Wedding Planning: Everything You Need to Know

Everyone has their own unique vision of how their perfect wedding should be. Not only is it easy to get caught up in the romance of the wedding planning, it’s also easy to get overwhelmed. This could mean overlooking important details, and little ones that might not be as important, but would really add something special to your big day. Here are some useful suggestions for making sure that every detail of your wedding is planned out and nothing is forgotten. From remembering groomsmen gifts or keeping a small sewing kit handy, we’ve covered it all so you can sit back and know your wedding and reception will go smoothly.

Wedding Venue and Reception Details

When choosing the right wedding and reception venues, there are several factors to consider. Make sure to inquire important information such as:

Is the venue handicapped accessible to accommodate walkers or wheelchairs?
How many guests can the venue accommodate?
Does the venue require that liability insurance be taken out in the event of damage to property or injury?

You will also want to ask about food and drink choices for the reception. When making meal choices, keep in mind any special dietary needs of your guests as well as considering food allergies. If alcohol will be served, you’ll need to make the decision as to whether you wish to serve only beer and wine, or if harder options are available. Decide how much of the alcohol you will be supplying as an open bar option, or if the guests will need to pay for their own special drinks at a cash bar.

Things to Remember for the Bride and her Bridesmaids

If you are planning to use a hairdresser for the bride or any bridal party members, make sure to plan ample time for everyone to get their special hairstyles completed on time. The same goes for makeup. Whether using a professional or doing makeup yourselves, make sure to allow plenty of time before the ceremony.

Decide in advance if you want all of your female wedding party members to wear the same dress, or perhaps just a specific color. After dresses are selected, determine if any special undergarments need to be purchased to accommodate a certain cut or style of dress. As for shoes, decide if all females in the party should wear the same shoes, or simply the same color of shoes.

Check to see if all wedding party members have pierced ears before deciding on what earrings and jewelry accessories will be worn. For the bride, make sure to purchase a garter, maybe even two, one to keep and one to toss.

For the Groom and Groomsmen

When shopping for suits or tuxedos, it should be decided right away whether the garments will be purchased or rented.
Make sure every male wedding party member is available for a custom fitting well in advance.
Make sure to purchase or rent matching cummerbunds for the male wedding party members.
It may also be advisable to have an objective female present when suits or tuxes are selected to get a woman’s point of view about the decision.

Choosing a Cake

The cake is the centerpiece of the reception and requires a few decisions. Not only will you have to choose a style, you will have to pick a flavor or flavors. Make sure to plan a taste testing to decide what flavors you’d like to go with. Cake toppers and cake knives should also be chosen at this time.

Flowers

Choosing flowers involves a lot of decision making. Things to consider are:

Types of flowers
Colors
Sizes of bouquets and arrangements
Whether you want to do fresh flowers or silk options.

You will need bouquets for the bride, bridesmaids, and loose petals for the flower girl. For the groom and groomsmen, corsages and boutonnieres. Decide where you want to use flowers, such as in centerpieces, or perhaps on a trellis, and plan accordingly.

Another important point to remember is that while most brides want to do a traditional tossing of the bouquet, they may not want to toss the actual bouquet she carried during the ceremony. In this case, a second, perhaps smaller bouquet, similar to the bride’s should be made.

The Wedding Ceremony

Find out if you will need to rent chairs, especially for outdoor venues. Avoid metal chairs if held outdoors, as metal can get quite hot in the sun. Decide if you will decorate the venue with flowers, and if so, where? Decide if you will use chair decorations or cushions for kneeling.

If it is to be a Jewish wedding, provide a glass item for the groom to break at the ceremony’s end. Also, have a wedding album/guest book available for your guests to sign as they enter the ceremony.

The Reception

Planning the reception requires deciding on table decorations, table cloths, and chair covers. Make sure to find out of tables and chairs are supplied or if you will need to rent them. Inquire with the venue as to whether they charge an additional fee for cake storage or cutting and bagging.

You also need to consider if you would like to have a wedding registry to list the gifts you would like to receive. Set these up well in advance at your favorite stores. Set aside a table at the reception where guests can place their gifts. You may also wish to provide each guest with a small gift, in which case wedding favors will need to be decided upon and purchased.

If you would like your guests to sit at certain tables, have place cards made up to show where each guest is to be seated.

Decide upon the music you would like to use for your first dance, and for the rest of the reception. A band or DJ could be hired, or you might wish to make up a playlist of your favorite songs and have this played during the reception. Make sure to decide upon songs in advance.

Photography

Decide in advance if you would like to hire a professional photographer, or if you know someone who would be willing to take pictures and/or video for you. Arrange payment and decide upon terms. Let the photographer know what pictures you would like to have taken before the ceremony, and which ones after you are officially married, and whether you want strictly posed shots, or both posed and candid.

Transportation and Cars

Decide how the bride, groom, and each member of the wedding party will arrive. Plan the transportation the newlywed couple will use to drive off in after the ceremony. Plan for all car decorations to be done in advance so it’s ready when the couple is. Also, make sure to arrange for transportation for the elderly guests or those who may not have their own vehicle.

Other Important People

Make arrangements for the officiant or priest and any ushers or organizers in advance. Decide if you will use an emcee or a wedding planner and do some research to find the one who is right for you. Decide on a photographer or someone who will take your photos and videotape the ceremony and reception for you.

The “Bridal Bag”

Designate someone to hold a special bag for the bride and bridal party with a variety of extras that might come in handy. Things to include might be tampons or pads, safety pins, extra makeup, antihistamines, Tylenol, dental floss, breath mints, wet wipes, mini sewing kit, bobby pins, deodorant, etc.

The Honeymoon

Make sure everything is ready to go so the couple can get off to their honeymoon without a hitch. Make sure their bags are packed and transportation is provided for. Have tickets and passports ready and travel arrangements made in advance.

Miscellaneous

Other things to remember are:

Gifts for the wedding party
Wedding rings
Ring cushion
Wishing well or box for placement of cards and gift cards
Decide how clean up will be done and payment arrangements will be made
Determine how gifts will be transported from the reception venue and to where
Send out your thank cards to all of your wonderful guests who shared your special day