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| Chaplain Jerry Schwehm at City Park elopement. |
| BOOKING CHAPLAIN SCHWEHM |
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| City Park area has several covered spots. |
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| Chaplain Jerry Schwehm at gates to Jackson Square simple elopement. |
Elopement at gate to Jackson Square, New Orleans, LA..
Photo by Kathleen Parker.
| Tell families you want to get married. Then have them meet each other. | |
| Fully discuss type wedding, elopement, formal wedding, big, small, destination, etc.. | |
| Think budget! Discuss what is important and how much to spend on things.. | |
| Discuss with family who pays for what. | |
| Create a wedding organizer (Binder, files, book). Use it to store all your information, contracts, ideas, photos, etc. | |
| Speak with your clergy/officiant to learn what is expected and what to get done. Book facility and officiant if ready. | |
| Visit wedding sites. Book if ready. Church, hall, hotel, home, get ideas off web. | |
| For large wedding consider a wedding planner and talk with several to see who you can work with. |
| Line up, interview, and visit wedding service providers. | |
| Photographer | |
| Videographer | |
| Caterer or Restaurant | |
| Officiant, Clergy if not already booked. | |
| Florist, decorations, chairs | |
| Contact ones you like, book them, get written agreement, many of these vendors can be booked up to a year in advance. | |
| Develop your preliminary guest list. Base it on wedding size. Talk with family about who must be there. | |
| Use web to get wedding ideas, style, type, colors, destination. | |
| Finalize plans with family and friends who are helping. | |
| Pick and list attendants (bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, flower girl and ring bear) . Notify them of selection and what is expected of them. | |
| Select your wedding rings. | |
| Begin looking at honeymoon, use web to find a nice place. | |
| Consider and get wardrobe, gown, tux, dresses. |
| Start planning ceremony and reception music choices. | |
| Purchase your wedding gown,and accessories. | |
| If you are having a prenuptial agreement, take care of that now. | |
| Discuss ceremony with officiant, civil, religious, poems. | |
| Start pre-marriage counceling (if required) | |
| Start looking at invitations. | |
| Sign up for your gift registry | |
| Send save-the-date cards/newsletter |
| Work with your florist on decorations. | |
| Place wedding announcement in local newspaper | |
| Order wedding stationary (invitations, envelopes, programs, etc.) | |
| Start shopping for bridal party tuxedos | |
| Book limo/transportation | |
| Start planning the wedding decorations | |
| Select hotel. Arrange accommodations for out of town guests, if necessary. | |
| Select wedding cake (and Groom's cake if you are having one) | |
| Start making arrangement for rehearsal and rehearsal dinner | |
| Book anyone not already booked. Get agreements. | |
| Decide on wedding favors and gifts for family attendants. | |
| If you decided not to use a Wedding Coordinator, consider asking a close friend not in the wedding party to be your Wedding Coordinator/Personal Assistant. |
| Order your wedding cake and groom's cake | |
| Meet with your officiant to discuss details of the ceremony | |
| Finalize the guest list | |
| Reconfirm the rehearsal dinner plans | |
| Buy the cake knife, guest book, toasting glasses and garter | |
| Choose gifts for your attendants, parents, helpers. | |
| Have the male members of the wedding party, including fathers, fitted for tuxedos. | |
| Reconfirm honeymoon arrangements. | |
| Start writing your wedding vows, if you are doing them yourself. | |
| Start addressing the invitations (or drop them off with calligrapher) |
| Send out invitations | |
| Schedule a hair and make up consultation to do a trial run. | |
| Start making/buying wedding favors | |
| Obtain wedding license | |
| Schedule your first wedding dress fitting. | |
| Write thank you notes for any gifts that may start arriving. | |
| If you are having one, begin putting together your ceremony program. | |
| Meet with vendors (caterer, florists, etc.) to finalize arrangements. | |
| If you are changing your name, complete the proper documents. | |
| Finalize music selections for the ceremony and reception and turn them in to the DJ/Band/etc. | |
| Have formal wedding portrait taken. | |
| Finalize music selections for the ceremony and reception and turn them in to the DJ/Band/etc. | |
| Meet with your officiant to finalize ceremony details. | |
| Reserve room for wedding night. |
| Confirm honeymoon your reservations. | |
| Meet with photographer and/or videographer to discuss last minute details. | |
| Start working on the reception seating chart. | |
| Have final wedding gown fitting. | |
| Arrange for a reception babysitter, if needed. | |
| Finish (and print) the wedding program. | |
| Finalize wedding vows | |
| Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors as well as date, time, etc. | |
| Pick up marriage license. Be sure to have needed documents and cash for the license. |
| Finalize reception seating chart. | |
| Confirm delivery time and locations with florist. | |
| Contact any guests who did not respond to the invitation. |
| Pick up wedding gown, attendants' gowns and all accessories. | |
| Give final guest count to reception venue/caterer. | |
| Reconfirm everything with vendors one last time. | |
| Make sure men get their final fitting for their tuxedos. |
| Attend rehearsal. | |
| Attend rehearsal dinner. Give attendants their gifts. | |
| Have a manicure and/or a pedicure. | |
| Put together the tip envelopes (for the vendors) and give them to the designated "tip person" - generally the best man. | |
| Confirm wedding day transportation. | |
| Confirm hair and make up appointments. | |
| If you have access to the ceremony and/or reception venues, bring everything over there that you may need (decorations, guest book, etc). | |
| Layout everything you need for the next day in a safe place (marriage license, dress, shoes, etc.). | |
| Speak with everyone in the wedding party and make sure everyone knows where to be at what time. Give them a list or program with times and places. | |
| Try to go to bed early, rest up the day before. |
| Relax, and eat. Stay calm. | |
| Share a private moment with your fiance. | |
| Have your hair and makeup done. | |
| Give the best man the groom's ring and marriage license. He can give them when needed to officiant. | |
| Begin dressing two hours before ceremony is scheduled to begin. | |
| Spend time with parents before you go down aisle.. |
