Wedding Checklist

As someone who loves to plan, I highly recommend delegating. This is your day, so tap into your friends and family to help you achieve your DREAM WEDDING, and hopefully reduce your stress in preperation.

Checklist:

•  Decide on a budget with your fiancé

If you start with a budget you will be able to narrow down choices of venues, food, and attire a lot faster. I suggest to add a budget buffer of an additional 2-5k, for unexpected costs.

• Locate venue, confirm- pay

Remember that you do not have to spend a fortune on a venue, just be sure it fits you, your fiancé, as well as your budget.

• Decide on style/theme

Pinterest has fantastic color themes.

• Flowers, confirm-pay

I went with fake flowers, if you are doing live flowers be sure they will arrive on time and how to maintain them prior to the ceremony.

• Wedding rings, selected, sized and cleaned

• Book honeymoon, confirm-pay

• Food & cake tasting, special requests/allergies, confirm-pay

If you have vegans, vegetarians or allergies with your guest party, be sure they note that on their RSVP. Try to speak with your caterer before the event and your guest without making huge signs or a big deal on their selections. We felt it was important for our food to not be super fancy but to be something delicious we enjoyed, so we served poutine,chicken strips and waffles.

• Drinks and bartender, confirm-pay

If you have anyone in your family, you feel should be cut off after a certain amount be sure to inform the bartender. It is also important to consider if you would like an open bar or cash bar. If you choose to do a cash bar, be sure to include that in the details of your RSVP, so guests can plan accordingly.

• Photographers meet/greet, engagement photos, MUST HAVE photos during wedding, itinerary, confirm-pay

Be sure to view their portfolio and work with them prior to booking. Remember that you get what you pay for, and photography is a skill. When locating a photographer, clarify if they will be need a second photographer to cover the wedding size, and their expected editing time line.

• DJ Confirmed-Paid

If you have any DO NOT PLAY songs, be sure it is noted! Also, keep in mind you will need playlists for social time, ceremony and reception. Consider if you want your DJ to accept requests or stick to your playlist.

• Send save the dates

• Send invites with details on the event (RSVP)

• Select wedding party, confirm

• Find wedding dress, shoes, accessories

• Consider a new wardrobe for the weekend!

I went with my most comfortable familiar clothes for the day after. Leading up to the big day, I had new dresses for rehearsal, new swimsuits and some new lingerie!

• Alterations to wedding dress

Be straight forward. If something doesn’t sit right, say it. Have them fix it.

• Find bridesmaid dresses, shoes and accessories

Just like your dress, when the big day is approaching. DOUBLE check sizing!

• Hair and Makeup Trial Run

• Informed those who you would like to do toasts or prayer

• Hair and makeup, confirm-pay

• Set seating chart

• Meet with officiant, confirm-pay

• Consider additional décor you would like to add

• Marriage certificate

• Have a notebook and pen, to document gifts received

• Travel, confirm everyone has a way to and from all the main events.

• Lodging, confirm-pay

• Finalize guest count

• Mani/Pedi

• Practice vows

• Photo slideshow

If you chose to have this, be sure to test it, technology can be a PAIN. I would suggest asking your DJ to be responsible for start/stopping slideshow. Also, make sure you are comfortable with the photos that are shown.

• BRING SNACKS!

You don’t always have time to sit down for a meal, but everyone is always happier when they are functioning without hunger. We had subs, water, Gatorade, granola bars and candy.

• Special to us… We had to find our dogs collars and leashes, as well as be sure they were bathed and taken care of during the events

• Gifts

Bridesmaids: Birkenstocks

Groomsmen: Hey Dudes and personalized one hitters

Husband: Personalized one hitter and compass

Guests: Chocolate kiss bags

Mother of Bride and Groom, Grandma of Bride: Bracelets

• Drink lots of water! Before, during and after

• Eat a good meal the night before

Try to avoid salty or spicy food. Day of your wedding you typically forget to eat.

• Bring an Emergence Vitamin Pack for the day after.

You may feel hungover but really it was a lot of stress and build up to the wedding and your body is spent. You want to feel good and healthy heading off to your honeymoon!

• Pack and “OH SHI* Bag”

I would suggest a bridesmaid or maid of honor keep this on hand for the entire day. Things to include: Hair ties, tissues, mouth wash, lip balm, concealer, deo, bobby pins, tape, pen, mini sewing kit, mini first aid kit, tide pen, granola bar, lighter, wet wipes, tweezers, cell phone, charger, (depending on your location a mini fan or sweater), receipts and confirmations of all purchases, and itinerary.

• Send thank you cards

• Share Photos

I would like to make it clear that it is YOUR BIG DAY! People you don't expect, will let you down, others will have a difference of opinion. LET THEM. The most important thing is to make you and your partner happy, others will figure it out. Weddings need structured schedules but they also need flexibilty to allow your guests to really enjoy and remember the event. We had a destination wedding and it was crucial to keep people in the loop on our planned activities but allow them to also adventure and explore on their own.

I hope this checklist helps guide you with your planning. When things start to feel consuming and imposible, take a breath. Go enjoy time with your signifcant other and reignite the ambition to create the dream wedding you always wished for! If you still feel you need someone other than your partner to be to bounce ideas off of, feel free to send me a message!