The Checklist.....  Here are some great items for your important list!

Ceremony Checklist
Wedding bands bought and sized
Confirm rehearsal date & time
Marriage license
Vows chosen or written
Readers chosen Email planner names
Usher chosen Email planner Names and email address
Ring pillow purchased
Programs purchased or made (are you making programs?)
Music selected (Send planner the completed list and send to DJ)
Unity candle purchased  If needed

Reception Checklist

Special occasions permit ( if needed)
Guest book & pens
Pick guest book and seating card attendants
Engagement photo framed for display or guest signing ( Are we having a memory table as well?)
Meal selection Email this to planner and confirm an email to caterer.  Need arrival time of caterer as well.
Confirm bar stock and hours (Confirm amount of bartenders and bars rented)
Go over floor plan ( Doing this tomorrow) 9-5
Create a seating plan We can talk about this tomorrow. 
Let planner know when deliveries will be made  Tent set up, Bar, Food, Floral, cupcakes.  I would like your times that you have documented then I will contact the vendors as well.

Confirm linen colors
Figure out who will be in the receiving line and in what order  (Document and email to Jenn)
Choose attendant for guest book/seating card/reception cards table (someone needs to do this)
Write speech and ask others to prepare speeches(wedding party, family & MC) Email planner speeches the speeches can be touching or funny… If you need speech samples for your party let me know.
Decide on kissing and or centerpiece game-games…
Instructions for disposable cameras (announced or printed)  If you are using them
Bathroom baskets (let planner know if you are having them and if she should supply them)
Pick VIP reception songs: wedding party entrance, 1st dance, parents dances, cake cutting, bouquet toss, garter removal & toss, last dance, etc. Email the selections to Jenn and to you DJ
Pick your kissing and centerpiece games. Email to planner and DJ with when you want to do them.

One venue vs two separate venues.....

Whether you are planning a wedding where the Ceremony is at one venue (a church, garden or the beach for example) and the reception at another venue; or if you have decided on having both ceremony and reception at the same venue – both options have their own pros and cons…


Ceremony & Reception at two different venues:

The Pros:

• More guests can be invited to the ceremony and fewer can be invited to the reception (this will save alot on your budget, especially if you have a larger number of guests and financially cannot afford to invite them all to your reception).

• You can space the time between ceremony and reception, a little longer, that way giving you more time for your photos (always ensure guests know what time they should be at the reception and offer suggestions or a list of activities as to what they can do between the ceremony and reception).

The Cons:

• You are dealing with another set of suppliers, which means more organizing on your part.

• Most often it will cost a bit more to hold the ceremony & reception at two separate venues than if you were only hiring one venue to take care of everything.

• As the wedding will in all likelihood go on that bit longer (due to travel between venues, etc), you will probably incur more costs from your suppliers – for example your photographer may need to be there for an extra hour and you may have to hire the bridal cars for a longer period.

Ceremony & Reception at the same venue:

The Pros:

• You are only dealing with one venue, so less organizing on your part.

• It is likely to be a less expensive than having the ceremony at a different venue

• The actual wedding time is likely to be shorter and therefore you won’t need all the suppliers there for as long (less expensive if you are paying them per hour).

The Cons:

• Everyone you invite to the ceremony you will have to invite to the reception (it will be rude to say to some guests that they have to leave, while others get to stay for the meal).

• You will probably have to organize some sort of entertainment to keep your guests occupied between the ceremony and reception while you go off for your photos.

• You will also have to provide drinks and appetizers for guests between ceremony & reception, while you are having your photos taken and this can add quite a bit to your budget.

Please remember whichever options you go with (and there is no right or wrong – just what works best for you and your wedding budget), it is vital to have a bad/wet weather option for the ceremony (especially those planned on the beach or in a garden), as you can’t leave things to chance and hope that the weather will be glorious.

Happiness!
The Powerhouse Team....