Premarital Checklist
Everybody dreams of a fairytale wedding that is perfect in every way. Planning should begin promptly following the proposal to guarantee everything is in place. When the big day finally arrives, the last thing the wedding party wants to hear is that they forgot something important. Although the wedding must go on, the bride knows something has gone wrong. This might cause the happy couple undue and unwanted tension, spoiling their special day.
To prevent such a disaster, creating and strictly adhering to a checklist right from the start is crucial. The list can be divided into sections representing different time frames (e.g., 1-2 months, 3-4 months, etc.) between the proposal and the wedding. The following is a checklist of sorts for making sure that your big day goes off without a hitch:
o Pick the wedding day and theme. Having a central focus unifies the rest of the design.
To talk about money and who will be responsible for what. More and more families are realizing that in today’s economic climate, the only way to guarantee a happy couple is to split the wedding cost.
Keep all receipts and notes in a separate file. Keeping tabs on what has already been accomplished and paid for can reduce wasted effort.
Get help from a Wedding Planner if you can! Hiring a Wedding Planner to handle some or all of the preparations for your big day is well worth it.
o Book the ceremony and reception sites in advance. Make sure you get the reservation confirmed in writing. If you already know where you want to host your wedding and reception, you should book that location sufficiently in advance. You may save a ton of money by having the sites offer things like food, drinks, linens, and decorations. If a deposit is required, find out how much it will be ahead of time so you can save aside the money. Check their return policy as well. Like a broken limb, a catastrophe might happen at any time, forcing you to postpone your plans.
o If required, get a marriage license and a medical checkup. Most states allow up to 90 days to complete this process, so you and your fiance should schedule a date to do it as soon as possible.
o Make sure you have a written confirmation from the pastor or other officiant you’ve contacted about the wedding day and time you’ve chosen. It would help if you also inquired about their payment terms and requirements.
o Select and confirm your bridesmaids, maid of honor, best man, flower girls, and ring bearers. Make sure they know what is expected of them, as some may ask to serve in a different capacity if they cannot commit to you fully.
o Notify the local press and your friends and family that you will soon marry. Check ahead to avoid dissatisfaction later; certain newspapers have unique submission requirements and expenses.
o Decide where to register for wedding gifts and inform friends and family. This can be done as early as three months before the wedding to give guests ample time to shop and spread the word about where you’re registered.
o Coordinate with your caterer, musician, baker, florist, and photographer by meeting face-to-face. Seek out references and samples of their previous work. Feel free to check with the authorities provided to get a sense of the quality of the service you will be paying for. It would help if you carefully considered making such a significant financial commitment. In addition, look around. You should get three or four bids on each item and pick the closest to meet your needs. Avoid confusion by stipulating when and where the service will be rendered in writing. Be sure to ask if the caterer will provide wait staff if you use their services.
o Determine if equipment rentals are required, and if so, schedule them. If you hire a wedding planner, know that this is already taken care of.
o Choose a color scheme for the wedding, then work out how to incorporate it with other colors so that the room doesn’t appear as a barrel of Pepto Bismol erupted in it, for example.
Choose a wedding dress highlighting your most flattering features, and accessorize with understated pieces.
o Help the bridesmaids decide on outfits and go shopping for them together. Individuals typically foot this bill. Therefore, catering to their needs is essential while still staying within budget.
The groom’s clothing must be arranged. He wants to make you gasp as much as you do, so you should establish a theme and send him off with a trusted friend or relative to shop for his outfit. In most tuxedo shops, advisors are available to help customers choose the best suit for any formal or semi-formal event.
Wedding band selection is nearly as significant as engagement ring selection. Make it meaningful, and choose a set that will show the world that you and the groom are inseparable. They can be engraved with a meaningful message that the recipient will never forget.
o Wedding invitations should be ordered around six months before the big day so that they can be mailed out around six weeks beforehand. Once the wedding order is set and the music, readings, etc., are confirmed, the programs can be ordered approximately a month before the ceremony. You can save money by ordering extra napkins and matchbooks alongside your invitations.
Invitees should be tallied and invites sent out at least six weeks before the wedding. Parents should be asked for input to ensure that important people in their social network are informed.
In addition to you, the wedding cake will be everyone’s attention. As such, it’s important that the decor accurately reflect the two of you and the occasion’s theme. Try out a variety of bakeries by visiting different locations. Order your wedding cake as soon as you locate the perfect flavor combination, design, and price, but give the bakery at least four weeks’ notice to fit you into their busy schedule.
o Table favors are a great way to show gratitude to guests for sharing on your special day. Have them ready no later than two months before the wedding,
whether making them yourself (with a scrolling thank you card and bag of candy) or buying something based on your theme (such as a sea shell candy dish for a beach wedding). It’s not something you should put off until the last minute because of how long it takes to gather. o Preparations for the rehearsal dinner are often made by the groom’s parents by the rehearsal timetable. Find out if the groom’s family has a particular date for a trial run at the wedding site. If money is tight, consider having the rehearsal dinner at a friend’s house or a location that offers discounts on non-peak days of the week. Ensure the wedding party knows when the rehearsal will be held by coordinating with the ceremony site on a date that suits the groom’s parents. To avoid conflict with other events, like the bachelor and bachelorette parties, the rehearsal should be held either the week before the wedding or the week before.
o A bridesmaids’ luncheon is an excellent opportunity to show appreciation to the women helping you plan your wedding. Fun, relaxation, and a delicious spread are in order after the ceremony, as are the thank-you presents (often accessories that match their attendant outfits). Make sure they know how much you value them on their special day. This celebration needs to take place either the week before the wedding or the week of the wedding.
The bride-to-be guides will undoubtedly add a million more tasks, but these are the most important ones. If all goes according to plan, today will be the best day of your life.
Read also: How you can Plan a Wedding Reception
