Planning a wedding (copy)

Talk about the type of place you want to have your reception (and ceremony if they are the same location). A winery,...

Talk about the type of place you want to have your reception (and ceremony if they are the same location). A winery, the beach, a park, house, restaurant, etc.

The Reception Location is one of the biggest decisions. Many places that are popular for weddings will book up 6-12...

The Reception Location is one of the biggest decisions. Many places that are popular for weddings will book up 6-12 months in advance.

Choose the person who will actually marry you. This could be dictated if you do a religious ceremony in a church or...

Choose the person who will actually marry you. This could be dictated if you do a religious ceremony in a church or temple (you will probably have to use a minister from that location). If you are doing a wedding outside of a religious location, you can sometimes have a religious minister (some religions will not allow their ministers to perform a wedding unless it is actually in a church.

There are several ways you can have a family member or friend perform your wedding. Some states and local communities allow you to designate a person who will be allowed to do the ceremony with no real training. Other locations will require a person to be an ordained minister, but you can get ordained online in under an hour and for less than $50.

Check with the county and city you plan to get married in, they will have the best information for you.

Make your resources available to you, your fiancee, parents, friends, family, or whoever is going to help you in the...

Make your resources available to you, your fiancee, parents, friends, family, or whoever is going to help you in the planning.

Next to the budget, this is one of the most important early decisions to make. Where do you want the wedding to take...

Next to the budget, this is one of the most important early decisions to make. Where do you want the wedding to take place?
What state or part of the state?
Where the bride is from?
Where the groom is from?
Where you and your fiancee live now (if you live in the same area)?
Where you are going to live after you get married?
Destination wedding?

These are optional elements that could be incorporated throughout the wedding process, if you wanted to show an...

These are optional elements that could be incorporated throughout the wedding process, if you wanted to show an environmental conscience for your event.

How much money do you want to spend on the entire event? This is the rehearsal, the ceremony, reception, and all...

How much money do you want to spend on the entire event? This is the rehearsal, the ceremony, reception, and all things that go with it.
Honeymoon is treated separate for now.
Come up with a general number, the guide books will tell you what an "average" wedding will cost.

As you start discussing your wedding, its location, and its theme, think of what you want it to look like. Take...

As you start discussing your wedding, its location, and its theme, think of what you want it to look like. Take notes early on about decorations you want such as flowers, arches, aisle runner, candles, chairs, and lighting.

Make a list of the places you want to hold your event at. Use the Chamber of Commerce list, the internet (...

Make a list of the places you want to hold your event at. Use the Chamber of Commerce list, the internet ( www.herecomestheguide.com is great for California locations), ask friends, and family. www.theknott.com is another great online resource.

As soon as you visit a location, put the information in the comparison spreadsheet so you do not forget.

As you...

As soon as you visit a location, put the information in the comparison spreadsheet so you do not forget.

As you visit places, you will be able to immediately take some off your list. When you do this, do not delete the information, just mark it as no longer a choice, or after you visit places for a month, you might forget that you "canceled" that location and discuss it again or even revisit it accidentally.

This could be very time consuming to do. If you have a long list of places, you will need an hour or two at the ones...

This could be very time consuming to do. If you have a long list of places, you will need an hour or two at the ones you like when you first arrive. Others, as soon as you arrive, you will not like them and only need five minutes.
Plan several days to do this.
Most places will want you to make an appointment. Also, just stopping by on a Saturday when you are not at work is not going to work most likely as these places could have a wedding going on and you will be interfering.

Its is very important to take along your fiancee at this stage.

Now that you picked the state or part of a state you are getting married in, pick the type of location you want?
...

Now that you picked the state or part of a state you are getting married in, pick the type of location you want?
Actual locations of the ceremony, reception, and rehearsal are in those sections of the project.
So you picked northern California, its still a big area, narrow it down more to something like, city, beach, mountains.
Do you want the ceremony and reception in the same place?

This is where you will decide of the total amount in your general budget, how much will go to major areas such as...

This is where you will decide of the total amount in your general budget, how much will go to major areas such as Reception, Ceremony, Rehearsal. Guidebooks will give you averages on what percentage of the wedding budget is used in each area.
Suggested areas are
Reception
Ceremony
Rehearsal
Other

These four areas are designed since most things will fall in the first three.

This can be so much fun, you get to taste cake from many different places and taste. This can also be a real pain,...

This can be so much fun, you get to taste cake from many different places and taste. This can also be a real pain, you get to pick the flavor and the decorations

Contact the Chamber of Commerce in each of the locations you have thought of. You can phone, email, or go in person,...

Contact the Chamber of Commerce in each of the locations you have thought of. You can phone, email, or go in person, but what you want is the following:
*List of places to have weddings (tell them how big you think it will be)
*List of places for ceremony places
*List of hotels

This is where you will figure the amount you want to spend on catering, photographer, DJ, invitations, etc. Use the...

This is where you will figure the amount you want to spend on catering, photographer, DJ, invitations, etc. Use the spreadsheet from this file or the master spreadsheet for this project as your guide.

This can be difficult.
Do you want live music, a band, a DJ, or just to do it yourself with your MP3 player and a...

This can be difficult.
Do you want live music, a band, a DJ, or just to do it yourself with your MP3 player and a friend?
Check with the location of your wedding and reception for recommendations. They will normally have lists of all the above categories of people who have performed there before.

Questions to think about:
Do you want traditional music?
Do you want singing?
Will you want your guests to sing?
Do you want any music?

You will most likely have several out of town guests, to make it easy for them, try to find a hotel that will give a...

You will most likely have several out of town guests, to make it easy for them, try to find a hotel that will give a group discount. Most will do this.
Get a list from the Chamber of Commerce where you will be having your wedding of all the hotels, then narrow it down to a few based on your requirements (price, size, distance to wedding, etc)

Call each hotel and set an appointment to visit if you need to. You can probably get most of your information you...

Call each hotel and set an appointment to visit if you need to. You can probably get most of your information you need over the phone.

Important questions to ask are
* How many rooms must be booked to get a discount
* Do the bride/groom need to guarantee the booking with their own credit card?

While thinking about how to get from the ceremony to the reception, also think about how the bride will get to the...

While thinking about how to get from the ceremony to the reception, also think about how the bride will get to the ceremony. If the ceremony location has a place for her to get ready, then it is good to get there a few hours early and a friend or family member can take her and the brides maids.

Now that you know the location of the ceremony and reception (if they are not the same place), book transportation....

Now that you know the location of the ceremony and reception (if they are not the same place), book transportation. Are you going to drive yourself, have a friend drive you, get a limo?
Will it be just the bride and groom or the entire wedding party?

Often a limo will be used for this. It is common to have one limo bring the bride and her family to the church, that same limo will take the bride and groom (sometimes the wedding party also) to the reception, then take the bride and groom from the reception to their honeymoon or hotel.

This could include:
A photobooth, mimes, a live demonstration related to a passion/hobby one of you has, or anything...

This could include:
A photobooth, mimes, a live demonstration related to a passion/hobby one of you has, or anything you could imagine...

While you are picking readings, who is going to read them? Someone from the wedding party? Is the bride going to read...

While you are picking readings, who is going to read them? Someone from the wedding party? Is the bride going to read to the groom and vice versa, a family member or a friend?

Ask the person or people you want to read at your wedding.

If you are going to have readings, what are they going to be? Bible passages, poems or anything else you may want....

If you are going to have readings, what are they going to be? Bible passages, poems or anything else you may want. Just make sure it has meaning to you.

Most reception sites will require you to get insurance for the day. You can do this through your home owner/renter...

Most reception sites will require you to get insurance for the day. You can do this through your home owner/renter insurance or they will have suggestions as well.

Do you want vases, planters, candles, a combination, or something else?

If you want cut flowers and have a...

Do you want vases, planters, candles, a combination, or something else?

If you want cut flowers and have a florist, you should make sure to put this in your order.

setting centerpieces out, place cards, arches, cake tower(s)

*ushers to seat guests - groomsman - ready at 9:30am...

setting centerpieces out, place cards, arches, cake tower(s)

*ushers to seat guests - groomsman - ready at 9:30am
*gift receiver - ??????? - ready at 9:30 am and has role of scotch tape

Are we doing names of constellations? Or space craft i.e. apollo soyuz, phoenix, etc

name cards are 3x5 or 4x6 if...

Are we doing names of constellations? Or space craft i.e. apollo soyuz, phoenix, etc

name cards are 3x5 or 4x6 if we use WH holders.

Rehearsal for the wedding at Willow Heights
Attendees:
Bride, Groom
Bridal party (JVC, MB, SS, JRS)
Parents
...

Rehearsal for the wedding at Willow Heights
Attendees:
Bride, Groom
Bridal party (JVC, MB, SS, JRS)
Parents
Officiant (Doug)
MC (Chris)
Reader (Delia)
Sermonator (Anthony)
Music (Greg)
Photo (?????)
Video (Moofer)
Flower girl

any others?????????
Megan and girls
Grandma Janet?
Grandma Hodge?

Go pick up your license from the court. This date might change based on your results from your inquiry about the...

Go pick up your license from the court. This date might change based on your results from your inquiry about the license.

Give Geraldine the following info:
# of adults eating
# of kids eating (under 3 free, 4-10 half price)
# tables...

Give Geraldine the following info:
# of adults eating
# of kids eating (under 3 free, 4-10 half price)
# tables needed
# chairs

She will send us a seating chart

Deliver during rehearsal guest list to WH typed in alpha order, last name first
Smith, John
Stevens, Joanne and...

Deliver during rehearsal guest list to WH typed in alpha order, last name first
Smith, John
Stevens, Joanne and guest

Everyone attending the event, even bride and groom must be on the list and vendors too.

people who get early entrance get an * by their name.

vendors cannot arrive before 7:30 am