…because, like me, you failed to hire a planner.  Yes, yes, of course you can do the whole thing by yourself.  Sure you get married all the time, you watch tv, you’re good at organizing, who needs a planner?

Well, as it turns out, I do.  Yes, we all know that it is lovely for the bride to be able to not have serious stress leading up to the wedding.  However, it wasn’t until I started working with Terrica and listening to the questions she asks brides, that I realized how much I’d never even thought of before!

Here are a few for you to keep in mind, in the event that you too failed to hire The O as your planner….:

1. An aisle runner.

2. A place for the gift envelopes to go..ie cute mailbox, large vase, something, otherwise they’ll just be laying all over the gift table..no good.

3. Dealing with the ceremony venue in terms of blocking off the first few seats or rows for the bridal party and immediate family.

4. Items for unity ceremonies: candles, sand etc.

5. Determine who is holding onto the rings before and during the ceremony. If there is a ring bearer, or otherwise.

6. The proper order for the processional is as follows: groom’s grandmother, bride’s grandmother, groom’s mother, the bride’s mother. (The bride’s mother actually starts the ceremony, because after she is seated, the ceremony begins.)

7. Accommodating any special needs guests, i.e. wheelchair seating at the back and end of a row and/or larger guests who may require a sturdier chair.

8. Photos. Have you decided whether to take them before or after the ceremony? Do you know where you will take them and what sort of poses you definitely want?

9. If your guests are staying in different hotels and areas of town, consider handing over mini-programs to the front desk of the various hotels and ask them to provide them to guests who are checking in for your wedding. These mini-programs may contain information such as maps to the rehearsal dinner, ceremony and wedding site, as well as any other information you feel they should know about.

10. Do you plan to be introduced into the reception by the DJ or band? Think about exactly what you would like said for the introduction and give it to the MC in advance.

11. Nominate a point person. Not having a professional day of coordinator is tough, but trying to do everything yourself will be impossible. Try to have someone who is not an integral part of the ceremony who can possibly be at the venue a bit early to deal with how things are going. This way, at the very least, the bride has someone to contact do find out how things are going, are the flowers there yet, how does everything look, is it safe to come in without everyone seeing you before the ceremony etc. This will help to alleviate some of the stress of your (our) failure to hire a planner!

Argh…at my NEXT wedding I’ll definitely know better.

.