Wedding Day Schedule

When working on the time-tabling of the schedule below, allow for most thingsto take longer than you think. In the preparation stage, work backwards from the ceremony start time. Attach your 'Wedding Day Contact List' and distribute to your best man, chief bridesmaid, photographer, videographer, venue co-ordinator or caterer, and Toastmaster or MC. Include the names of those mentioned in it for identification purposes. Place a copy in the 'Ceremony' and 'Reception' boxes.

PREPERATION

• Cake delivery to venue
• Flowers to venue(s)

BRIDE

• Hair / Make-up appointments
• Bouquet & buttonhole delivery
• Photographer arrives
• Bridesmaids / bride's mother depart for ceremony
• Bride departs for ceremony

GROOM

• Meet best man
• Buttonhole / corsage delivery
• Depart for ceremony
• Groom & attendants' photographs
• Guest arrive

CEREMONY

• Arrival of the bride
• (Official photographs)
• Depart for reception

RECEPTION

• Drinks reception
• (Official photographs)
• Wedding dinner or lunch
• Speeches & toats (father of the bride, groom, best man)
• Cake cutting
• First dance (title)
• Dancing & entertainment
• Tossing of bouquet
• Bride & groom depart
• Carriages

Bride's emergency kit

• Lipstick / gloss
• Small compact
• Brush / comb
• Hairspray
• Tissues & cleansing wipes
• Cotton wool & tips
• Nail file
• Soda water (to remove spills / stains)
• Deadorant (wipes)
• Perfume

Know where you can store and have access to this kit at the reception.

Reception Box

• Wedding Day Schedule
• Wedding Day Contact List
• Seating and Table plans
• Menu & place cards
• Favours
• Gifts
• Fees due
• Scissors, post-it notes, pen, sticky tape
• Spirit level and cardboard (for levelling cake table).
• Speeches
• Bride's SOS kit

Ceremony Box

• Wedding Day Schedule
• Wedding day Contact List
• Instructions for ushers
• Order of Service
• Buttonhole / Corsage list
• Mini sewing kit (including a shirt button)
• Fees for officiant and venue
• Wipes to remove lipstick marks from groom's face!

Wedding Day Contact List

Create an on-the-day contact list of telephone and mobile numbers of everyone playing a key role in the wedding, including suppliers and venues. Distribute it to everyone on the list. Do not include yourselves. If something goes wrong, or is delayed allow others to solve the problem.

Adapt the list below as appropriate.

WEDDING PARTY

• Best man
• Chief bridesmaid
• Mother of the bride
• Father of the bride
• Ushers
• Groom's home/hotel
• Bride's home/hotel
• Groom's parents
• Readers
• Additional helpers

SUPPLIERS AND PROFESSIONALS

• Hairdresser
• Make-up artist
• Florist
• Photographer
• Videographer
• Venue(s)
• Registar/officiant
• Cake company
• Caterer
• Transport / drivers
• Band / DJ / Musicians / Entertainers
• Toastmaster / Master of Ceremonies
• Local taxi firm

Wedding week checklist

• Confirm final guest numbers with venue/caterer.
• Arrange with your venue for food, and an area to sit down and eat, for suppliers and professionals (e.g. photographer, videographer, entertainers, etc) who will be at the reception.
• Complete seating plan and take to printers.
• Check honeymoon details and gather together passports and travel documents (agree who will store them until the day of departure).
• Confirm access times for suppliers with venue(s).
• Confirm on-the-day contact details, delivery times and addresses with all suppliers.
• Inform florsit of final buttonhole and corsage requirements and agree delivery details.
• Confirm first dance with band/DJ.
• Compile and distribute 'Wedding Day Schedule' and 'Wedding Day Contact List'.
• Collect hired outfits (delegate their return).
• Collect wedding gown and accessories.
• Arrange manicures and beauty treatments as required.
• Confirm rehearsal times with thos attanding.
• Collect Orders of Service and reception stationery.
• Arrange for a 'wedding announcement' in local or ncional newspaper if required.
• Prepare fees due on the day, place in envelopes in 'Ceremony Box' or 'Reception Box' ad appropriate.
• Double-check that the wedding party know and understand their roles and arrival times.
• If doing your own make-up have a trial run.
• Pack for honeymoon.
• Wrap gifts for wedding party.
• Deliver or delegate delivery of the 'Ceremony Box'  and the 'Reception Box'.