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Before the Wedding
- Send gift baskets to the hotel room of any out of town guests. They might include soaps, fruit, local maps, etc.
- Pack for the honeymoon.
- Take your parents and/or attendants out for a special breakfast.
Planning
- Cut out pictures from magazines showing dress features you like, decorating ideas, etc.
- Design your own wedding planner using a three ring binder. You can keep everything together and add pages as needed. Specialty pages with pockets can be added to store receipts, business cards, and so on.
- Keep a master phone list with numbers of everyone helping you with the wedding. Family, friends, business people, etc. and a few quarters In case you have to use a pay phone in a pinch.
- Have an emergency kit prepared for the wedding day. Include an extra pair of nylons, lipstick, Tylenol, comb and brush, a list of phone numbers, needle and thread, tissues, snacks, safety pins, bobby pins, hair spray, clear nail polish, etc. Put someone like your maid of honour in charge of this.
- Make an appointment with your hair stylist well before the wedding and bring along your headpiece, so you can try a few styles and make a final decision before the wedding.
- Offer to book appointments at a local salon for the wedding party and mothers.
- Pack an umbrella - Murphy's Law
- Do a dry run of your make up ahead of time. Take some pictures to see if it will produce the effect you want for your wedding pictures
- Consider using a gift registry. Not only do you get the things you want, it is easy for your guests to choose a gift for you. Choose items in a range of prices. Ask if you can have your preferences recorded so that guest know you would rather have all your wine glasses before you get your brandy glasses.
- Today there are many stores that offer bridal registries. Aside from registering for china, crystal and silver, you can register at hardware stores for power tools and department stores for just about anything.
- Make sure you are aware of all costs before hand...are meals expected for the DJ, does it cost extra to have your wedding cake cut and served, is there a fee for serving your own wine, is there a custodian fee for the church, etc.
- Make arrangements to have flowers delivered to their proper location. ie. Don't just have all the boutonnieres delivered to the groom's home. Have the father of the bride's delivered to the brides home.
- Make a list of pictures you want taken for the photographer.
- Make up "Do Play" and "Don't Play" lists for your DJ. Also lay out instructions for how requests will be handled.
- Double check all arrangements, including times and balances owing, a few days before the wedding.
- Make up "Do Play" and "Don't Play" lists for your DJ. Also lay out instructions for how requests will be handled.
Children at the Wedding
- If you are expecting a number of out of town guests with children, prepare a list of baby sitters. Often children won't last the entire evening and this way parents can still enjoy themselves. If your reception is taking place at a hotel, make arrangements for a room that can be used for baby sitting, so parents can periodically check on their children.
- If you are inviting several children to the reception consider setting up an activity area with crayons, paper, puzzles, etc.
- Make arrangements for high chairs/booster seats for any small children attending the dinner.
- Instead of having kids participate in the bouquet and garter toss...have a candy toss just for them.
Decorating for the Wedding
- Bring along extension cords and power bars when decorating your hall to plug in special lighting, fountain cakes, etc.
- Prepare a tool box for decorating the reception hall. Include things like a hammer, tape, fishing line, scissors, wire, pliers, thumb tacks, pen, paper, screw driver, etc.
- Decorate a small area of your hall for use as a photo area. It not only looks great, but will provide a wonderful backdrop.
- Have pictures of the bride's parents and groom's parents on their wedding day on display at the reception.
- Set up an area near the hall entrance to display your guest book, so that no one will forget to sign it.
- Sketch a floor plan of your hall before hand so that you can plan out your decorating ideas, making note of windows, electrical outlets, and pillars.
- For a fall wedding consider using gourds, pumpkins and fall leaves as center pieces for your table. Lantern center pieces are another unique idea. Why not try a wreath with votive candles in the middle?
- Look into the possibility of having the head table raised on a platform so even guests seated at the back can see what is happening during the dinner and speeches.
- Consider extending your decorating into the ladies room with a small floral arrangement, hand soaps, and a small basket with mints and/or other incidentals such as clear nail polish, tissues, hair spray, etc.
Pictures
- In the heat of the summer it is often a terrific idea to have some cool drinks, such as lemonade on hand during outdoor photo sessions.
- Make a list of all photos you want taken for your photographer. Don't forget to include pictures with close friends, siblings, or extended family.
- Organize a family reunion picture during the reception
- Organize picture taking after the ceremony in such a way that elderly family members, small children and parents are free to leave first and go to the reception. This way they do not have to stand around as long and they will be able to greet and mingle with guests while waiting for you to arrive.
Reception
- Cut out pictures from magazines showing dress features you like, decorating ideas, etc.
- Design your own wedding planner using a three ring binder. You can keep everything together and add pages as needed. Specialty pages with pockets can be added to store receipts, business cards, and so on.
- Keep a master phone list with numbers of everyone helping you with the wedding. Family, friends, business people, etc. and a few quarters In case you have to use a pay phone in a pinch.
- Have an emergency kit prepared for the wedding day. Include an extra pair of nylons, lipstick, Tylenol, comb and brush, a list of phone numbers, needle and thread, tissues, snacks, safety pins, bobby pins, hair spray, clear nail polish, etc. Put someone like your maid of honour in charge of this.
- Make an appointment with your hair stylist well before the wedding and bring along your headpiece, so you can try a few styles and make a final decision before the wedding.
- Offer to book appointments at a local salon for the wedding party and mothers.
- Pack an umbrella - Murphy's Law
- Do a dry run of your make up ahead of time. Take some pictures to see if it will produce the effect you want for your wedding pictures
- Consider using a gift registry. Not only do you get the things you want, it is easy for your guests to choose a gift for you. Choose items in a range of prices. Ask if you can have your preferences recorded so that guest know you would rather have all your wine glasses before you get your brandy glasses.
- Today there are many stores that offer bridal registries. Aside from registering for china, crystal and silver, you can register at hardware stores for power tools and department stores for just about anything.
- Make sure you are aware of all costs before hand...are meals expected for the DJ, does it cost extra to have your wedding cake cut and served, is there a fee for serving your own wine, is there a custodian fee for the church, etc.
- Make arrangements to have flowers delivered to their proper location. ie. Don't just have all the boutonnieres delivered to the groom's home. Have the father of the bride's delivered to the brides home.
- Make a list of pictures you want taken for the photographer.
- Make up "Do Play" and "Don't Play" lists for your DJ. Also lay out instructions for how requests will be handled.
- Double check all arrangements, including times and balances owing, a few days before the wedding.
- Make up "Do Play" and "Don't Play" lists for your DJ. Also lay out instructions for how requests will be handled.
Dinner
- Have a nonalcoholic punch available during the dinner for children and nondrinkers.
- Try to plan your seating plan so that guests do not have to move their chairs and tables for the reception portion of the evening.
- Allow enough time between the ceremony and reception for picture taking. If guest are going directly to the reception hall assign someone to greet everyone and have the bar opened. You may also consider serving punch and hors d'oeuvres.
- Make sure someone is assigned to bring the gifts and decorations to the appropriate locations after the reception.
- Make a few notes ahead of time of people you wish to thank in your speech, so that no one will be forgotten. It's also a nice gesture to thank out of town guests for making the special trip.
- For an early spring wedding a packet of flower seeds can make an interesting wedding favour. Consider forget me knots, or your favourite flower. In the fall tulip bulbs are a wonderful memento. Another idea is to have cookie cutters tied with a little note saying "cut out for each other". How about fortune cookies with a thank you note inside from the bride and groom? You may also consider something that reflects your occupation or hobbies. For example personalized tooth brushes for dentists or pens for writers. Small homemade jars of jelly, jam or marmalade are another personal idea and can be embellished to coordinate with your colour scheme.
- Have the MC read any telegrams, e-mail or faxes sending best wishes from those who were unable to attend.
- Go over the proper pronunciations of everyone's names for the MC.
- Develop a system for your caterer to indicate which people require special meals. (children's portions, kosher, or vegetarian). A subtle mark on the place card may be sufficient.
- If you are having a real cake decorated with real flowers make sure the flowers are well cleaned (pesticides) before they are placed on the cake.
- Instead of buying a large wedding cake consider a smaller cake and a supplemental sheet cake to serve all of your guests more economically.
- Have an easel with the seating plan, so that guests can easily find their assigned seats.
For The Ceremony
- Have programs/bulletins printed with the entire service, so that guests unfamiliar with your particular religion can follow along easily.
- Order personalized bookmarks along with your invitations and use them to Premark the order of service in the prayer books at the church.
- Have some assigned to wait for the bride at the back of the church to pouf the brides train before she walks down the aisle.
- Use a train ring to bustle your train, so you can make smooth entrances and exits from the car.
- In the winter consider using a cape, particularly if your gown has full sleeves.
- Choose close family and friends that are not in the wedding party to take on special roles. For example to do readings, sing, hand out bulletins, etc.
- Look into the possibility of having more than one clergymen participate in the ceremony if you are both from different churches.
- Incorporate the lighting of a unity candle in your service.
- Have guests blow bubbles or throw bird seed as an alternative to rice.
- Have both parents escort the bride down the aisle.
- Make arrangements ahead of time with the ushers to have grandparents and parents seated just prior to the entrance of the wedding party (by a special usher or family member.)
- Write your own vows.
- If you are planning an outdoor ceremony consider facing the chairs away from the sun, so guests won't have to squint during the service.
- Have a favorite or meaningful poem read during the service.
- Ask someone ahead of time to look after removing pew bows, bringing floral arrangements from the church to the reception hall, etc.
- At the end of the ceremony present the mother of the bride and mother of the groom with a flower from he brides bouquet as a loving gesture and thank you.
- Include step children in the ceremony by presenting them with a family ring or medallion.
After the Ceremony
- If there is time after the ceremony stop to visit any special friends or relatives that could not attend because of poor health. Making a gift of the brides bouquet or floral arrangement from the church can also be a kind gesture.
- Make a unique get away in an antique car, horse and buggy/sleigh, a limo, on the back of a motorcycle or on a bicycle built for two.
After the Wedding Day
- Keep the gift opening very intimate to save embarrassment in the case you don't know what something is, or you get doubles.
- Bring a few fresh flower arrangements to local retirement homes or hospitals to share your joy and brighten up someone else's day.
- Open the gifts of guests at the gift opening first, so they don't feel obligated to stay for hours.
- If your bouquet contains any real ivy, try rooting it after so you will have the plant as a momento for years to come.
- Press a few flowers from your bouquet as a special memento.
- Dry the flowers from your bouquet and have them made into an arrangement for your home.
- Have pictures from your honeymoon incorporated into your wedding video.
- Make sure someone will be responsible for returning any rentals such as tuxedos, crinolines, and party decorations.
- Have your silk bouquet rearranged into an arrangement for your home.
- Leave your bouquet at the graveside of a special loved one.
- Send a floral arrangement to each set of parents as a thank you for their love and support.
Honeymoons
- If you require a passport for your honeymoon apply for it well in advance.
- Reserve your hotel room well in advance to ensure the best selection of rooms.
- Consider an all inclusive resort for your honeymoon, so you can just relax and enjoy your time together.
- Ask your friends, family and travel agent for suggestions on designations and hotels.
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