It’s our 100th blog post! To celebrate, we’ve compiled a list of the top 20 most overlooked details of the wedding planning process, straight from bridal expert Allison herself.
Timeline: 6-12 Months Before the Wedding
1. Bridal Party 411. Make a list of everyone in the bridal party with their cell phone numbers and email addresses to distribute to each member of the bridal party. This helps out your bridal parties when they’re planning secret operations like a bridal shower or bachelor/bachelorette party.
2. Dress up your entrance. Remember that the entrance is the first thing your guests will see, so show it some love!
3. When planning your décor and floral, remember the restrooms. Amenities baskets are a must, and even a small floral arrangement with some votive candles can really personalize this space.
4. Another décor spot you don’t want to neglect is the cake table. This table will be the focal point of many photographs throughout your special day.
5. When choosing your centerpieces, don’t choose centerpieces that are too large in height or width. Your guests won’t be able to see or hear one another.
6. Think about the kids! Make sure you have a game plan for the children at your wedding. Consider hiring a wedding nanny.
7. To avoid a post-photo album or wedding video disaster after the big day, make sure to view portfolio samples and ask for client references before hiring the photographer and/or videographer.
8. Throughout your entire engagement and wedding process you will receive many beautiful gifts! Be sure to dedicate a notebook or document on your computer to keep track of gifts received and thank you notes that need to be sent. And remember, handwritten cards are still king.
Timeline: One Month Away
9. Don’t forget your marriage license. Make sure to pick it up from your town hall, and compile all documents to give to your officiant on the day of the wedding.
10. Get creative with your guestbook. Create an enticing guestbook that ensures your guests will want to sign it and makes a great keepsake for you after the wedding.
Timeline: The Week Before
11. Start packing for your honeymoon a week before your wedding. That way, you’ll give yourself enough time to remember anything you may have overlooked if rushing.
12. Assign someone beforehand to take care of paying the vendors on the day of so you don’t have to worry about it.
13. Create a wedding timeline. Outline a comprehensive schedule that includes precise details of your wedding day, timing and locations. Make copies for everyone in the bridal party!
14. When creating your schedule, make sure you schedule enough time into your day to take wedding photos with the bridal parties and families. You will want these photographs after the wedding is over to remember all of the special memories from that day.
15. If you have any specific instructions for leftover décor, food items, favors or family heirlooms after the wedding, make sure to give your instructions to your event planner before the big day.
Timeline: Day Of
16. Don’t forget your dancing shoes. You’re going to be on your feet all day and night so remember to pack a change of comfortable shoes for the reception.
17. Make sure your photographer captures photos of the empty ceremony and reception sites. These make for beautiful photos of how the day looked when you first arrived.
18. Keep cash handy for any last minute drug store runs or for gratuities for the vendors at the end of the night.
19. Prep for your thank you notes. For your first task as a couple, have your new husband keep a list of all the gifts you received and who they were from while you open them.
20. Bring a wedding day emergency kit equipped with all the essentials. Here’s what we keep in ours: makeup, hair products, tide-to-go pen, headache medicine, travel toothbrush, Band-Aids, granola bars, mini sewing kit, travel deodorant, lint roller, lip balm, hair accessories, makeup remover, eye drops, Krazy glue, safety pins, tampons, tissues, disposable razors, static guard, a notepad and, most importantly, chocolate.
Let the bridal specialists at Allison Sargent Events take care of these details. We’ll handle them with organization, professionalism and keep you informed every step of the way. We believe there’s only one thing every bride should do on her wedding day—enjoy it!
You can customize your colors, designs, monograms and even add an inspirational quote or saying. A runner from the Original Runner Company will be the standout detail everyone notices. We’re not the only ones obsessed with the thought of walking down a perfect aisle—ORC has been featured on Shark Tank, The View and in Brides magazine, among others. Celebrity clients include Bethenny Frankel, Nicole Richie and Kim Kardashian (we won’t comment on her short-lived marriage to Kris Humphries, but there’s no denying that the ceremony was fabulous!).
Allison Sargent Events 