Sometimes it helps to break things down when planning your wedding. For example, instead getting all worked up with the entire wedding timeline, section things out and manage them one by one. You can start with the first part of your wedding day, the wedding ceremony. Then when you’re done, move over to the reception, or maybe the bridal attire and accessories. This way, planning your big day won’t feel so overwhelming. Today we’re helping you out with the wedding ceremony. Here’s the ultimate checklist to get the ball rolling.
Ceremony Venue
- Gather and then narrow down your top venue choices.
- Schedule appointments to visit potential ceremony sites and check the date availability.
- Reserve the venue for your desired wedding date.
- Sign the contract and pay the deposit.
[From: A Dreamy Baby Blue Wedding Atop the City / Photo: Jenny Tong Photography]
Officiant
- Book your officiant
- Schedule premarital counselling sessions, if required
Attendees
- Decide the order of attendants for processional.
- Decide on seating arrangements and if you will have reserved seating (for example, for close family and elders).
- Assign attendant/s to distribute ceremony programs.
- Assign entourage or family member/s to usher guests.
- Assign entourage or family members to assist with gathering all the members of the processional.
[From: Well-Thought-Out Details Made This Garden Wedding Stand Out / Photo: Hyvis Tong Photography]
Ceremony
- Prepare your vows and choose a vow book.
- Work with your officiant on other parts of ceremony.
- Select readings and/or special songs.
- Assign readers.
Decorations and Stationery
- Reserve any rental items needed.
- Check if the ceremony venue offers basic flowers.
- Order additional ceremony flower arrangements, if needed, or check with your florist if you can use some flowers from your reception.
- Prepare the ceremony program.
- Prepare any signages (for example, “Reserved” signs for close family and elders).
- Purchase any items necessary for ceremony customs (i.e. unity candle, glass for breaking).
- Purchase pillow for ring bearer and a basket and flower petals for flower girl(s)
- Purchase items needed for exit from ceremony (i.e. loose petals, bubbles, etc.)
[From: After A 580-Day Wait, This Couple Finally Tied The Knot In A Luxurious Neutral-Themed Garden Wedding / Photo: Evelyn Chan]
[From: A Chic Wester-Style Garden Wedding / Photo: Mushroom Photography & Cinematography]
Music
- Choose and book a choir or singer or assign singers from family and/or friends.
- Select the music for ceremony including prelude music, processional, the bride’s entrance, and recessional.
Others
- Research about local marriage license requirements.
- Obtain your marriage license.
- Obtain any other religious documents, if needed.
- Prepare the wedding day emergency kit.
- Select and purchase your wedding rings
- Go over and confirm ALL your wedding ceremony details with the officiant and your wedding planner or coordinator.
Download a printable version of this checklist here.
