 18 months to two years out.
In most cases, the more time you have to plan, the easier a time you'll have. More wedding- and reception-related options will be available, and you may enjoy substantial savings, too.
Click here to print your own wedding task list and use it as a handy, effective and time-saving tool.
|
|
|
Important Contacts |
Keep key wedding party and supplier names, addresses and phone numbers in one place for easy reference. Click here to access two contact list templates that you can print out, fill out and keep handy.
|
|
|
Wedding-Day Emergency Kit
|
| Prepared to handle minor wedding-day mishaps that come your way? Click here to print out your own wedding-day emergency kit checklist and pack up these items for your use - just in case!
|
|
|
Ceremony and Reception Elements
|
Looking for ways to put your wedding in a class by itself? Review this recap of a typical religious wedding and reception so you can think through the various event components. Then you can choose which parts of your wedding or reception you want to make special or unusual.
Before you steer too far from tradition, though, remember that the wedding cake, processional, and beautiful gown and veil are what separate weddings from all other social occasions.
|
Ceremony |
- Ushers escort the guests to pews or other chair arrangement.
- Wedding music (the prelude) begins.
- Ushers escort grandparents and other honored guests down the aisle. This takes place just before the main processional starts.
- Ushers escort parents of the groom and mother of the bride down the aisle. (In Jewish weddings and increasing numbers of other religious ceremonies, parents are part of the processional. Each set of parents walks down the aisle; the bride between her parents, and the groom's parents next to him.)
- After a pause, the processional music begins.
- The officiant, if he or she is entering alone, enters the sanctuary.
- Attendants take turns in the processional. If groomsmen don't enter the sanctuary with the groom and officiant, they take part in the processional and escort bridesmaids. The honor attendants follow these groomsmen and bridesmaids, usually arranged by height. This means the maid or matron or honor and best man are closest to the bride and groom.
- Flower girl(s) and ring bearer(s) immediately precede the bride.
- The bride walks down the aisle. Her father or parents traditionally accompany her.
- Wedding vows are exchanged according to the customs of the couple and the officiant.
- Special wedding prayers, readings, music or songs are featured.
- Accompanied by recessional music, the newlyweds and their wedding party come back down the aisle followed by the wedding party.
|
Reception
|
- The bandleader or master of ceremonies introduces the newlyweds.
- Family and friends toast the newlyweds. Often the best man is first, followed by the bride's father, then family and friends. The bride and groom may toast each other next.
- Food is served.
- The wedding couple enjoys their first dance.
- The bride and groom cut the wedding cake and may feed each other a piece. The cake is moved to the kitchen to be cut, then brought back out for serving.
- The groom removes his bride's garter belt.
- The bride tosses her bouquet.
- The newlyweds change into their going-away clothes.
- Guests shower the bridal couple with rice, birdseed, flower petals or bubbles as they leave the reception site.
|
|
|
Lead Times
|
When it comes preparing for something as multi-faceted as your wedding, it's never easy to know how to prioritize your to-do list. Click here to view a rough timetable of how to allot planning time based on different lengths of engagement.
Keep in mind that this advice is based on weddings of small to moderate size - from 50 to 150 guests. Larger weddings with more guests will likely require more time.
If you're planning a wedding with very little time - or if you are not confident about your choices - get help from friends, relatives or a paid consultant. The savings in time, effort and emotional stress may be worth the expense of hiring someone to assist you.
|
|
|
|
I just ordered a ring and cannot describe how enjoyable of an experience it was. I was completely impressed with your service. The ring is incredible.
Matthew & Kacie - West Lafayette, IN
|
For delivery by Friday, May 9th, follow the shipping guidelines below.
