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Wedding Checklist: 50 things NOT
to forget!
One Year to Six Months Before
1. Announce engagement. Order Wedding Rings
2. Meet with both parents to discuss type of wedding
3. Consider hiring a bridal consultant
4. Plan wedding budget
5. Buy a memory album
6. Choose wedding & reception sites
7. If having a church wedding, meet with clergy
8. Choose attendants
9. Shop for the bride’s dress and order it early!
10. Plan color scheme and shop for bridesmaid dresses. Order them
as soon as possible - no later than 4 months prior to the wedding
11. Consult travel agent about honeymoon plans
12. Register at Bridal Gift Registry
13. Begin guest list
14. Order Invitations
15. Select and book your photographer, videographer, and entertainment
Three to Four Months Before
16. Complete your guest list
17. Invite out-of-town guests early!
18. Address invitations as soon as they arrive or hire a Calligrapher
and do it with style!
19. If you have not already done so, order your bridesmaid dresses
now! Confirm your wedding dress order too!
20. Order Groom’s, Groomsmen and Dad’s Tuxedos
21. Book your caterer
22. Shop for your wedding cake
23. Choose your florist
24. Pick out and order your ice carvings
25. Plan ceremony & reception details with musicians and/or
other entertainment
26. Arrange for wedding transportation
27. Complete your honeymoon plans
One to Two Months Before
28. Buy wedding gifts for each other
29. Mail wedding invitations
30. Plan rehearsal & rehearsal dinner
31. Pick up wedding rings
32. Have a final fitting of gown & bridesmaid dresses
33. Have studio wedding portraits taken
34. Contact newspaper regarding wedding announcement
35. Arrange for hotels for out-of-town guests
36. Send thank you notes for early gifts
37. Purchase gifts for attendants
Last Two Weeks
38. Pick up marriage license
39. Send announcement to newspaper
40. Have your hair done by hairstylist like you plan to wear it
on your wedding day. Bring your veil with you!
41. Meet with a make up consultant for beauty tips.
42. Check on honeymoon reservations
43. Buy travelers checks
44. Address your wedding announcements, have someone mail them
for you on your Wedding day
45. Confirm final details with florist, entertainment, rental
services, caterers, photographers, reception site, etc.
46. Pay all balances due at this time
The Last 48 Hours!
47. Pick up the tuxedos from the tux shop
48. Time to start relaxing. Try to stay calm, all your careful
planning will pay off!
49. Rehearsal dinner - give attendants their gifts!
50. 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
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(Left Side)
Bride’s Family
Honored Guests
Guests
Altar
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(Right Side)
Groom’s Family
Honored Guests
Guests
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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
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Cantor
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Rabbi
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Bride’s Grandfather
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Bride’s Grandmother
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Groom’s Grandfather |
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Groom’s Grandmother
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Usher
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Groomsmen
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Best Man
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Groom’s Father
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Groom
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Groom’s Mother
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Bridesmaids
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Maid of Honor
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Bride’s Father
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Bride
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Bride’s Mother
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RECEIVING LINE (OPTIONAL*)
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Bride’s Mother
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Bride’s Father
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Groom’s Mother
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Groom’s Father
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Bride
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Groom
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Maid of Honor
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Best Man
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Attendants
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*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.
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