Preparing for a wedding is not only a pleasant excitement, but also a huge responsibility. So that nothing spoils the holiday, you should think through everything in advance. Therefore, you need to start preparing by making a complete list, down to the smallest detail, of everything you need for the wedding. Our article will help you not to miss anything.
What should you take care of in advance?
- Submit an application to the registry office (you can do it online).
- Order a photographer and video shooting (if desired).
- Make a guest list for the wedding.
- Book a restaurant and plan a menu. Discuss the decoration of the hall. If you need to decorate the banquet venue yourself, you need to purchase flowers, vases, ribbons, balloons, etc.
- Plan seating arrangements for guests if necessary and order special nameplates.
- Order and send out invitations indicating the time and address of the registry office and restaurant.
- Select a presenter, discuss with him the scenario of the event, competitions, and musical accompaniment.
- Order a car for young people and guests.
- Make an appointment for a wedding manicure, hairstyle, and makeup.
- Choose a wedding cake and decorations for it.
- Book a hotel room if the newlyweds plan to spend their wedding night away from home.
It is important to think about the accommodation of visiting guests in advance.
Seating plan
Even if there are only a few guests, it is worth considering a seating plan to prevent chaos. Who better than the hosts of the holiday knows who should be seated together so that they have fun, and who should be seated in different corners. In addition, at the beginning of the evening, guests will be able to calmly take their seats, rather than rushing around trying to find what they think is the best chair.
It’s better not to limit yourself to just name cards on the tables. Otherwise, people will have to wander around the hall in search. A general seating chart at the entrance will make things much easier.
Ransom list
First you need to decorate the car. To do this, you will need the following things (read more about how to decorate a car here):
- boutonnieres for door handles;
- wedding rooms;
- ribbons;
- wedding rings, doll, artificial flowers, etc.
If the purchase is themed, then you should decorate the entrance and apartment. Usually prepared for this:
- postcards;
- Balloons;
- posters.
The groom and witness prepare for the ransom:
- money or souvenir bills;
- chocolate and candies;
- champagne or other alcohol.
List of little things you will need in a restaurant
What do you need for a wedding? The list of necessary things is presented below:
- Glasses for newlyweds.
- Gifts for participants in games and competitions. Place the gifts in a separate bag and don’t forget to give it to the toastmaster.
- Candles. If your holiday will include the “Lighting of the Family Hearth” ceremony, then you cannot do without candles.
- Decorated champagne that should be on the newlyweds' table. Many lovers order this champagne, but forget to take the bottles to the restaurant.
- Wedding bouquet-understudy. If the witness's bouquet acts as a backup, then you don't have to worry about the second bouquet that you will throw into the hall.
What you need for a wedding ceremony
To register a marriage, you need the passports of the bride and groom, wedding rings, and a ring cushion. Don't forget to take the cover for your marriage certificate with you so as not to wrinkle the document. To welcome the newlyweds, the registry office usually uses rose petals, confetti or rice, which the guests shower on the spouses.
If a couple plans to get married, then you need to take with you:
- an icon of the Savior and the Mother of God to bless the bride and groom;
- white and allied towel;
- a set of blessed wedding candles and linen napkins.
Plan B in case of bad weather
The outdoor activities are spectacular. But everything can be ruined by the vagaries of the weather. Rain or strong wind will blur the solemnity of the ceremony. Guests will only think about how to stay warm. The presenter should speak his words hastily. And the newlyweds are unlikely to be able to feel the moment.
Therefore, it is better to have a script in case the weather lets you down. It may be possible to quickly move the decorations under the roof. Naturally, this is not what the bride and groom do. But they must agree on changes in advance.
As an option, you can provide elegant umbrellas for the newlyweds, raincoats or blankets for guests. In general, correct the situation within the budget.
6 months until the wedding - where to start preparing
Organizing a wedding takes on average 3 months. However, some measures should be taken a little earlier, so that you can then calmly make preparations:
- Select the date of the wedding and wedding. The latter should definitely be checked with the church calendar: there are days when wedding rites are prohibited.
- Submit an application to the registry office (don’t forget your passports and money!). There you will be offered a wide selection of booklets and catalogs from companies providing wedding services.
- Find out the departure days of planes to the country where you plan to spend your honeymoon.
- Collect the package of documents required to obtain a foreign passport.
- Estimate your approximate wedding budget.
- Make a preliminary list of guests and, based on it, determine the number of invitations.
- Join a fitness club to stay in shape on your wedding day.
List for the bride
Even the most attentive and responsible bride can forget about something on such an exciting day. So that nothing takes you by surprise, the bride should have the following things ready on the list for her wedding day:
- Wedding Dress.
- Veil.
- Underwear.
- Stockings or tights, including a spare pair.
- Garter.
- Shoes.
- A replacement pair of comfortable shoes.
- Handbag.
- Gloves.
- Jewelry: earrings, bracelet, tiara, etc.
- Cosmetics and mirror - powder, lip gloss, mascara. Weather and emotions can ruin even the most durable makeup, so you should definitely have the most necessary products on hand.
- Antistatic.
- Antiperspirant, eau de toilette.
- Adhesive plaster, pain reliever, tablets for stomach and intestinal upsets.
- Wet and dry wipes.
- Hairpins and a comb if you suddenly need to straighten your hair.
- Clear nail polish and a safety pin for an emergency repair of tights or an outfit.
- Mobile phone with all necessary numbers: parents, drivers, photographer, restaurant administrator, hotel contacts. It is important not to forget to top up your balance and charge the battery.
- Cape and umbrella in case of bad weather.
If the first wedding night is planned at a hotel, then you need to put in a separate bag in advance:
- change of underwear;
- nightgown, robe;
- makeup remover and facial care products;
- cosmetic bag;
- shampoo, hair mask, comb, curling iron;
- clothes and shoes for the second day of the wedding or for returning home;
- bag or special bag for a wedding dress.
You should also take care of the procedures for the bride in advance:
- facial cleansing or solarium if necessary;
- epilation;
- manicure and pedicure;
- hairstyle, including cutting and coloring;
- makeup.
If you are planning a honeymoon after the wedding, you should prepare documents and necessary things in advance.
How much food and alcoholic drinks do you need?
If you have not yet fully decided what you need for the wedding, the list down to the smallest detail should include an approximate list of food and alcoholic beverages that you need to rely on when planning the holiday:
- There should be about 1.5 liters of juices and mineral water per person.
- Snacks. For each guest: vegetables – 80 g, pickles – 70 g, cold cuts – 50 g.
- Alcoholic drinks. It’s difficult to give a specific figure here: it all depends on the age and gender of the guests.
- Seasonal fruits. For one person - about 200 g.
- Cake. Each guest eats approximately 100–150 grams of baked goods.
- Salads. Each guest gets a portioned salad, as well as several shared ones for the table.
- Hot appetizers. If the budget of the wedding celebration allows, it is better to order two hot dishes for each guest.
List for the groom
- Wedding suit.
- Shirt, including one in reserve.
- Underwear and socks.
- Accessories (belt, tie and tie clip, cufflinks, watch, boutonniere).
- Shoes.
- Comb.
- Handkerchief.
- Shoe brush or sponge.
- Cologne.
- A mobile phone with all the necessary numbers, a phone with a replenished balance and a charged battery.
If the newlyweds plan to spend their first wedding night away from home, the groom should also take care of things for the morning.
Although the bride’s bouquet is chosen together, the groom must bring it. Therefore, when going to pick up the bride, you must remember to stop by the salon to pick up a bouquet ordered in advance.
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List of small things that need to be picked up from the restaurant after the end of the holiday
After the wedding evening is over, don't forget to pick up:
- Bouquets of flowers.
- Guest presentations.
- Alcohol and remaining products. Just take containers with you in advance in which you can pack leftover salads, cold cuts and meat dishes.
- Figurines used to decorate a cake.
Once you have determined what you need for the wedding and have compiled a complete list of things, first put all the items into bags. To avoid confusion, each bag must be signed: “To the registry office”, “For a walk”, etc. Then on the day of the wedding, all you have to do is grab all the packages and hand them over to the people responsible for it.
