In the previous chapter I talked about all the things you might have to pay for at your wedding, but I didn’t really tell you the steps you need to take to make the wedding happen.

Here is a step-by-step checklist you can use to get started planning your wedding today.

You should be doing this now:

• Deciding upon a date for your wedding
• Deciding upon a budget for your wedding
• Drawing up a rough copy guest list
• Finding and booking an outdoor location that will suit you and your timetable, make sure if you are having a complete outdoor wedding to make an alternate plan incase of bad weather
• Booking your reception hall
• Arrange wedding insurance
• Start looking at wedding dresses that you like
• Getting the invitations sorted early
• Choosing your bridesmaids and Matron of Honor and best men
• Deciding upon the size of the wedding party
• Booking your music and entertainment early
• Booking florists and looking at arrangements
• Booking hairdressers and makeup artists
• Decide and book the type of transport you want
• Booking photographers and videographers for your wedding
• Booking caterers and picking your wedding cake

You should be doing this a couple of months from the wedding date:

• Setup your permanent guest list
• Booking your honeymoon destination
• Deciding what gifts you want or where you want to register
• Getting suits sorted for the men
• Trying on and buying wedding rings
• Fitting and buying wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses
• About 2 months in advance of the wedding you should be sending out invitations and asking for RSVP’s.
• Deciding upon wedding gifts and favors for your guests
• Sorting out accommodations for guests
• Sorting out accommodations and book a place to stay for the night of the wedding
• Planning your hens night and bucks nights
• Choosing who your celebrant will be and booking in advance

You should be doing these weeks in advance:

• Confirming everything is read to go and booked
• Having hair trials and makeup trials
• Drawing up seating plans for your reception
• Having your wedding and reception rehearsals
• Start packing for your honeymoon

Outdoor Wedding Checklist

Is it your dream to say your vows with nature as a backdrop? An outdoor wedding can be breathtaking. However, planning it involves quite a bit of work. Here are some things to think about…

Where to Have It

First you need to decide where you want your outdoor wedding…. scenic landmarks, historic estates, parks, the beach or maybe in your own backyard. All these are viable options for your big day.

The Comfort of Your Guests:

Consider including a note in the invitations to inform your guests what to expect. (i.e. wear comfortable shoes, bring an extra sweater, bring sunscreen)

Think about the bug factor. You might want to hire an exterminator to lay down insecticide before your wedding day. Another option is using decorated citronella torches in your wedding décor.

Before your wedding day, be sure to visit the site at the same time of day as your ceremony. Check to make sure that your guests won’t be blinded by the sun and that the sun won’t make it too hot to sit comfortably. If your ceremony is in the summer, your guests will likely appreciate being placed under the shade of a tree or a canopy. Your Comfort Don’t wear high heels. If the ground is soft, you will be sinking into it! Consider purchasing a dress without a train.

As you walk on the grass, your train will pick up some dirt. If you have your heart set on a train, make sure you line the aisle with a runner to minimize this tendency. Facilities Do you have enough bathrooms? Even if you are having the wedding at a home, you may still need to rent port-a-potties. Some of you may be cringing right now, but you’d be surprised how far port-a-potties have come.

They now have port-a-potties that are specifically designed for weddings and special events. They’re available in pink and blue colors (his and hers) and come with a sink, vanity and mirror. Add some fresh flowers or decorations and some perfumed hand soap. Will you need a microphone and lighting? If you are having an outdoor wedding, chances are there won’t be electrical outlets hidden in the trees.

If you are having a large wedding, a microphone that doesn’t need to be plugged into an outlet will be needed. Talk to your band or DJ and plan accordingly. Do guests have a place to park? If parking is tight, you might want to hire valets for the event. Another option is to instruct guests to park in a local parking lot and shuttle them over. Many limo companies rent trolleys - this could be a romantic way to get them over to your site.

Do you need a permit? If you are getting married in a public park or beach, you may need a permit. Make sure you check on this, as it would be a shame if the police decided to crash your wedding. Are you allowed to serve alcohol? Some towns have rules about the consumption of alcohol in public places. Back Up Plan Every bride wants a perfect “sunny” day for their wedding day — but you’ve got to be prepared just in case. So, it’s a good idea to rent a big enough tent (or tents) that everyone could sit under in case of rain.

So you’re planning a beach wedding. Congratulations! Here are some tips to keep in mind as you plan for your big day.

No matter how hard you hope, there’s always the chance that it will rain on your big day. There are two ways to avoid spending your wedding day making panicked phone calls to find an alternate wedding site while the rain comes down in buckets. Either you can rent a tent, or you can book an indoor backup site.

Renting a tent allows you to maintain an airy outdoor feeling, allowing ocean breezes in, but keeping rain out. However, renting a tent adds an extra expense to your wedding. Tents can run anywhere from $150 for a tiny canopy to $4,000 for a 6,000 square foot pole tent. An alternative to a tent is to hold your wedding at a catering with both beachfront and indoor capabilities, or reserving a church fellowship hall. Remember to include inclement weather instructions with your invitations!

Depending on the size of your guest list and the formality of your wedding, you may want to rent flooring. If you have a small group, having guests gather round while you and your fiancé (e) speak your vows can be intimate and beautiful. However, with a larger group, seating is usually necessary. Beach seating can be tricky.

Picture chair legs sinking slowly. Flooring is not very expensive to rent, and can come in many materials, from parquet to carpeted. Flooring is essential for a reception on the sand. You’ll need to rent a dance floor, and tables and chairs need a sturdy base. Most tent companies also rent flooring.

The summer sun can be hard on guests, even during an evening wedding. Consider having an usher hand out iced non-alcoholic drinks to guests as they arrive at your ceremony. Keep bottled water in ice-filled buckets at the end of each row of chairs. Give personalized paper fans to guests as a favor handed out before the ceremony.

Rent large electric fans for your reception. Set up a few beach umbrellas at the back of the guest area for older relatives and fair-skinned guests to retreat to when the sun becomes too hot. For a daytime wedding, leave small tubes of sunscreen in a basket near the entrance to your ceremony area.

Don’t forget:

Bug control - Consider making bug spray available to guests or using citronella candles around your reception area. You don’t want people to remember your wedding because they were eaten alive by mosquitos!

Sound system - Consider renting a sound system for your ceremony. Those same ocean breezes that refresh your guests can blow music and words in the wrong direction, leaving your guests with nothing to hear but the roar of the waves.
 
Tides - Take tides into consideration when you set up your ceremony and reception areas.

Toilets - If there are no acceptable toilet facilities near your wedding site, you’ll have to rent portables. Rental companies recommend 1 toilet per 50 guests.
 
Rules and Regulations - If you are renting a public beach for your wedding, are there restrictions on the number of guests? Are you allowed to use candles? Are electrical outlets available for your sound system? How late can you play music at your reception? Read the fine print on your contract, and ask plenty of questions.

Last, but most important, enjoy yourself!

This is your big day, and it will be beautiful, no matter what the weather or temperature. At the end of the day, you’ll be married to the love of your life. Congratulations!

Beach wedding’s are becoming very popular lately; Simple and elegant. A beach wedding is something you really have to plan in advance and make sure you are not breaking any laws.

Beach weddings are also a nightmare for logistics and can be windy as hell.

But for every downside, there are a heap more upsides. There would be nothing more beautiful then getting married with the sea air and the sand and the water as your backdrop.