Focus On The Wedding

As the BIG DAY draws nearer you need to buckle down to the nitty gritty wedding planning details and requirements. Take a few minutes to review where you stand. Have you accomplished each of the items so far? Make a new to do list, now, one that focuses on what you have to do with the items already covered. Then, concentrate on the next bit: preparing for your wedding.

MEET RELIGIOUS REQUIREMENTS

In many religions, it is essential to meet wedding planning commitments prior to actually having the ceremony. You may need to go through Pre Cana, if you are Catholic, for example. If not, schedule some time to speak to the official who will do the ceremony for you. Even if this person is not religiously affiliated, you still need time to talk about the ceremony itself.

• In some cases, you may need to attend a full day event or several days of events for marriage preparation. This may only occur once every few months.
• Work with your official to ensure nothing stands in the way of getting married.
• Your official will help you to get your marriage license. Find out the process through them.
• Discuss the facilities you will use as well as what you would like them to provide.

It is not always necessary for you to do this step. Yet, it is important for you to meet with whoever will be hosting your ceremony to know what to expect.

GET YOUR INVITATIONS DONE

Wedding invitations can be planned for in several ways. You can choose pre printed invitations for a less formal event. For a formal wedding, you will need to have them professionally printed. Give the printer at least two months to do so, prior to the time you will mail them out.

When it comes to wedding invitations, keep the following in mind:

• Choose your designs early so you have time to find the right poem or message to include.
• Have a test run done on the invitations to ensure the printing looks right.
• Mail invitations to guests about four weeks prior to the wedding and include the necessary RSVP information.
• Put someone else in charge of collecting the RSVP's for you. That way, you can focus on the wedding planning.

Have you thought about all of your options in printers? Local printers may work, but there are many printers offering fabulous options in printing styles online to consider, too.

MEET WITH ON SITE PLANNER

Most locations that are used for wedding ceremonies will have an onsite wedding planner, or someone who helps with using the facilities appropriately. Keep in mind the importance of doing this at least a month, if not more, in advance.

With these professionals, there are a large number of things to discuss.

1.  Determine what services are provided. What facilities are provided?
2.  Talk about the ceremony itself. Determine if you will hire an outside provider for music or if the facility provides this service for you.
3.  Talk about flowers. Some locations have limitations.
4.  Talk about the ceremony: what things are you hoping for? What do you want to have included?
5.  Timing for the wedding ceremony should also be discussed. Often, facilities will have more than one ceremony in a day and therefore the timing of the event is essential.

In many instances, you will find that the professionals at these facilities have already pulled it all together for you. They will give you instructions on how the process works. If you have questions or concerns, ask them.

WEDDING DAY TIMELINE

By this time, you have a good amount of focus on what is happening and you should be pulling together your timeline. This is the time the wedding ceremony will start and the time that your wedding reception will. Having an idea of this now will help you with further preparations you have to make.

Before you can start finalizing your wedding plans there are a few more professionals you need to hire. As mentioned earlier, you do need to take the time to carefully interview each of these professionals. You want to be sure that you know just whom you are working with and that you are comfortable with this person.

Perhaps one of the most important of these professionals you will be working with on your wedding day is your wedding photographer.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER

You likely want to remember your special day very much and you can do this in photograph form. Photographers do not just do pictures, but also video too. You can choose the medium that is right for your special occasion. One of the best ways to learn about the professionals you will work with is to visit their location and look at their photographs. Find out what they can offer.

Here are some things to think about:

• Is the photographer available on your wedding day for the entire day?
• How many locations will they shoot at?
• Is there a limit to how much film they will use?
• Can they do video for you, too?
• Ask questions regarding price and how it is calculated. What is included in the package?

Be sure you like the photographer. This person will be intimately involved with you on your wedding day.

YOUR MUSIC!

Music is nearly always something to add to a wedding celebration, usually in various ways. Music may be used at your wedding ceremony. It may be provided by your church, or something you have to pay for in addition to other costs. You may want music at your reception too. There are plenty of options from private bands to DJ's and everything in between. You can hire a violinist, a guitar player, a pianist or a variety of others to play for you.

Music is often a personal decision, but you both should enjoy it. Listen to the group perform. Ask questions of them about their experience playing at weddings. In most situations, you want the music professional to play a wide range of music so that they appeal to a wide range of people who will be at your reception.

Here are a few things to think about:

• Where do you need music at the Church, reception, and prior to reception?
• What type of music do you want to have?
• When meeting with professionals, find out how long they will perform for you. Does this fit your timeline?
• Determine your need for a master of ceremonies. Usually, band leader can lead your events by making announcements for you.
• How much time do they need for set up and tear down?
• Can you give them songs you would like them to play?

The most important thing to remember is that you have to love this performer so that you have assurance of their ability to make your night special.

GIFTS FOR WEDDING PARTY

In many families, it is a tradition for the bride and the groom to give a small gift to each of the members of their wedding party. This gift is a thank you gift or a special remembrance token for them. It does not have to be expensive, but it should be something that they will appreciate for years to come.

Purchase these items when you find them, but keep a few things in mind.

• Consider personalizing them. If you have enough time, this adds a very special remembrance for them.
• Be sure to say thank you. Being part of a wedding is never easy to do.
• Look for gifts that are personal in meaning rather than generic, for more meaning and a better result.

You do not have to provide this type of gift, but if you do, take the time to do it right.

ODDS AND ENDS

Before you move forward, do take a few minutes now to look at all of your needs. The following is a list of items you may have forgotten about but may need to pick up.

• Guest sign in book for the wedding reception.
• Announcement cards and hold the date cards for your special event.
• Cake cutting knife personalized as a special way to remember the day.
• A wedding candle for the church.
• Aisle runners for the church.
• Flower girl and ring bearer items.
• Bubbles for after the ceremony.
• Programs to hand to guests at the ceremony.
• Wedding favors, personalized with your wedding information for reception guests.
• Shoes: groom and bride shoes.
• Wedding hair accessories.

Now that you have all of these items in place, step back and take a deep breath. There is much more to prepare for on this very special day!

On the next page we will begin to focus on Pulling It All Together.