Wedding Checklist:
50 things NOT to forget!
One Year to Six Months Before
- Announce engagement. Order Wedding Rings
- Meet with both parents to discuss type of wedding
- Consider hiring a bridal consultant
- Plan wedding budget
- Buy a memory album
- Choose wedding & reception sites
- If having a church wedding, meet with clergy
- Choose attendants
- Shop for the bride’s dress and order it early!
- Plan color scheme and shop for bridesmaid dresses. Order them as soon as
possible - no later than 4 months prior to the wedding
- Consult travel agent about honeymoon plans
- Register at Bridal Gift Registry
- Begin guest list
- Order Invitations
- Select and book your photographer, videographer, and entertainment
Three to Four Months Before
- Complete your guest list
- Invite out-of-town guests early!
- Address invitations as soon as they arrive or hire a Calligrapher and do it with style!
- If you have not already done so, order your bridesmaid dresses now! Confirm your wedding dress order too!
- Order Groom’s, Groomsmen and Dad’s Tuxedos
- Book your caterer
- Shop for your wedding cake
- Choose your florist
- Pick out and order your ice carvings
- Plan ceremony & reception details with musicians and/or other entertainment
- Arrange for wedding transportation
- Complete your honeymoon plans
One to Two Months Before
- Buy wedding gifts for each other
- Mail wedding invitations
- Plan rehearsal & rehearsal dinner
- Pick up wedding rings
- Have a final fitting of gown & bridesmaid dresses
- Have studio wedding portraits taken
- Contact newspaper regarding wedding announcement
- Arrange for hotels for out-of-town guests
- Send thank you notes for early gifts
- Purchase gifts for attendants
Last Two Weeks
- Pick up marriage license
- Send announcement to newspaper
- Have your hair done by hairstylist like you plan to wear it on your wedding day. Bring your veil with you!
- Meet with a make up consultant for beauty tips.
- Check on honeymoon reservations
- Buy travelers checks
- Address your wedding announcements, have someone mail them for you on your Wedding day
- Confirm final details with florist, entertainment, rental services, caterers, photographers, reception site, etc.
- Pay all balances due at this time
The Last 48 Hours!
- Pick up the tuxedos from the tux shop
- Time to start relaxing. Try to stay calm, all your careful planning will pay off!
- Rehearsal dinner - give attendants their gifts!
- Congratulations....you made it!! Remember, this is the beginning of the rest of your life together, if things go wrong at the wedding, don’t let it ruin your special day!
All products and services mentioned can be found on the Bridal Spectacular Wedding Services page. And at our show, of course.
Wedding Ceremony & Reception Protocol
SEATING DURING CEREMONY
| (Left Side) |
(Right Side) |
| Brides's Family |
Groom's Family |
| Honored Guests |
Honored Guests |
| Guests |
Guests |
| Altar |
CHRISTIAN PROCESSIONAL
Clergyman
Groom and Best Man
Groomsmen
Bridesmaids
Maid of Honor
Ring bearer
Flower girl
Bride’s Father & Bride
For Recessional - order reverses with Bride & Groom leaving first.
JEWISH PROCESSIONAL
| Cantor |
|
Rabbi |
| Bride’s Grandfather |
|
Bride’s Grandmother |
| Groom's Grandfather |
|
Groom's Grandmother |
| |
Usher |
|
| |
Groomsmen |
|
| |
Best Man |
|
| Groom's Father |
Groom |
Groom's Mother |
| |
Bridesmaidas |
|
| |
Maid of Honor |
|
| Bride's Father |
Bride |
Bride's Mother |
RECEIVING LINE (OPTIONAL*)
| Bride’s Mother |
Bride’s Father |
Groom’s Mother |
Groom’s Father |
Bride |
Groom |
Maid of Honor |
Best Man |
Attendants |
*Keep in mind that many of today’s brides are eliminating the receiving line. If you are expecting a large number of guests, receiving lines can take up to an hour to go through and this becomes very tiring on everyone. You can also simplify the receiving line to include only the mothers of the bride and groom, the bride and groom, the maid of honor and bridesmaids. Let the fathers and groomsmen be roving hosts!
The Head Table
The focus of the reception room should be the head table. The head table is where the bride and groom and their attendants should sit during dinner. Depending on the number of people who will sit at the table it is usually a long rectangular table or three tables arranged in a “U”.
Since this table will be the focus of the room, it should be decorated in accordance with your floral and color theme. Centerpieces should be kept low so that you can see over them. The table could also be decorated on the outside edges with bows, cascades of tulle, beading or pearls, or perhaps garlands of fresh greens and flowers. A florist who specializes in weddings should be able to take care of the decorations for you.
Children, spouses or guests of your attendants, and your parents do not usually sit at the head table unless you have a very small wedding party and wish to include them. Parents usually act as hosts at another table for honored guests. The parents table might also include the clergy, grandparents, and siblings.
Another important note about your head table: Make sure you position your entertainment or disc jockey/emcee where he or she can see the head table. In order to direct the activities they need to be able to see you.
Today I spent the most amazing day visiting CaterSource 2010 Conference and Tradeshow held at The Paris Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention Center. Even if you are not a caterer, there was much to see, learn and enjoy at this convention. Having been in the business of weddings for 40 plus years I love seeing and sharing the latest trends with you brides. The inspiration helps me with plans for our next bridal show, The Bridal Spectacular to be held August 20 & 21 at Cashman Convention Center. Meanwhile, here are some photos for your viewing pleasure.
Lighten Films did a great job of capturing the love and emotion of this couples wedding day. The wedding was held at Bear's Best Golf Club. We loved the bride's choice of Hunter Green for her bridesmaids and the flowers were the perfect compliment in beautiful orange, golds, and yellows. Get your tissue box ready! Our couple planned their wedding at Las Vegas' largest and most popular bridal show, The Bridal Spectacular.
Tabitha & Homan's Highlight Reel from Terrence Lighten on Vimeo.
Producing a fashion show takes perfect coordination from inception to presentation. The Bridal Spectacular stage was beautiful with tiers of crystals flown from truss against dreamy white curtain backdrop, the choreography was entertaining and the models professional and fun to watch as they displayed their wedding attire. The backdrop, lighting, video screens and sound were perfectly implemented by AV Vegas. The icing on the cake were the fashions shown by the sponsors, David's Bridal, Alfred Angelo, Allyse's Bridal & Formal, Men's Wearhouse and Jerry's Tux Shop.
Enjoy this animoto of the fashions seen at the show.
Memory Lane Video did this wonderful video for this couple. This is what they had to say. "What an amazing couple! Simply love them. Mara & Terry first met us a Bridal Spectacular Bridal Show in Las Vegas. We were honored to be their Videographers to document every single detail of their special details. Oh, by the way, Terry is a huge fan of KISS, just like Memory Lane Video owner, John Sanchez, JR."
Enjoy their Highlight Reel from Emerald at QueensRidge.
Emerald at QueensRidge – Mara & Terry – Highlight Video from Memory Lane Video!
Emerald at Queensridge is considered one of Las Vegas’ premier Banquet and Event Centers, located in the prestigious Queensridge community of Las Vegas just minutes from the strip.
You can meet Memory Lane Video and Emerald at Queensridge at the next Bridal Spectacular, Jan 29 & 30 at Cashman Convention Center.
Emerald at QueensRidge - Mara & Terry - Highlight Video from Memory Lane Video.
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