There are many things to consider as you plan your nuptials and many ways to personalize the service and make it really about you. This is the ultimate checklist of everything you need to plan your wedding ceremony.
1. Wedding Venue
- Choose your top venue choices
- Schedule appointments to visit potential ceremony sites
- Once selected, reserve the venue for your wedding date
- Sign a contract and pay the deposit
- Schedule a rehearsal (if ceremony venue is not available, choose alternate location)
- Determine where you will get dressed before the ceremony
- Determine whether/where you want to have a receiving line
2. Officiant
- Book your officiant
- Schedule/attend premarital counseling sessions if required
3. Ceremony
- Prepare/write your vows
- Work with your officiant on other parts of ceremony
- Select readings and/or special songs
- Assign readers and/or singers
4. Attendants/Guests
- Choose your attendants
- Decide the order of attendants for processional
- Decide on seating arrangements and/or reserved seating
- Assign attendant(s) to distribute ceremony programs
- Assign attendant to arrange dress and/or veil at altar
- Assign attendant to hold bouquet during the ceremony
- Assign attendant(s) to hold rings during ceremony
5. Décor/Stationery
- Reserve any rental items you will need
- Order ceremony flower arrangements (Tip: See if you can reuse these for the reception space)
- Order any other decorations for ceremony site
- Prepare ceremony program
- Prepare any signage (i.e. “Reserved” Signs for close family)
- Obtain any items necessary for ceremony customs (i.e. unity candle, glass for breaking)
- Obtain pillow for ring bearer and a basket and flower petals for flower girl(s)
- Purchase items needed for exit from ceremony (i.e. bubbles, birdseed, etc)
6. Music
- Choose your ceremony musicians
- Select music for ceremony including Prelude music, Processional, Bride’s entrance, and Recessional
7. Miscellaneous
- Research local marriage license requirements
- Get blood tests, if required
- Obtain marriage license
- Obtain any religious documents if needed
- Put together wedding day emergency kit
- Select and purchase rings
- Confirm details with officiant and site coordinator
- Get contact numbers for officiant and site coordinator for wedding day
Featured Photographer: Kent Drake Photography
