Directing a wedding involves a lot of planning and creativity.Many couples have a lot of ideas about how to structure their wedding, but some may not appreciate having you facilitate things.Good wedding directors listen to the couple, make creative decisions in planning the ceremony and reception, and help to make the day of the wedding go smoothly.
Step 1: Define the role of the couple.
Some wedding directors plan the entire wedding from start to finish, while others come in on the day of the wedding and run the show.Take responsibility for the rest of the planning yourself and let the couple take whatever responsibilities they want.It's important to share your opinions, but remember that the decisions are up to the couple.If you don't think it's a good idea to combine a hog roast with a winter wedding, you can explain what you think will be a challenge.
Step 2: You can schedule regular consultations with the couple.
It's important to learn as much as you can about the couple getting married if you're planning a wedding from start to finish.To make sure that the reception and service will please the couple, you will need to spend some time with them.You will meet the couple privately three times, and stay in touch throughout the process.You should meet once to get to know the couple, another to update them and present them with options, and a few weeks before the reception to go over the schedule and plans.Go out for coffee or dinner to learn as much as possible about the couple.How they met, what ambitions they have for their marriage, and other details can be found here.This can help you make decisions.
Step 3: Suggestions should be brought.
A wedding planner should know about good reception halls, churches, and other services associated with a wedding.You should be able to come up with a list of five options very quickly if the couple asks if you have a good vegan caterer in mind.This is a part of your job.Do the research is the bulk of your job.It's important to get your name out there as a wedding planner and make contacts in the wedding business.The couple will be able to make an informed decision if you take lots of pictures and secure samples.Your card should be left at each business.
Step 4: Take a tentative plan and make it a reality.
If you have an idea of what might work for the couple's wedding, give them a variety of options before moving forward.For food, decoration, possible venues, music, and other options, you want to give the couple a list of about 3-6 options.Some couples will be happy to let you do the work and make the decisions for them, while others will prefer you to do it.Not everyone will be the same.Come up with a few complete packages.Maybe a particular caterer, a color scheme and flower arrangement, and a band you think would work well together for this couple.To make it simpler, group the different options into packages the couple can choose from.
Step 5: The couple wants to schedule and organize other events.
The couple whose wedding you're directing will define your job.If you need to schedule and organize a pre-rehearsal cocktail party, or a post-dinner reception somewhere, you have to find out and schedule these things for the couple or decide together what additional events, other than the ceremony, will be scheduled.The following are common wedding events.
Step 6: Stay in touch.
You might not hear from the couple until a few days before the wedding, or you might be swamped with phone calls as the day approaches.There will be different couples.It's a good idea to stay in touch with the couple and let them know how things are going.You won't be able to make changes anymore when you reach the point of no return.Make sure the couple knows that it's too late to change their minds about the type of food that will be prepared.
Step 7: There are appropriate locations for scouting.
In a church of the bride and groom's choosing, a wedding ceremony can take place outdoors or in a pastoral setting.Your input is critical as couples may have very specific locations in mind, or may only have a general idea of a type of location.The religion of the couple needs to be matched.If you wanted a protestant couple to be wed at a Catholic church, you wouldn't want to book them.In some cases, couples may want to be wed at other types of indoor venues, like a historical-register home, a local dining hall, or other beautiful historical property.There are a variety of locations, including beaches, private wooded properties, apple orchards, wineries and even in State or National Parks.Talk to the couple about their ideal outdoor setting and come up with a variety of local options.The property should have an indoor venue for the reception.
Step 8: Make sure you have an officiant.
It's possible that couples have an idea of who they want to perform the wedding.Depending on where the wedding will be booked, you might have easy access to an ombre in the minister at the specific church, or you may need to find one.The couple will pick the officiant.If they don't have any leads, you can inquire about their religious background and ask for a consultation with the couple, which is more legal than a religious ceremony.If the couple would like a certain relative or friend to perform their wedding, you may need to guide them through the process of becoming an ombre if they are not already qualified to do so.
Step 9: Suggest music choices.
Most wedding services involve some kind of music, and song selection and variety of performance can be an important way of adding pageantry and whimsy to the proceedings.It's important to have a good list of suggestions in regards to song and performance selection for first-timers.Many performers advertise their wedding performance services commercially, and string quartets and solo instrumentalists are the most common live- performance options for weddings.It's a good and cheap option to record music.Prelude music will be played during the procession, and then the bride's arrival will see the "Bridal Chorus" performed.Other common wedding music includes instrumental versions of the following songs.
Step 10: Suggestions for florists and arrangements.
Most weddings have seasonal flowers arranged by a local florist.It's a good idea to get to know the florists in the area, as well as look at their wedding packages and pricing options to find the right one for you.Discuss color schemes for the bridal party's attire with the couple to help them decide on a color scheme for floral arrangements.
Step 11: Suggest photographers.
It's a good idea to research all the available options and be able to provide a pricing guide for the couple to choose between, because wedding photographers aren't difficult to find.The photographer's quality, reliability, and professionalism are important.The best way to find out who the best photographer is is to speak to representatives of each studio on the phone.
Step 12: The wedding location can be visited prior to the wedding.
It's important for the director to be aware of the locations that will be used on the wedding day.When the building opens for business, and how much seating to prepare for, you need to make sure the caterers know where to be and when.
Step 13: The rehearsal should be coordinated.
The bridal party does a quick run-through of the ceremony, mostly focusing on the processional.It is important for you to nail the timing of everything and make sure that the wedding will go off without a hitch.If necessary, it's your job to organize everyone with the officiant, coordinate the music and other scheduling concerns of the ceremony.Ensure that each member of the party knows where to stand by practicing the timing of sending them down the aisle.Provide everyone with your cell phone number the day of the wedding to answer any last-minute problems that come up.Be available.
Step 14: Suggest appropriate locations to a scout.
Depending on the size of the wedding you're directing, a wedding reception may take place at a residence or larger venue, sometimes within the same building.If you want to hold a reception in a banquet hall, you'll need to find an ideal location.Banquet halls, churches, and wineries are on the registry.
Step 15: Suggestions for specific meal options.
The majority of the reception will consist of a meal, some informal comments, and dancing.Once the dancing starts, your job is done, so the meal is the last thing you need to worry about.Discuss options for presenting the ideal wedding meal with the couple.Meal plans and pricing options for the couple can be researched.The goal is to provide a variety of upscale and more affordable selections.Simple chicken dishes can be good for some couples.The buffett style of reception allows guests to serve themselves while others prefer a more formal dining option.A more formal experience for the reception will mean more coordination for you.If necessary, you'll need to research local bakeries and wedding cake makers.It's a good idea to look over the options for the wedding cake.
Step 16: If necessary, secure tent or awning.
If the reception is to be outdoors, it's common to use circus-style tents from a local vendor, which can be set up about 24 hours ahead of time.It is your job to find enough seating and covering for the entire party.
Step 17: Suggestions for music options.
DJs who specialize in playing music for after-dinner partying preside over the reception.It's a good idea to research local wedding DJs who are experienced at entertaining an all-ages crowd of wedding guests, because not every couple will have a strong opinion about the entertainment.
Step 18: The necessary arrangements should be made.
Schedule everything once you've got the couple's go-ahead.Make sure everything is in order for the wedding by calling the caterer, florist, and other wedding hires.It's a good idea to keep the notes for each wedding in a separate binder so you can keep everything straight.You don't want the florist from one wedding showing up to another.
Step 19: A few weeks before the wedding, meet the bride and groom.
Find out how many members of the bridal party and the groom's party are present.Ask for a master guest list, or create one of your own.Discuss seating options with the bride and groom.If you don't plan the wedding itself, but will be directing the day-of-wedding operations, you need to learn as much as possible about the bride and groom's desires for their special day.
Step 20: The wedding day schedule should be created.
Discuss the timeline with the bride and groom once it is complete and adjust it during rehearsal if necessary.When should everyone line up?When will the wedding begin?How long will it take?You need to ask these questions on the wedding day.The schedule for photo sessions with the photographer should be coordinated by the bridal party when they arrive at the wedding.To keep things stress free, you usually don't want to mix all the people at the same time.You'll need to organize each thing separately if you don't space it out.
Step 21: Schedules for members of the wedding party.
It's your job to make sure everyone knows where and when they need to be, not just the bride or the groom.The person who everyone will come to with questions should be proactive at the rehearsal and the wedding.
Step 22: You should be the first to get there and the last to leave.
It's your job to make sure everything goes smoothly on the wedding day, from the arrival of the band to the setting out of chairs.As necessary, delegate tasks.It's likely that you'll need some help getting everyone on the same page, because you can't do everything yourself.One of the most important aspects of wedding direction is coordinating parking.If the wedding takes place in two different locations, you'll need to make sure there's enough parking at both and that everyone knows where and where not to park their car.
Step 23: It's a good idea to coordinate catering.
It's your job to get in touch with the service workers for the wedding about a week before the event to make sure they have everything they need.As concerns arise with the crew, be available to help.
Step 24: Things should be moving.
It can be difficult to fit in all of the different events at a wedding reception.To make sure everyone gets out of the rented space on time, you want to be firm in getting the bridal party to move forward with their plans.You don't want to have to rule over the party with an iron fist if you schedule things with a 30 minute swing window.People will want to chat and celebrate with the couple at the party.It's up to the couple whether or not they want to abandon something if it can't fit into the schedule.