This is simply a guide... we encourage your creativity in the contents and order.


Tip #1, If using a DJ or Band, and you would like for them to also provide the
music for your Ceremony, consider having the Ceremony in the same location as
the reception, so that the DJ or musicians can set up in one spot and stay
there with little or no adjustment, other than turning their speakers to point
in a different direction. This will make the transition from ceremony to 
reception much smoother.

Tip #2, Keep it simple. Try to condense your events to the most important ones.
Prioritize, and give everything 30% more time in your planning than you think
it will take. The average well planned ceremony/reception in the same location
will take 5 hours. And that's not counting the bulk of the pictures, which are
best taken before the ceremony. This will save time in the transition between
ceremony and reception, and will save hours that you need to pay all the 
wedding vendors that perform per hour, or are restricted to the hours they
spend with you.

Number of Guests Estimated to Attend: ___________

Directions to Ceremony/Reception (maps are appreciated by guests and vendors): 

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

(Please select and number the events you want and the order that you want them.)

_____ Prelude Music (15-30 minutes before the processionals)
      __________________________________________________________________________
_____ Seating Music for Parents_________________________________________________
_____ Bridesmaids Processional Music____________________________________________
_____ Brides(or Alt. Names throughout planner)Processional Music
      __________________________________________________________________________
_____ Minister or Magistrate begins ceremony with speech or sermon
_____ Musical Performances or Readings
_____ Wedding Vows/Exchange Rings
_____ Unity Candle Lighting
_____ Prayer
_____ Minister presents you as Married Couple (or any terminology you want) and
      encourages you to seal your unity with a kiss
_____ Recessional Music as you walk back down the aisle.
_____ Form a Receiving Line as Guests file out.
_____ Transition to Reception Grand Entrance (Take a short break together before
      this... to celebrate alone and collect yourselves for a few minutes.)

Notice how short and simple this was? :-)

Other Tips...

Every minister/magistrate/officiant has their own habits of running a wedding
ceremony. This should be combined with your own ideas and preferences. Also...
SPRING FOR A WEDDING COORDINATOR! Even though many couples prefer to skip this
step these days, an experienced coordinator is worth it. And it saves you and 
your friends and relatives unecessary stress, both in planning and in their
enjoyment of your special day. Plus, everything will go smoother and will
simply be more rewarding. Ensure your parents know how you feel about their
roles in the planning/ceremony/reception, and vice versa. On the wedding day,
sometimes you never know how people will react, and communicating with family
and friends well before the day comes is the best policy. It avoids at least
some conflicts and unnecessary hurt feelings.

Things to Remember to do in your Planning...

_____ Minister/Officiant/Magistrate (Consider pre-marriage counseling with
      someone if you are not affiliated with a church.)
_____ Wedding Coordinator/Planner
_____ Choose the Wedding Party (Best Man, Maid/Maitron of Honor, Groomsmen
and Bridesmaids, Flower Girl, Ring Bearer - Or Alternate Terminology)
_____ Select and acquire your Wedding Rings
_____ Get each other a gift
_____ Caterer
_____ Photographer
_____ Videographer
_____ DJ/Band/Musicians
_____ Wedding Cake
_____ Decide on the Song for your First Dance, and practice it. Also select 
      the music for your dances with your parents, and any other special
      dances that you want.
_____ Gifts for the Wedding Party
_____ Decide on a Color scheme and Apparel
_____ Bar? Or no alcohol (serving Alcohol may seem like a good idea at first,
but... can cause unneeded fowl behavior on your special day, and unneccesary
harrassment of the DJ, Band, or other guests, by your drinking guests. Skipping
alcohol can also save a lot of money that you could spend on other things.
Your wedding day memories will stay with you forever.)
_____ Decorations
_____ Reception Hall/Site
_____ Ceremony Site
_____ Limosine or No Limosine
_____ Parking or Shuttle/Valet System with possible Security for Cars parked
      remotely.
_____ Hairdresser/Makeup
_____ Garter (or not)
_____ Bouquet for Bride, and Flowers for Ceremony and Wedding Party Corsages
_____ Runner for Bride for Procession
_____ Lighting (it does get dark eventually)
_____ Outdoors or Indoors (Even in the desert, it eventually rains, gets too 
      hot, too cold, or windy.)
_____ Rain Plan
_____ Invitations and Thankyou cards
_____ Guest Register/Pen/Cake Knife and Server/Toasting Glasses
_____ Table for Register
_____ Table for Gifts
_____ Enough Chairs and Tables for Seating
_____ Plan order that guests will be served or go through serving line
_____ Portable One-time use Cameras to disperse and return, Bubbles
_____ Ushers and Ceremony Seating Plan
_____ Cleanup Crew
_____ Plan on guest restrooms and hand washing facilities (especially if your
      ceremony/reception is outdoors at someone's private residence... 
      porta-potties are better than nothing at all, and a hand washing table
      will be appreciated by all, even if you just hook up a nossle to a hose)
_____ Plan the Rehearsal the day before the ceremony, and the rehearsal dinner.
_____ Coordinate time slot rented from hall with Vendors
_____ Tips for Vendors for a Job Well Done is Very Classy.
_____ Know when to pay vendors and do it without delay.
_____ Share your itinerary with vendors and key personnel (Try not to make
      last minute changes, that's what planning is for.)
_____ Always communicate fully with all concerned, in advance when possible.
_____ Consider an MC/Sound System rental for your reception. Many DJs are
      prepared for this, as are some bands. If you have no entertainers to
      perform Master of Ceremonies services, then hire an MC, or have a
      competent friend MC. Ensure they know the atmosphere you want them to
      project, and talk over the itinerary with them. Make sure you coordinate
      with the MC throughout your reception. MCs make the reception flow
      smoothly, and ensure all guests know when important activities take place.
      The sound system can be used to ensure all guests can hear the toasts.
      

Also, plan how to use your space efficiently. Many times, the chairs for the
reception can be moved to the dining area tables during the receiving line.
If dancing later at the reception, try to use enough area so that the dance
floor is left empty, and no dining tables, etc., will need to be moved. If
you cannot acquire that much space, then be sure to plan how to move the 
tables for dancing before the time comes.

There are undoubtedly other things to add to this list, but for now...
On to the Reception.