How to Plan Your Own Destination Wedding by Sandy Malone

Author:Sandy Malone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2016-02-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

START WRITING YOUR WEDDING SCHEDULE AS SOON AS YOU START DEALING WITH THE VENDORS

Most experienced wedding vendors will tell you how much time they need for setup, or if they need earlier access to the venue than normal to make deliveries. But if they don’t, a DIY bride needs to ask all of these questions in the very beginning and start sketching out a solid wedding schedule from day one.

Scheduling the little details from the get-go will help you to realize that, if you were lucky enough to find a company that would come do your lighting and décor setup, you’ll need the rental equipment delivered and set up much earlier, because you cannot light a tent that hasn’t arrived to be set up. Make sure you time the cake’s arrival depending on what climate you’re in and what kind of frosting you’ve chosen. It’s not rocket science, but it needs to all go onto the same document in an hour-by-hour format (or, in some cases, minute-by-minute format) for every day of your wedding events, starting with the welcome bag delivery.

Here’s an example of what a wedding schedule might look like, although you’ll certainly fill in all your own details based on what kind of vendors you’re using and where you’re getting married. Be sure to include specific directions and location names for everything, unless it’s the only hotel in town. Then you can just write “hotel.” This sample schedule is based loosely on my own wedding plan back in 2004, and the only thing I’ve changed in more than eight years of planning is the level of detail included. My professional schedules are considerably more comprehensive.

Monday

4:00 p.m. Bride and groom arrive at destination and pick up rental car (or are picked up by shuttle or whatever the plan is).

5:00 p.m. Bride and groom check into wedding venue—coordinate check-in time with property managers/hotel desk in advance.

6:00 p.m. Quick shopping trip to get snacks and drinks to keep in the room.

7:00 p.m. Unpack boxes and begin stuffing welcome bags (we’d shipped down thirty-two boxes via UPS that were all waiting in our room).

8:30 p.m. Go to dinner (make reservations in advance so that you actually get out and go—you may be feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, but you need to take care of yourselves and have some alone time away from the mess and to-do lists).

11:00 p.m. Finish stuffing welcome bags before bed.

Tuesday

8:00 a.m. Go to the demographic office to do marriage license paperwork (this will vary based on where you’re getting married and how their process works).

Noon Deliver welcome bags to guests staying someplace other than our venue.

2:00 p.m. Meet with caterer to confirm details.

3:00 p.m. Meet with florist to confirm details.

4:00 p.m. Meet with hairdresser for practice beauty run (and don’t be afraid to speak up if you hate it or you’ll end up looking like I did, with J. Lo hair and too much makeup).

7:00 p.m. Last dinner alone (again, make reservation in advance someplace nice).

9:00 p.m. Back

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