Wedding Checklist

While planning a wedding in southern Indiana, I found that many of the checklists for brides were not applicable for our wedding. For example, some included rented china and parking director that we did not need, but did not include keep and toss garters which I did need. Also, there were some decisions that we had to make that we hadn't thought about, such as what style of tuxedo pant and jacket.

Shortly after our wedding, I compiled all of my lists from the wedding ;planning process into one list to help future brides planning a small town wedding.

- Application for marriage license and name change form (provided at

   court house in county of bride or groom’s current residence)
- Minister and church
- Reception hall
- Dinner- pick meal, types of dishes/utensils, head count, extra plates for bride and  

     groom to take

- Bartender, liquor/alcohol, liquor license, bartender fee
- DJ

-Songs: Father/Daughter, Mother/Son, First Dance, Bridal Party

entrance, Cake cutting, Dinner Music, Anniversary Dance, Dollar

Dance, Bouquet Toss, Garter Toss

- Photographer- make a list of desired photos
- Dress

            - Alterations

- Crinoline

- Shoes- ceremony and reception

- Strapless bra

- Hair accessory (tiara, headband, flower)

- Jewelry- rings, necklaces, bracelets
- Dresses- Bridesmaids, flower girls, Mothers, Grandmothers
- Tuxedos- Groom, Groomsmen, Ushers, Ring Bearers, Fathers

- Colors and style of vest, tie, shirt

- Style of Tuxedo- 2 button, 3 button, tails, etc.

- Type of Shoe
- Ring pillow, Flower girl basket

- Stationary

- Invites (color, style, design), Save the Dates, Maps, Reception cards,     

        RSVPs, Menus, Programs, Itinerary for guests and/or bridal party, reserved 

        seating signs for reception tables
- Flowers-

- Bouquets (bridal, toss, bridesmaids), boutonnières (groom,

groomsmen, ushers, fathers, ring bearers), corsages (mothers,

grandmothers, attendants of guest book, bubbles, cake, etc.)         

           memorial, accents on dresses or in hair, guest book table
- Garters (1 to keep, 1 to toss)
- Hair style for self and bridesmaids
- Wedding night accommodations

- Reception décor

- Centerpieces for guest tables, head table/s

- Table linens

- Chair covers/sashes

- Backdrop

- Entry Way

- Special sized/shaped tables if your reception hall doesn't have them (cake,  

  sweetheart, guest book tables)

- Window covers

- Door décor

- Food, drink, cake, candy, & gift table décor/centerpieces

- Décor around the room—trees, columns, lights
- Cake design, flavors of each layer of cake, and cake stand

- Cake topper
- Card Box
- Cake server

- Guest favors

- Videographer

- Veil

- Make-up/nails—eye brow wax, highlights, haircut

- Bubbles, Birdseed, confetti, rose petals, etc

- Vows- traditional or personalized

- Limo/transportation/Get-a-way car

- Guest book and pen

- Toasting glasses for couple and/or bridal party

- Bridal party gifts (bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearers,

   ushers, any and all assistants—bubbles, programs, readers, singers,

   pianists, etc.)

- Gifts for parents/grandparents

- Gifts/Cards for each other at rehearsal or wedding day

- Unity candle and stand or sand ceremony with vases

- Paper Goods/Dishes

- Cups (for dinner, bar, punch)

- Napkins (dinner and cake)

- Plates (dinner, appetizers, and cake)

- Forks (dinner, appetizers and cake)

- Ceremony décor-

o       Pews, altar table, candelabras, doors, aisle runner, windows

- Ceremony Music- Interlude, seating of mothers, bridal party entrance,

    processional, unity candle, recessional

- Announcements in newspapers

- Guest list for wedding, bach. parties, and shower

- Rehearsal dinner- location, guests, decorations, dinner

- Collect addresses

- Clothing

o       Rehearsal and dinner, intimate apparel, honeymoon clothing

- Candy buffet- types of candy, containers for guests to fill (sacks, boxes, 

     buckets), containers for display

- Something old, new, borrowed, blue

- Signs between ceremony and reception, as well as directions (and someone to put up signs)

- Appetizers

- Memorial candle

- Personalized attire for self or attendants

- Containers for left over food and cake to be taken home after reception

- Stamps for invitations and thank yous

- Emergency kit for wedding day

- Bathroom amenities kit for reception

- Mints & nuts with serving containers for cake table

- Baskets/Containers for bubbles and programs

- Prescriptions of medicine and/or birth control 

To Buy:

Marriage License

Crinoline

Shoes

Strapless Bra

Hair Accessory

Jewelry

Dress

Ring Pillow

Flower Girl Basket/s

Favors

Garters

Flowers

Cake Topper

Card Box

Aisle Runner

Veil

Bubbles/Birdseed/Confetti/Petals

Guest Book and Pen

Toasting Glasses

Paper Goods- Plates, Napkins, Forks, Cups--- for cake, appetizers, dinner

Unity Candle or Sand Ceremony

Memorial Candle

Stamps

Candy

Clothing-- Rehearsal and dinner, intimate apparel for you and him, honeymoon

Nuts, Mints, and containers for the cake table