We have listed a few tips from personal experience. These can be adapted to suit your own wedding arrangements. We hope they are useful!
Buy a ring binder with about 15 clear slips and a note pad.
When you have booked your suppliers (florist, transport etc) confirm all details of the arrangements made with them in writing, this should include the date, time and cost
and ask them to acknowledge receipt. This may also include, for example:
Quartet
* Where they are to be positioned at your service/reception and what time.
* What would you like them to play?
* Will their dress clash with your colour scheme?
* Will they require a light lunch provided?
* Is the balance to be paid on the wedding day?
Transport
* Confirm transport type.
* Pick up address.
* Time and address of ceremony.
* Where the reception is.
* When would you like the transport to arrive at your house.
* Give enough time for photographer/videographer to get their shots.
* How many trips will the transport be making?
* Will there be ribbon/flowers – if so what colour?
* Will your Chauffeur be in uniform?
* Will an alternative driver be available if necessary?
Photographer
* How would you like the photographs to be shot?
* If you would like group photographs, list the groups that are to be done.
* Let the photographer know when the wedding transport is to arrive at your house so that photographs can be taken with it.
Videographer
* Send a CD with some tracks to be played as backing music for the video.
* List the tracks and indicate at what point of the video you would like them played.
Choir
* Confirm what you would like them to sing and when.
Wedding Cake
* Give your florists details (if applicable).
* Confirm whether your cake is to be fruit, sponge or chocolate etc.
* How you would like you cake set up.
* If there is to be a filling, what would you like, butter cream/jam?
* Confirm detail on the cake. Do you need to give any swatches to match your colour scheme?
* Approximate depth of cakes.
Florist
* Confirm the type of flowers/colours you would like.
* Confirm what arrangements you would like at the ceremony venue, how many and where you would like them putting.
* Confirm what arrangements you would like at the reception venue, how many and where you would like them putting (including any flowers on the cake).
* Confirm all miscellaneous flowers like buttonholes; flowers to be put in hair; brides shower; bridesmaids posies; flower girl basket.
* List all addresses where flowers are to be delivered and what flowers are to be delivered to which address. Also put an approximate delivery time if necessary.
DJ
* List a song playlist.
* Let your DJ know what you would like played for your first and last dance.
* Detail what sort of tempo you would like the music to flow at i.e., after first dance have some classic party tunes, more up to date music then slower music towards the end.
* Confirm what approximate time your first dance will be and what time music is to end.
* Confirm the time the DJ will be at the venue to set up.
Think about taking out wedding insurance.
Advise your chief bridesmaid or best man where and what you would like to do on your hen/stag doo. It is very rare to gather all your favourite people together, so its important to do something that you will really enjoy.
