How to Make Your Wedding Day A SuccessIf you have been planning a wedding for any length of time, or if you have watched someone else plan theirs, I'm sure you will agree that a smooth wedding doesn't just happen! There are so many details to think about and so many arrangements to make. That's why we have provided this planning guide to assist you in ironing out every little detail.Even though unforeseen circumstances may occur, good planning can help to make your day run smoothly. If you follow these guidelines carefully, chances are that your wedding day will turn out to be everything you dream it will be. The Church or Synagogue Besides choosing a wedding date, making arrangements with your church or synagogue should be one of the first things you do. Your entire wedding is built around when and where your ceremony will take place. Some ceremonies last only 15 minutes, while others can last an hour and a half. In order for your wedding day to go smoothly you will need to know exactly how much time to allocate for the ceremony. Also note that many churches and synagogues do not allow flash photography during the ceremony. That's why it's important to ask the person officiating your wedding what their policy is so you can let your photographer know in advance. This will prevent any conflicts DURING your wedding. Ask your florist to separate your flowers into two different boxes. The first box should contain flowers for: the bride, the bridesmaids, the flower girl, mom, and dad's boutonniere. This box should be delivered to the place where the bride is getting ready. Call this box "The Bride's Box" and it should arrive 2 1/2 hours before the wedding (so the flowers will be included in the photographs). The second box should contain flowers for the groomsmen and all others including the grandparents. Call this box "The Groom's Box". It should be delivered to the church 1 hour before the wedding. Be sure the arrangement holder/handle of your bouquets are facing down and not up. Tux Company The biggest problem you will encounter with tux companies is their inability to fulfill your order with 100% accuracy. Try to have your tuxes ready at least 3 days in advance. This will give you time to check each and every item. Be sure each tux, shirt and vest matches the others. Try on everything!
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As the final details of your wedding firm up, go over them with your caterer. Make any final changes to floor plans or decor. Insure that your caterer receives all the necessary wedding accessories such as matches, place cards, cake top, cake knife and champagne glasses, etc. Take into account where each activity will take place. For example, make sure there is enough room near the cake table so your photographer can easily take photographs. Also, keep it far away from the dance area, otherwise, there may be a mishap! Don't place the wedding table in front of the kitchen or too close to the band. You don't want unsightly distractions in your wedding pictures. Be sure to include your photographer and his assistant in the final head count. He will be with you all day and will need to refuel his energy level. Just as you would not want to work all day without eating, the photographer deserves the same courtesy. The same rule applies for the Videographer as well. The Musician To start your reception off right, make sure the DJ or Musician has everyone's name written down correctly. This will prevent embarrassing and incorrect introductions of your parents and bridal party. Make sure they understand when and what will be occuring such as a father/daughter dance etc. Go over your entire reception itinerary. You should have a good idea of how your affair is going to be -- in what order and what events are going to take place. Make sure he understands what music you have chosen for special moments, as well as what kind of music you want during dinner, and dancing. Don't assume anything! Limoousine Service
Hair Stylists & Make Up Artists If there is a chance that the bride will be late, it is usually because not enough time was allocated for the hair stylist and makeup artist. Find out in advance how long it will take to comfortably prepare the bridal party. It is better to have a few extra minutes than not enough time. Videographer You want the videographer to capture your special day from beginning to end. To insure this, make sure he understands your itinerary completely. Explain your photographer's plans so he can work with him to ensure good photographs AND video. Many times a good videographer will work with the photographer to capture the same images such as prenuptials, or reception activities. If the videographer does not coordinate with the photographer, they may end up getting each others way. Parties Before the Wedding? You may want to consider scheduling any bachelor/bachelorette parties two or more days in advance of the wedding (instead of the night before). By doing this, you are insuring that your family and friends will be rested and well on your wedding day so everyone can have a good time. Photography We have dedicated many hours of preparation to ensure that your day will be everything you expect it to be, but we cannot provide the best results without your help. It is extremely important that your family, bridal party, and special guests know when and where to be for each photography session. These people must be on time in order for your wedding to flow smoothly. The photographer cannot be responsible for the quality or quantity of photographs unless we have the proper time and cooperation to accomplish our services. Click here to see an itinerary of a typical wedding day . Return back to the Tips Page. |
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Reception/Caterer 
After speaking to the photographer and your church or synagogue, you should have a good idea of what the arrangements should be for the limousine. Go over those times in advance with the limousine service to insure that they will be on time.