You’ve taken the step and got engaged to the love of your life. As the wedding planning kicks off in earnest, though, it’s normal to feel panic rising. A comprehensive wedding reception checklist helps you take the planning step by step in easily manageable tasks.
If you two are planning a civil wedding in San Francisco or across the country, City Hall Wedding has everything you need to make it more enjoyable. Take a look at our checklist below to ensure you don’t forget anything important on the big day.
10 Simple Steps To Streamline Your Wedding Planning
When you follow these tried-and-tested steps, you’ll find the entire process of planning your planning simpler and less stressful. Experts recommend giving yourself at least a year. If you have less time than that, you can just move through this checklist quicker and still have the confidence you’re dealing with all the necessary wedding details.
Step 1: Set a Date
Set the date of your wedding before doing anything else. You may need to consider your venue and theme at the same time, but ask yourself the following questions as you begin your wedding reception checklist:
- How much time would you like to plan things? The average length for an engagement is 12 to 18 months because it is ample time to arrange everything.
- Is there a certain season you love? Spring remains the most popular wedding season. If you consider a winter wedding beautiful, booking your venue and services might be easier.
- Do you already have a venue in mind? Choose your date based on their availability.
- What date has a sentimental or spiritual value to you? These special dates might make your wedding even more memorable.
Step 2: Choose a Theme
A theme provides a framework, which might help you focus your wedding planning efforts. Some couples have explicit or specific themes, such as Star Wars, Enchanted Garden, or Country-Western. Others prefer generalized or subtle themes – boho-chic, vintage, or rustic might spring to mind.
Your theme will help you land on your perfect color palette, cuisine, venue, and decorations with more precision. If you value flexibility, prioritize a subtler theme.
Remember, you can also integrate a theme into the wedding ceremony itself.
Step 3: Set a Budget
According to Credit Karma, the average couple spends about $28,000 on a wedding reception. If that sounds out of reach for you, don’t worry; you can spend much less and still create a memorable experience.
Why not ask a wedding planner to optimize your budget? Additionally, many parents love the tradition of helping to pay for their child’s wedding. On the other end of the spectrum, experts strongly caution couples to carefully consider their ability to pay off any debt before taking that route for the wedding.
Step 4: Seek Wedding Planning Support
Whether you love a high level of control or feel like you don’t know where to start, there’s great value in seeking help with your wedding reception checklist. While a wedding planner can offer the best advice and handle tasks on your behalf, this requires having a budget to hire someone. If that’s not possible, you can lean on your friends or family.
Has anyone you know and trust planned a wedding? They could provide the level of support you need.
Step 5: Create the Guest List
Most couples can attest to the fact that creating their guest list was the most stressful part of the wedding planning. Tailoring a guest list to your budget might mean leaving people out, and that’s hard.
Consider creating an ideal list versus a realistic list of guests. If you already have your venue, keep its capacity in mind, too.
Step 6: Choose Your Venue
Some people dream of having their wedding reception at a specific location, in which case, they’ve already completed this step! However, if you haven’t picked your venue yet, consider the following:
- What percentage of your total wedding budget does this venue require? Avoid spending more than 50% of your overall budget on booking the venue.
- How many guests can the venue hold? Expect about 80% of the people you invite to attend.
- Will this place provide a positive experience for guests? The wedding is for you, but you want everyone to celebrate alongside you carefree.
Step 7: Send Out Save the Dates
A Save the Date should go out eight months before the wedding so that people don’t double book themselves.
Most wedding reception checklists suggest that couples send out their invitations six to eight weeks before the ceremony.
Step 8: Create Reception
To create the most memorable reception, consider the following features:
- Food: Most receptions have some sort of food on offer, from full catering to delectable finger foods. At the very least, decide whether you’re opting for a traditional wedding cake or something more modern, like cupcakes.
- Decorations: Your venue setup should incorporate elements of your wedding theme. Don’t forget the seating arrangements.
- Entertainment: Most weddings benefit from some form of entertainment, usually in the form of great music. Games, party favors, toasts, and speeches work, too.
Step 9: Book the Photographer
You should book your wedding photographer nine to 12 months in advance. Do they have experience in weddings? Look at their work to determine if you like their style.
Wedding photography shouldn’t exceed 15% of your overall budget. If you want precious video recordings to remember the day by, budget even more carefully.
Step 10: Iron Out the Final Details
As the excitement builds, you’ll want to rush things. However, don’t forget to wrap up your wedding planning with the following details:
- Apply for your marriage license 90 days before the wedding.
- Choose a Maid of Honor and Best Man to deal with details on the day.
- Keep receipts and documents for everything.
- Enjoy each moment leading up to your special day!
A wedding reception checklist can relieve wedding planning stress, make wedding roles clearer, and help you find that perfect wedding venue. City Hall Wedding also has a blog filled with resources and experts you can contact directly.