With all the wedding planning you’re doing right now, it’s hard to imagine there’s any detail you haven’t thought of – but trust me, there are just those certain things that somehow always tend to get overlooked. Never fear, though! Below are 14 essential wedding details, so you can arm yourself with what is needed to make every t crossed and every i dotted, regardless of just how “big” your wedding day turns out to be!
- Have a rain plan. This can seem not important or frustrating due to the extra investment you need to make when you are banking on a sunny day. Have a rain plan will take a great deal of stress off the last week and you will not be scrambling when the weatherman predicts rain.
- Plan how to get your wedding party from Point A to Point B. Discuss and check with everyone as what their transportation plan is. It will reduce a great deal of stress and confusion during the last week or even on the wedding day.
- Assign a “point” person. Everyone will have questions for you. If you don’t want to be overwhelmed by a litany of questions, pick a bridesmaid, friend, or your wedding planner that can field inquires so you not overwhelmed by them. Then, let everyone know who the point person is and their contact info so you can relax.
- Provide extra seating at your ceremony. Take into consideration the fact that people do not naturally sit next to each other so plan to have roughly 20 extra chairs than people attending.
- Designate a “photo organizer/assistant” for family photos. The photographer is not going to know who your important family members are, so when the photographer gets to the ‘photo of the bride with aunts and uncles’, your photo assistant can easily go grab these family members for you and you can stay on track with timing.
- Establish a wedding website before you mail out your “save-the-dates”. The site does not need to be fully finished, but you should have a URL, that you can put on the cards, as well as a few basic pieces of information on the site, such as location and hotel blocks you may have set up. People are often excited to get the save-the-date. Due to the fact, that six to eight week before the wedding is pretty late for out-of-town guests to make travel plans.
- Pay for the correct invitation postage. Not only does the weight but the size matters when it comes to your invitations, Square envelops and certain enclosures can carry an additional charge. This can not only catch you off guard but affect your budget in the last few month when funds are tight.
- Vendor meals. Be sure you remember to feed the people that are working nonstop to make your day flawless! You’ll be expected to give your final guest count to your caterer within two weeks of your day, but don’t forget to include the number of vendors you’ll have so that the caterer can prepare simple meals for them. So be sure to include your band/DJ, photographer, videographer (and any second shooters), as well as your planner and their assistants.
- Ask your guests if they have any food allergies. Make a note of all who have food allergies or have special diet restrictions. Then provide a list for your caterer and note where each of these guests are sitting-your caterer will love you!
- Wedding signage and directions. You don’t want your guests getting lost on the way to the chapel. If you spell it out for them, they’re more likely to be on time, and your entire wedding day has a better chance of running smoothly.
- Confirm arrival and delivery time. Check in with every single vendor one week before your wedding. Many of them will beat you to it, so be ready to go over times and locations whenever you get that call.
- Game plan for the kids. Even if you love children, you won’t want them disrupting the ceremony or reception. Have a plan to keep little ones at their best.
- Pick someone to take things home after the reception. Your gifts, mementos (think toasting flutes, cake topper, unity candle and guest book) and any leftover food, booze or cake need a trusty escort to get them home. Choose a person and let them know ahead of time.
- Exit. A stylish exit is the exclamation point to a great wedding day.. Take full advantage of this opportunity. I had a few weddings where the bride & groom quietly left without saying goodbye or at least the DJ announcing it. I heard from many guest throughout the end of the evening. “Where did the bride and groom go? That’s weird that they just left without saying goodbye.” 🙁
