One of the first things I do when I sign with new clients is create their customized wedding checklist. Whether we have 1 month or 1 year leading up to the big day, it is vital that we map out a game plan for our time together. I want to help them anticipate everything they’ll need to book, decide, plan and create for their wedding! My checklist takes the form of a table, with tasks in one column, and a suggested calendar due date in the second column. The checklist is constantly updated as we cross items off the list together. I know you can easily find a dozen useful checklists online with a quick search, so I won’t be redundant here. Instead, I thought I’d share some key checklist items that many lists leave off. These may or may not be applicable for your own wedding, but hopefully it will inspire you to customize your own personalized checklist of things to do!
- Block rooms for wedding guests @ local hotels: Do this as soon as you book your venue. Ask specifically for “courtesy blocks,” which do not penalize you for rooms that are not booked. Instead, the held rooms are released on a certain date if they are not booked by your guests.
- Book a room for “getting ready” as well as one for your wedding night!
- Buy all of your wedding day accessories: This includes your veil, hair piece(s), jewelry, shoes, undergarments, etc. Don’t try to find the perfect bra the week of your wedding; trust me on this one.
You might also consider getting gel insoles (or my favorite: Foot Petals) for your shoes. Allow plenty of time to break in your shoes as well.
- Schedule a site walkthrough with your coordinator or planner. Even if you are not hiring your own wedding planner, make sure you schedule a site walkthrough with your venue coordinator or catering manager. This meeting is vital for determining the layout of the room, seating arrangements, and placement of key items like your cake, DJ or band, guest book, escort cards, etc.
- Have a centerpiece mock up with your florist. Many florists include this as part of your package, while others may charge a nominal fee (often 50% of the centerpiece price) for it. Double-check your contract and set this up a month or two prior to the wedding. If you do it too early, the right flowers may not be in season. If you do it too late, you run the risk of not giving the florist enough time to do another mock up and/or change their order with their growers! Regardless of how much you adore your florist, I think a mock up is essential. It will either a) confirm that you and your florist are on the page with the wedding vision and give you priceless peace of mind OR b) reveal that clarifications and adjustments need to be made and save you disappointment on your wedding day.
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