Wedding 101: Your Wedding Day Overview

After months of planning, obsessing, and paying close attention to detail, it’s here. Your wedding day. The good news is, the more you plan and check and double-check now, the better you can kick back and enjoy your wedding day. Savor it. Live in the moment.

One of the best ways to be relaxed and ready to celebrate your nuptials is by having pre¬planned well. As a rule. planning a wedding in Canada is a year-long process. So you’ve done lots of hard work and had enough time to ensure that this day will go smoothly. Meaning that you can expect to have little bumps during your day, but don’t fret over the little things. Relax, take a deep breath, and remember that you are marrying the person you love.

To help make sure everything does go smoothly, create a “Wedding Schedule” to help organize the events of the day.

Your Wedding Day Schedule Should Include..

• A detailed schedule for the entire day
• Names and expected times of arrival of all participants
• Phone numbers of everyone involved, including cell phones and pagers
• Directions
• Transportation assignments and schedule

Getting Ready for the Ceremony

The first priority here is to have gotten a good night’s sleep. Generally, the bride and her bridesmaids and close female relatives enjoy dressing together. It’s part of the fun, so try to make time for that. Of course, you’ve given everyone in your bridal party a copy of the schedule so they know what time to arrive at your house or the church. Toward the very end of the dressing period, you may want to have the photographer join you for some fun, “getting dressed” shots.

The groom, best man, and ushers are all getting ready as well, and they know where to be when because you’ve given them a copy of the master schedule as well. Make sure the bridal bouquets and boutonnieres have arrived and that the ushers know their duties and have their list for special seating.

At the Reception

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the ceremony, so relax, greet your guests, and enjoy the celebration.

The reception usually starts with a receiving line, a nice way to greet guests and thank them for sharing your special day. If the number of guests is small, you may want to greet them immediately after the ceremony.

Planning Your Time

As with the ceremony, the time goes by quickly, and it’s a good idea to make a timetable for yourself, your caterer, musicians, and photographer. Of course, this will be just a guideline to help maintain a smooth flow of events, but is especially necessary when you have a time limit on the location.

Most receptions last from three to five hours. Adjust your schedule accordingly. Below is a sample schedule.

First Half-Hour

Wedding pictures are taken, if they weren’t before the ceremony. Guests start arriving, mingling, and getting something to drink. Music has begun.

Second Half-Hour to Hour-and-a-Half

Receiving line is formed, guests pass through. Guest book is signed, and table cards picked up, if
any. Hors d’oeuvres or finger food is passed.

Second Hour

Buffet is announced or guests seated, if you are having a sit-down meal. Wedding party is seated and served. Food is served to guests. Best man proposes the first toast.

Third Hour

Any speeches are made by the bride, groom, or family. First course is cleared from head table. Bride and groom have the first dance. Guests may follow on the dance floor.

Three and Half Hours

Tables are cleared. Guests may mingle or dance. Musicians announce cake-cutting ceremony. Cake is cut and served. Dance music resumes.

Last Hour

Bride throws bouquet.

Groom throws the garter.

Rice, birdseed, or dried rose petals are given to guests, if not placed on the table earlier, and then tossed on the bride and groom as they run to their car.

The bar closes, music stops, and guests start to leave.

Parents gather personal belongings and gifts before leaving.