Everything Old Is New Again
Magazines and websites are bursting with the latest trends in wedding ideas and themes - and just trying to sift through them can be as overwhelming as actually planning an entire wedding!
So take a deep breath, relax and consider this: Read More...
Who Does What?
When your are planning for your wedding, it may seem like you have a million details to organise. From reception venue to wedding cars, from photographs to music, you have to make many decisions before the big day. It may all seem impossible were it no for the people you surround yourself with in the days leading up to your wedding, including the bridal party, friends and family.
We have created a checklist of wedding duties for all those involved in the wedding. Print it out and start checking items off once completed.
Bride
_____ Arrange how and when you will announce your engagement
_____ Introduce families of bride and groom
_____ Organise your engagement announcement in newspaper
_____ Decide on the type of wedding
_____ Decide on the date
_____ Decide on the time of the wedding
_____ Book your reception
_____ Engage a photographer and/or video personnel
_____ Confer with priest or clergyman for a church wedding
_____ Choose your matron-of-honour
_____ Choose bridesmaids
_____ Help your fiancé to choose best man
_____ Choose flower girls
_____ Choose and order all wedding stationery
_____ Choose your wedding dress
_____ Select your wedding accessories
_____ Select your going-away outfit
_____ Consult with bridesmaids about their dresses
_____ Engage a florist. Discuss decorations and order bouquets
_____ Organise music for both the wedding ceremony and reception
_____ Arrange any rehearsals you propose to have
_____ Decide on a convenient place for you and your attendants to dress
_____ Book pre-marriage course in consultation with priest/clergyman
_____ Buy gifts for bridal party and ushers
_____ List all gifts received and who they were from and write and mail thank you notes
_____ Find a new place to live
_____ Open joint bank accounts
_____ Organise pre-wedding beauty regimen with: nutritionist, hairdresser and manicurist
_____ Organise change of name documentation if required, e.g. passport, driver's license
Groom
_____ Choose the engagement and wedding rings with your bride-to-be
_____ Help the bride wherever possible in all arrangements
_____ Make out your wedding guest list with your family and give it to the bride-to-be
_____ Make notes for head usher on where to seat relatives and friends at the ceremony
_____ Choose your best man and ushers
_____ Make honeymoon plans and all necessary travel arrangements, accommodation etc.
_____ Arrange any transport from the reception with your best man.
_____ If you are having a bachelor dinner, arrange it with your best man
_____ Select your going-away outfit, if you choose to have one
_____ See that best man is organised to have your going away outfit at the reception venue.
_____ If you're leaving the country for your honeymoon, check passports, visas, etc
_____ Organise church fees and give to best man to pay after ceremony
_____ Prepare your speech for the reception, include bridesmaids' toast
_____ Usually the groom pays for the bride's bouquet so organise this with the bride
_____ Pay for flowers for the mother of the bride and the bridesmaids
_____ Buttonholes for close male relations are usually the groom's responsibility
_____ Buy gifts for best man, ushers and child attendants
_____ Buy a very special present for your bride
Maid of Honor/ Matron of Honor
_____ Adjust Brides Veil, Gown & Train during ceremony
_____ Attends rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
_____ Helps make wedding favors
_____ Help address wedding invitations
_____ Help Bride change into "going away" cloths & takes gown to the cleaners
_____ Help Bride dress on the wedding day
_____ Help coordinate fitting schedule
_____ Help coordinate with other bridesmaid
_____ Help in whatever is needed
_____ Hold Brides Bouquet during ceremony
_____ May offer toast to Newlyweds
_____ Can be the Official Witness to marriage license
_____ Pays for own travel expenses
_____ Pays for own Wedding Attire & accessories
_____ Plan Bachelorette Shower or Party
_____ Purchase Wedding Gift & Shower Gift
_____ In charge of Grooms wedding ring
_____ Oversees Bridesmaid
Bridesmaids
_____ Help make wedding favors
_____ Help plan and contribute to Bridal Shower
_____ Help address wedding invitations
_____ Help with wedding errands
_____ Pay for own travel expenses
_____ Pay for own wedding attire & accessories
Mother of the Bride
_____ First in the Receiving line
_____ Helps call guests who have not yet RSVP
_____ Helps compile family guest list
_____ Helps in planning ceremony & reception details
_____ Helps take care of arriving gifts
_____ Helps with seating arrangement
_____ Provides family & friends with registry information
_____ Stands in the receiving line
Grooms Parents
_____ Host the Rehearsal Dinner
_____ Mother Stands in the Receiving Line
_____ Call Brides Parents to introduce themselves
_____ Help compile family guest list - (help pay for their side of the family guest)
_____ Offer to share wedding expenses
Bestman
_____ Attends rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
_____ Gives fee to the officiant
_____ Helps coordinate with other groomsmen
_____ Helps in whatever is needed
_____ Holds wedding ring for the ceremony
_____ Load luggage into car for honeymoon
_____ Offers first toast to Newlyweds
_____ Official Witness to marriage license
_____ Oversees Groomsmen & Ushers
_____ Pays for own travel expenses
_____ Pays for own Wedding Attire
_____ Plans Bachelors Dinner or Party
_____ Responsible for returning all tuxedo rentals
_____ Transports the Groom to the Ceremony & helps him get dressed
_____ Takes the newlyweds to airport for their honeymoon
Groomsmen
_____ Attends Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner
_____ Dances with bridesmaid
_____ Decorate Wedding Limousine/Car
_____ Escort and partner to bridesmaid
_____ Escort guest to their seats
_____ Help Load and unload the wedding gifts
_____ Help plan & contribute to Bachelor party or dinner
_____ Helps Bestman with Bachelor Party
_____ Helps out-of-town guest with transportation from the ceremony to the reception
_____ Can be an Official Witness to marriage license
_____ Pays for own travel expenses
Ushers
_____ Arrive at the ceremony place at least 1 hour before it starts
_____ Escort guests to the pews - Left for the Bride's side and Right for the Groom's side
_____ Help set up sign in table
_____ Light any candles 15 minutes before the ceremony starts
_____ May pass out wedding programs
_____ Unroll and roll the aisle runner
Ringbearer - ( 3 - 6 yrs old)
_____ Carries the ring pillow
_____ Escorts the Flower Girl
Father of the Bride
_____ Escorts Bride down the aisle
_____ Escorts Bride to the Ceremony
_____ Official Host of the Reception
_____ Officially "gives away" the Bride
_____ Usually pays for Ceremony and Reception
_____ Bids guests farewell & the last person to leave reception