FASHION CHECKLIST

WEDDING-DAY KIT



HOW TO WALK THE AISLE

The wedding march is one of the most memorable moments of your day. Map out your entrance and exit with tips from San Francisco-based planner Joyce Seardina Becker.

1. ENTER
2. OFFICIANT (waiting) GROOM AND GROOMSMEN (waiting)
3. GRANDPARENTS
4. PARENTS OF THE GROOM
5. MOTHER OF THE BRIDE
6. BRIDESMAIDS
7. MAID OF HONOR
8. FLOWER GIRL
9. RING BEARER
10. BRIDE AND BRIDE’S FATHER
11. OFFICIANT:
    • The Officiant enters with the groom and groomsmen from the side and proceeds to the altar. Alternatively, the Officiant may process in. In that case, he or she is the first down the aisle.
12. GROOM AND GROOMSMEN:
    • The groom and his attendants wait for the bride and bridesmaids between the altar and the first row of seats.
13. GRANDPARENTS:
    • If your elder family members are healthy enough to walk down the aisle, the groom’s grandparents should go first, followed by the bride’s. single grandparents may be escorted by family members or may walk together.
14. PARENTS OF THE GROOM:
    • The parents of the groom should follow the grandparents. Or, if the groom processes in (as in a Jewish ceremony), his parents may accompany him down the aisle.
15. MOTHER OF THE BRIDE:
    • The bride’s mother may be escorted by a family member or an usher. Alternatively she may walk with the bride and the father of the ride.
16. BRIDESMAIDS:
    • The bride’s attendants process in single file, following the mother of the bride.
17. MAID OF HONOR:
    • The maid/matron of honor should be the last attendant in line.
18. FLOWER GIRL AND RING BEARER:
    • They can walk together or separately. If under 6 years of age, the flower girl and ring bearer should be met by a parent or familiar relative at the end of the aisle and seated with them.
19. BRIDE:
    • The bride, accompanied by her escort (or escorts), is the last to come down the aisle.
20. BRIDE’S FATHER:
    • Traditionally, the bride is escorted by her father, though both parents may accompany the bride if so desired (as in traditional Jewish ceremonies).
21. EXIT
22. OFFICIANT
23. GRANDPARENTS
24. GROOM’S PARENTS
25. BRIDE’S PARENTS
26. BRIDESMAIDS AND GROOMSMEN
27. MAID/MATRON OF HONOR AND BEST MAN
28. FLOWER GIRL AND RING BEARER
29. BRIDE AND GROOM
30. ROLES, ROWS AND MORE:
    • The bridesmaids and groomsmen are typically lined up according to height in ascending order. Regardless of height, the honor attendants should be closest to the bride and groom.
    • At ceremonies longer than 20 minutes, the attendants should be allowed to sit, either in chairs on the altar or in the first row of seats.
    • Parents, grandparents and siblings should be seated in the first row (behind the attendants, if seated; see above). Other special family members and friends should be seated in the next row. If either set of parents is divorced, the mother and her family members sit in the first row, and the father and his family behind them.
    • Readers (and others with roles in the ceremony) should be seated on the aisle in the first few rows so they are able to easily access the altar. Readers may also join in the procession, following the Officiant, before the grandparents, if so desired.
    • Tell all your VIP guests where they should sit at the ceremony so they can inform the groomsmen/ushers. You can even mail “pew cards,” which indicate where they’ll be seated, to your special guests.
    • The bride’s family and friends involved in the ceremony are seated on the left and those of the groom are on the right in Christian ceremonies. The sides are reversed for Jewish ceremonies.
    • Groomsmen/ushers should escort other guests to any available seats, and try to fill both sides of the venue equally. Don’t feel obligated to seat guests according to bride’s or groom’s side.
    • If you’re not marrying in a house of worship, you have lots of options for seating your guests: theater-style, in-the-round, semicircle, U-or horseshoe-shaped, square, V-shaped or chevron seating, or spiral-circle. Chair choices include square ottomans, classic Chiavari chairs, pinewood benches, steel garden chairs, Carmel bistro chairs, and clear plastic “Ghost” chairs.
31. RECESSIONAL:
    • For your exit, it’s last in, first out. The bride and groom go first, followed by the flower girl and ring bearer and the honor attendants. Bridesmaids and groomsmen are paired up, followed by the bride’s parents, groom’s parents, and then the grandparents. If the flower girl and ring bearer are too young to stay on the altar during the ceremony, they do not need to join in the recessional.



THE COUNTDOWN

First things first:

• Share the news of your engagement with family and close friends.
• Announce your engagement in the local newspapers.
• Set a budget. Establish who will be able to contribute and how much.
• Set the date.
• Meet with potential wedding planners or event designers if you anticipate using one.
• Choose your ceremony and reception sites.
• Interview officiants.
• Establish the number of guests you’d like to invite, and compile a list with input from both sets of parents.
• Choose your maid of honor, best man and other attendants.
• Start shopping for your gown
• Begin a pre-wedding beauty regimen to improve your complexion.
• Schedule any beauty treatments (facials, waxing, brow-shaping, teeth-whitening) that you’d like to have over the next few months.

6 to 9 months before:

• Book the caterer.
• Register for wedding gifts.
• Order your gown and schedule fittings
• Purchase your shoes, headpiece, jewelry and lingerie for the wedding day.
• Choose bridesmaids’ dresses.
• Choose your photographer and videographer, and schedule engagement portraits, if desired.
• Select your floral designer and schedule a meeting.
• Select musicians for the ceremony and reception.
• Begin exploring honeymoon options.
• Send out save-the-date cards, if desired.

4 to 6 months before:

• Place orders for all wedding stationery: invitations, envelopes, thank-you notes. Negotiate a price for programs, menus and escort cards, which will be ordered closer to the date.
• Book a calligrapher, if using one.
• Meet with cake bakers and schedule tastings.
• Book wedding-day transportation.
• Make wedding-day appointments for hair and makeup, as well as a run-through four to eight weeks prior to the date.
• Research accommodations and group rates for out-of-town guests.
• Finalize the guest list.
• Plan the honeymoon and reserve flights, hotel rooms and a rental car.
• Plan the rehearsal dinner.

2 to 4 months before:

• Contact the town/city clerk’s office to inquire about marriage-license requirements.
• Choose attire for groom and groomsmen and place orders.
• Choose and order wedding favors.
• Order the wedding cake.
• Meet with officiant to discuss options for the ceremony and choose readings; invite loved ones to perform readings, if appropriate.
• Select the ceremony and reception music.
• Shop for attendants’ gifts.
• Choose and order items for welcome baskets if you’re giving them.
• Shop for and order wedding bands.
• Reserve party rentals – linens, tables, chairs and tents, if necessary.
• Confirm group hotel rates for out-of –town guests.

4 to 8 weeks before:

• Mail out your invitations six to eight weeks prior to the wedding date.
• Meet with caterer to decide on menu.
• Send programs, menus and escort cards to stationer to be printed.
• Do hair and makeup run-through with headpiece.
• Decide on any necessary insurance-policy changes for you and your groom.
• Gather information from the town/city clerk’s office to change your name, if desired.
• Send wedding announcement to local newspapers, if desired.

2 to 4 weeks before:

• Create a seating chart for the reception.
• Contact all vendors to confirm all details and set a timeline for the wedding day.
• Have your final dress fitting with shoes, headpiece, jewelry and lingerie.
• Compose your vows, if desired.
• Write a toast to give at the rehearsal dinner or during the reception.
• Visit the salon for one last haircut and color
• Send escort cards and seating chart to calligrapher to fill in guests’ names and table numbers one to two weeks before the wedding.

1 week before:

• Arrange for dress to be picked up or delivered.
• Organize all wedding-day payments and gratuities in envelopes and choose who will distribute them
• Decide who will collect and transport heir-looms (unity candle, toasting glasses, cake knife) to and from the ceremony and reception.
• Deliver a final head count to the caterer.
• Take care of last-minute beauty treatments, including waxing, facial, manicure and pedicure.
• Pack for the honeymoon.