10 Tips For Planning Your Wedding Reception
For most people, the wedding and reception are once-in-a-lifetime event. But, because it’s once-in-a-lifetime, most people have little to no experience in planning them. Here are a few helpful hints you can use to get started:
1. Assign your key person. Vitally important for this special occasion, assigning a key person to attend through all the wedding details can provide a big relief on the part of both the bride and the groom. A reliable key person ensures that everything is well taken cared of from the schedule, reception, location, caterer, music, bakery, florist, limo driver, and wedding party down to the guests.
2. Pre-plan & have a checklist. Use that back-up person and make sure details are not overlooked on that special day. There are so many to remember, you’ll want to make sure nothing gets left behind so write up a list. It can be as simple as a small notebook that you carry in your purse, adding details as they come up in your planning.
3. Avoid micro-managing, delegate! Beyond your main person, it is normal for different members of both families to manage different aspects of the wedding and reception. If you have 30 items to manage and 30 individuals to each manage one thing, all you have to do is check in with your people! You are now the project manager instead of the micro-manager!
4. Research your service provider’s background before you hire them. Never risk the success of your wedding by engaging the service of incompetent people or groups. It would not hurt to do a little background check by seeking opinion from previous clients.
5. Remember yourself. Even the most organized bride in the world will experience some stress along the way. Take time to pamper yourself: get a massage, facial, manicure & pedicure – whatever you’d enjoy, even if it’s just a hot bubble bath. Ideally this will be in close proximity to the event. You can even incorporate it with other events – take the bridesmaids, grooms mother and/or sisters along with & use it as bonding time.
6. Double-check everything and do not be too complacent. About one or two weeks before the wedding day, remember to make last minute phone calls to ensure that nothing gets neglected or forgotten. Most often, even if you think that everything is perfectly ready, you just discover that something else needs to be adjusted or modified. Do not fall into this trap.
7. Secure the rings. I know it’s so clich, but because it’s happened at so many weddings is the reason for this to be the butt of so many jokes! Especially if there is a younger ring bearer or other people involved. Just add that to your checklist for a last-minute confirmation.
8 Keep receipts & records. This is a great task for one responsible person. Then on the big day, you can quickly and easily determine who’s been paid & how much is still owed, and can also serve to keep track of your memories going forward.
9. Security. This is the 1 thing that gets overlooked for a wedding. It’s easy to focus on everything else, but make sure (especially if you’re event is in more than one location) that any items left unattended are secure. Even beautiful flowers and decorations can be pillaged if left vulnerable – don’t find that out the hard way!
10. Give thank you notes or tokens. Get your thank you notes printed weeks before the wedding. Anyway, you have bridesmaids around to help on this particular task. Guests and those involved in your wedding will be pleased to receive a small token from you. Lastly, thank you notes can serve as a memento on your big day.
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